Aegis BPO Services Limited - Advice please!

ann_marie77 · 18 September 2008 at 12:17AM

Hi everyone,

Would value some advice please!

Got a card posted to my house this morning from Aegis BPO Services Limited who are collecting on behalf of MBNA for my arrears on my Virgin CC.

It reads the following:

"I confirm that I will be calling
On: Thursday
Between: 8am - 9pm
If inconvenient please telephone 0800 404 9315 quoting the reference number on the address side of the card"

Anyway I phoned them up as I was worried, I tried to explain my situation to the operator that I was currently trying to arrange a DMP with my creditors, etc. He asked if I could make a payment, which I told him that I couldn't until the end of the month. To which he said we could schedule a payment for that date and he was trying to get me to agreed to pay the arrears, which I refused as 1. I can't afford to pay the full amount and 2. I am unsure of how much I get until my payslip arrives and did not want to overcommit a payment.

I am worried that they will send someone round as I still live my parents and have not told them about my debt (in total £20,000 ish across various cc, catalogues, etc). I am quite ashamed of the debt I have managed to build up and am talking steps to reduce this, but can not face explaining to the parents the reasons behind my debt (over spending, etc). They are very strict and I find that I have to toe the line and obey their rules if I want to live at home and in truth would probably kick me out just to teach me a lesson.

I have spoken to my sister about my debt as she is my best friend and confidante and she knows that they may call and I have told her to tell them not to call again and in future to contact me either in writing or by telephone only. Is this right what I have told her?

Anyway my question is basically do you think this was just scare tactics to get me to phone them or do you think they will be sending someone around to my house to demand money?

ann_marie77 · 18 September 2008 at 7:18AM

bump! Would appreciate any advice or your experience with this DCA

Rabbit-in-headlights · 18 September 2008 at 8:35AM

Hi Anne-Marie, I have only had one letter from Aegis so far so can't give you any direct experiences, but from reading other posts on here I know that you do not have to speak to anyone if they do call around, and certainly don't let them into the house - and that this is usually just a scare tactic to try and get you to pay more money. i.e they probably won't even carry out their threat.

Here is a thread about another DCA, Westcot, and includes an excellent letter from excel1 that you can send them to make sure they don't visit: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=13188731&highlight=dca+visit#post13188731

(entry #6 includes the letter).

Also, if you haven't already done so, call one of the free debt advice charities for advice about how you can get back in control of your situation, eg cccs, national debtline (contact details at top of DFW forum Non-profit Debt Counsellors' List), I am with cccs, they are non-judgemental and will help you decide what is the best course of action for you.

I hope this helps, there will be others along soon who will help too, so keep posting!

RiH

ann_marie77 · 18 September 2008 at 1:57PM

Just bumping it along, to see if anyone else has had experience with this company and their tactics.

so far I haven't heard from my sister to let me know if they have called, so far so good.

Ann xXx

Rabbit-in-headlights · 18 September 2008 at 8:20PM

bumping...

crazyfj · 18 September 2008 at 9:57PM

have you thought about contacting payplan or cccs

they can give you advice and also help with interest getting stopped.

I would also clearly tell bpo that you do not want a home visit. (someone may be able guide you more on that).

lastly we all make mistakes.

i've enclosed a template that may help:-
Re: Harassment by telephone

ACCOUNT NUMBER: XXXXXXX

Dear Sirs

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing.

I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls. (Delete if necessary)

I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only.

I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine.

Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company will be recorded. (**Even if you don‘t yet have recording equipment!!**)

Yours faithfully,

[NAME HERE]
.
.

.

GeorgeUK · 18 September 2008 at 9:58PM

I have no experience with DCA's but i do know that they have no powers for collection - just like the paperboy. If someone did come to your door you could just tell them you will not discuss the debt and ask that they leave the property - if they refuse, tell them you will contact the police to have them removed as they are now trespassing.

There are a few ways you can deal with the debt. You can arrange a DMP as mentioned above (make sure to use one of the free debt charities rather than a fee paying company), or you can request they provide a copy of the credit agreement. If they are unable to do so within 12 working days then the debt is unenforcable.

Details: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=578486
Template: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=11636295#post11636295

I would suggest posting up a statement of affairs (SOA) so we can see if there are any savings to be made from your current expenditure.
https://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

ann_marie77 · 18 September 2008 at 11:16PM

Hi All,

Thanks for all your help, I really appreciate it.

Got in tonight after work and I had 4 missed calls on my answer machine, although they just hung up each time, so I don't know who called.
I also can't 1471 the number and then google it as quite convienently my battery in the phone handset has died and I can't afford to replace it until the end of the month!
Although it really bugs me why these people can't just leave a message instead of hanging up, this really annoys me as in general they normally just hang up as soon as the message starts and then they will add a administration charge on your account for their so called hardwork.

Although I think I may have jumped to conclusions that 'calling' meant coming to the house rather than 'phoning' someone, as no-one came to the house.

I've posted my SOA on here before and got some good responses off people on this board. see link below
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1088047

I had previously contacted CCCS and after speaking to them and reading different posts on this board, I decided to try and arrange DMP / repayment plans with my debtitors, I can always fall back to CCCS or Payplan if I don't get much success. My debts are as follows:

Lloyds TSB Loan - £10826.46 - No arrears
Skycard CC - £3955 - Arrears, Overlimit
Virgin CC - £2600 - Arrears, Within Limit
Halifax One CC - £550 - Overlimit
Lloyds TSB - £500 - No arrears, Within Limit
Barclaycard - £335 - No arrears, Overlimit
Next - £900 - Arrears, Overlimit
Simply Be - £1000 - Arrears, Overlimit
Choice - £125 - Within Limit
Overdraft - £800

Anyway after reading up about requesting CCA's I've put a DFW gameplan into place today.

1. Request CCA's for the following debts: SkyCard CC, Virgin CC, Next & SimplyBe, as these as the debitors which are starting to pass them over to DCA's. This is with the aim of delaying them slightly in requesting payments as I can then tell the DCA's the accounts are in dispute, etc. Can't remember signing any agreements for these although this was around 2004-5. Although I don't really dispute owning the money, as I do, but if I can delay them a bit I will.

2. Send off letter to Aegis-Virgin MBNA to inform them not to arrange Doorstop Collections.

3. Pay extra on my smaller CC's especially the Barclaycard and Halifax as these are currently overlimit. I need to avoid any more fees and risk losing them. I don't really want to lose these one's as I hope to rebuild my credit rating with them in the future, no debt but managed spending, ie. fully paid off each month.

4. Pay extra off my overdraft.

5. Progress my DMP for the debts I haven't request CCA's.

6. Put any spare money into my saving account for when I finally start paying the other debt which I am requesting CCA's for.

After reading other posts and advice on this forum, I think this is probably a good way to progress my DFW gameplan. I feel that I have learnt so much from this. If anyone else has any comments or suggestions, I would really appreciate them.

Thanks,

Ann
xXx

GeorgeUK · 18 September 2008 at 11:39PM

Hi Ann

It's usually better to request the CCA's from the DCA's as there is a better chance they will not have them (Although you can still request them if they are with the original creditor). Bear in mind though that there was a change in legislation for accounts opened after 5th April 2007 regarding the prescribed terms - just incase. Also remember never to sign a letter that you are sending to a DCA - you don't want them to get hold of your signature.

You are legally entitled to request a copy of your CCA at any time. It may be worth requesting them for all loans and creditcards (remember to include the £1 postal order).

I would send the letter to stop doorstep collections and also the telephone harassment one. Just tell them all communication must be in writing if they phone.

I agree that you need to get back within the limits of the cards. Overpaying these until you are back within limit is a good idea. After they are back in limit however, i would look at the cards you have not had late payments on. It is usually advised that it is best to pay the minimum to all debts but that with the highest APR so that you are reducing the amount of interest you pay. If you have a card that you can clear that you have not had recent late payments to (and hopefully with a decent credit limit), it may be possible for you to get offerred an incentive to keep the card open - either 0% or low interest life of balance. As you are an existing customer, it won't usually require a credit check so anything on your credit file shouldn't be a problem.

Have you looked at your credit file? You can do so free at experian (if you cancel within 30 days) and see if there is anything that may stop you getting offerred credit - late payments, defaults, CCJ's etc. If not, you may also be able to take advantage of a 0% promotion on a new creditcard - new customers usually get longer promotional offers.

josh83 · 26 September 2008 at 3:07PM

i had same post card this morning so thought i'd ring and face it straight on,they were chasing up for mbna but the lady i spoke to was very sympathetic when i told here i was entering a dmp with debtcare,she told me she can't stop the phone calls or letters and she hoped i got it sorted(in a nice manner)

GeorgeUK · 26 September 2008 at 3:28PM

Is debtcare a free service?

You can set up a DMP with CCCS or Payplan which won't charge monthly fees.

Aegis BPO Services Limited - Advice please!

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