Fredrickson International

Apologies if this has been covered in another thread, but these guys are driving me crazy and I really do not know what to do.

I took a payday loan of £100.00 from a company called Minicredit back in January this year.

I was supposed to pay back £115.00 on the 26th January but hadn't been paid by then, so missed the repayment, then struggled through February explaining that I'd pay them at the end of February, by which time they had added charges taking the amount I had to pay back at £205.00, I paid them the £115.00 and explained that I'd pay the remaining balance at the end of the next month, by which time they'd added another £110.00 in so called 'late payment fees.

I obviously refused to pay this extortion, and paid just the £90.00 balance from the original missed payment. Minicredit since that day phoned me, left messages each time saying that the amount had increased, so much so that by May it was showing £510.00!! They then proceeded to help themselves to my money £50.00 and £25.00 at a time, every week throughout May/June without consent, and when I called the bank to report it, they said they only way that I could stop it was by cancelling my bank card.

I did this immediately. In total Mionicredit had taken £580.00 from an initial loan of £100!

I just left the situation, as I was to be honest just glad to have them off my back and although angry, I to be honest couldn't be bothered to cause more disruption to my family by chasing them for some of that money back.

Now today I have had a call from Fredrickson International, claiming that they are chasing a debt of £340.00 from Minicredit for an unpaid loan! When I asked them for a statement and copy of the credit agreement, they said that I had to send them a cheque for £1.00 to them and they'd send it, and that this was the law and fully legal.

Now, can somebody help me please, I need to get this matter resolved, it has affected my partners health terribly and cannot risk them causing more disruption and pain on my family, but I am blowed if I'm going to pay them another penny.

Please can somebody advise me on what to do or where to go for help here, surely I cannot be liable for this amount?
«1345678

Comments

  • Gordon_Hose
    Gordon_Hose Posts: 6,259
    Debt-free and Proud!
    Forumite
    Send them a £1 postal order, and this letter:
    (Your home address)
    Date:
    To:

    Dear Sir/Madam

    Account/Ref No:

    With reference to the above agreement, I/we would be grateful if you would send me/us a copy of this credit agreement and a full breakdown of the account including any interest or charges applied.

    I/we understand that under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 [sections 77-79], I am/we are entitled to receive a copy of any credit agreement and a statement of account on request.

    I/we enclose a payment of £1 which represents the fee payable under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

    I/we understand a copy of any credit agreement along with a statement of account should be supplied within 12 working days.

    I/we understand that under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 creditors are unable to enforce an agreement if they fail to comply with the request for a copy of the agreement and statement of account under these sections of the Act.

    I/we look forward to hearing from you.

    Yours faithfully



    Your name.

    Print your name, don't sign the letter. Chances are they have a valid agreement, but they need to tell you where this extra £340.00 has come from.
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115
    Combo Breaker First Post
    Forumite
    edited 14 July 2011 at 9:13AM
    Print your name, don't sign the letter. Chances are they have a valid agreement, but they need to tell you where this extra £340.00 has come from.
    Chances are they don't. They need to explain the charges before taking out a loan otherwise the charges will be invalid. The site explains that it will cost £1 per day per £100 borrowed but doesn't explain any other fees as per a normal bank credit agreement.
    Please can somebody advise me on what to do or where to go for help here, surely I cannot be liable for this amount?
    Lots of places to go. CAB, OFT, TS... If you have the courage I'd take them to court for the illegal fees back.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • cantfindanamenotin
    cantfindanamenotin Posts: 44 Forumite
    edited 5 September 2011 at 10:25AM
    Hi
    I got a letter from 'Fredrickson International Limited'saying
    RE: (Then my name)
    We are attempting to contact the above named person regarding a personal matter and we have been provided with your address as a possible address for our subject/customer.
    If you are the person named above, please contact our office on telephone 0845 0349711.
    If however you are not the person named above , please accept pur apologies for this contact. If you are able to supply us with information as to where our subject may now reside, we would welcome contact from you so we may update our records appropriately.

    I think it may a debt dating back to a bank account i had in 2007 or a credit card i had round the same time - what should i do - around 2007 i had another debt and called an agency and they were a nightmare - i dont want to ring them cause im sure they will be just as awkward - i dont want to write and aknowledge a debt just incase its not enforcable or mine - i am easily bullied and will start handing out what ever i have (which is nothing) just to make them leave me alone - i have a toddler and im scared of them coming to the house and bullying me (and i have had these agencies knock before back in 2006 and i know what they are like banging on the door being threatening and not leaving - what can i do ???
  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    Hi and welcome

    Don't call them. Often people are advised to ignore these trying to locate letters altogether. Chances are they will write again and provide a bit of detail with regards to the debt they ar trying to collect. At that point you can reply (with a standard prove it letter http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11570893&postcount=2 ).

    If you ever have debt collectors at the door, tell them firmly to leave or that you will call the police. They must leave if you ask them to, and if they don't you are within your rights to call the police. If you ever have a company threaten to visit you at home then you can send a letter to stop them see this template - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=23635529&postcount=59

    If fredrickson write again send the prove it letter, then depending on what the reply with come back for some more advice on the best way forward.
    A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give
    or "It costs nowt to be nice"
  • Thanks feel a bit better - I knew it wasnt going to be good news as the letter was so vague - I will wait and see what they do next. Then just send the template letters.
    Has anyone ever managed to just sort out a payment scheme with a debt collection agent ? from my past troubles they just seem so stubborn they dont seem to consider a payment plan - if they take me to court will i be able to get free legal aid my basic wage isnt even 9000 a year
  • Tixy
    Tixy Posts: 31,455 Forumite
    If it does end up being your debt then the best way to deal with DCAs is to work out yourself what you can afford a month and then write to them and offer than amount (usually enclosing the first month's payment with the letter). Then regardless of what they say they will or won't accept just keep on paying what you can afford each month. And never talk to them on the phone, do everything in writing.

    Its unlikely you would be taken to court after so long but if that does happen you can get help and advice on completing the forms from this website and from one of the debt advice charities or citizens advice, you won't need a solicitor.
    A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give
    or "It costs nowt to be nice"
  • cantfindanamenotin
    cantfindanamenotin Posts: 44 Forumite
    edited 30 September 2011 at 7:57AM
    Hi
    well got a second letter stating i have ignored all previous demands (i only had the letter that i copied and put in my previous post) and they want full payment for a mobile phone company for £670 - I would type out the letter but i think you all can imagine - must be paid in full - i can use a credit card (i dont have credit cards im broke and have a consolidation loan - i cant get credit unless its from somewhere dodgy with aprs at 4000%)- just continue to ignore them, now my circumstances are completely different i work part time so my wages are less - i have a child so my expenditure is more - truthfully i could pay them £10/£15 a month and that is a stretch (and i dont go out at all) - what should i do - ive read that there is nothing protetcing a person against mobile phone bills and debts and the same laws dont apply and you have to pay even if there is no proof of the debt - More help and advice - If they take me to court is it likely that they will sort a repayment plan there or will they get baliffs ??
  • cantfindanamenotin
    cantfindanamenotin Posts: 44 Forumite
    edited 5 September 2011 at 10:25AM
    Hi
    I posted on my original thread but got no reply and things have gone a lot further now and am despereste for help about 2 weeks ago I got a second letter stating i have ignored all previous demands (i only had the letter that i copied and put in my previous post) and they want full payment for a mobile phone company for £670 - I would type out the letter but i think you all can imagine - must be paid in full - i can use a credit card (i dont have credit cards im broke and have a consolidation loan - i cant get credit unless its from somewhere dodgy with aprs at 4000%)- now my circumstances are completely different i work part time so my wages are less - i have a child so my expenditure is more maybe its this debt - i dont know they have added on some charges if it is
    Now there is a 3rd letter which has arrived today saying
    ‘Letter before Action’
    This debt must be paid in full to these offices within the next 7 days otherwise we will take immediate Action.
    Should it be necessary to issue proceedings in the County Court (or the Sheriff Court as may appropriate), further additional costs will be added to the balance outstanding.
    Outstading balance to pay now: £677.87
    Interest£0.00
    Court Fees£55.00
    Solicitor Costs £677.87
    New balance of £802.87
    If a judgment or decree remains unsatisfied a baliff or sheriff officer may be instructed to recover assets to discharge outstanding debt. Judgment debts are registered by the court. A judgement or decree against you would seriously affect your ability to obtain credit in the future. (currently im paying a consolidation loan so my credit is bad anyways – its the baliff idea that im so frightened of and the fact I can not pay this – in full maybe i can stretch to £15 )
    Payment can be accepted by maestro, delta, cheque and in some instances a credit card. (I don’t have a credit card)
    - there is no proof that i owe this to them just this letter should i rsend a prove it letter, - what should i do - ive read that there is nothing protetcing a person against mobile phone bills and debts and the same laws dont apply and you have to pay even if there is no proof of the debt - More help and advice ???? Pleas im so desperate.
  • happy_bunny_2
    happy_bunny_2 Posts: 4,488 Forumite
    Hi there,

    I would suggest first of all you write to find out if it is indeed your debt using one of the prove it letters.

    If they do take you to court, a judge can only make you pay what you can afford, even if it is £1 per month. providing it is your debt.

    The only way Bailiffs will call is if you fail to pay the amount the judge states in the CCJ.

    From what i read on here, all DCAs behave like this.

    HTH
    :beer:
  • cantfindanamenotin
    cantfindanamenotin Posts: 44 Forumite
    edited 30 September 2011 at 7:57AM
    Ill get a prove it letter in the post I spoke to The National Debt hotline today as well and they suggested the same and explained baliffs only come after you have failed to pay a ccj - They did talk to me about going down the DMP route but think this is extreme - I do have alot of debts but I pay them - (Bank, Catalouge, Maternity over payment and an old electric bill) - this one is the problem purely cause its come out of the blue , i dont believe it exisist and they are using such extreme tactics.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 342.5K Banking & Borrowing
  • 249.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 449.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 234.6K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 607.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 172.8K Life & Family
  • 247.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 15.8K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards