Threatening Treatment from MBNA

MBNA are t*ssers I have reported them to the OFT for their lies, threats and unethical treatment, it is true they are an american bank but that means absolutely nothing - I was told that if I didn't pay up they would send men around in a white van with "debtor collectors" written on it - this isn't just against OFT guidlines it is in fact against the law which I told them and said if they did anything as stupid as that I would have the "men in the white van" arrested.

Its easy to say but you must understand they are bullies and like all bullies if you stand up to them they will back down - I found a good ploy was, if I couldn't think of what to say to them just laugh at them - actually laugh and when they ask why just say they are talking rubbish and hang up the phone.

In answer to your question no they can't send anyone around to take goods or do anything else their anger comes mostly from the knowledge that if you are paying something and dealing with your debt with the help of CAB there is nothing they can do to you at all.

Surely if a company that is regulated by the FSA and the OFT which are regulating bodies for the UK has to work within the rules set down by the regulating bodies for the country that they are operating in. I wouldn't for one min believe that they do not have to follow British law because they are an American company, they HAVE to or they would not be licensed here. Contact National debt line or CCCS for advise on this and let them take the burden off your shoulders, these kind of company's stand up and take note when they are involved. Also if you have already been defaulted by this or any other company don't worry about he debt being passed on as then you can give a full and final settlement figure of a lower amount than what the original company would of accepted as the amount is sold on for very little. Don't let them get you down, deal with them only by letter not over the phone, search out the posts by harassed as he has posted some really good letters to send out to collection company's and more importantly, don't worry. if it ends up going to court and you show that you have tried to deal with them then the chances are the court will rule in you favour not theirs.

Feel free to PM me if you want to chat, i had a similar problem with a loan i had from direct line and open + direct 12 months ago, it was hell.

Wether or not they are an American company, to trade / deal in the financial world in the UK, they have to have a licence issued by the Office of Fair Trading and as such there are guidlines that they have to adhere to when collecting debts otherwise a complaint can be be made and they could have their licence revoked.

Below is part of the guidlines for you to read, esp the threating to send in collectors etc

Here are a couple of the relevant section from the OFT's guidance for debt collectors


2 UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES

Communication

2.1 It is unfair to communicate, in whatever form, with consumers in an unclear, inaccurate or misleading manner.
2.2 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:
a. use of official looking documents intended or likely to mislead debtors as to their status, e.g. documents made to resemble court claims.
b. leaving out or presenting information in such a way that it creates a false or misleading impression or exploits debtors' lack of knowledge
c. those contacting debtors not making clear who they are, who they work for, what their role is, what the purpose of the contact is
d. unnecessary and unhelpful use of legal and technical language, e.g. use of Latin phrases
e. failing to provide debtors or creditors with information on status of debts, e.g. not providing requested balance statements when reasonably requested
f. contacting debtors at unreasonable times
g. ignoring or disregarding debtors' legitimate wishes in respect of when and where to contact them, e.g. shift workers who ask not to be telephoned during certain times of the day
h. asking or instructing debtors to make contact on premium rate telephone numb

Physical/psychological harassment

2.5 Putting pressure on debtors or third parties is considered to be oppressive.
2.6 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:
a. contacting debtors at unreasonable times and at unreasonable intervals
b. pressurising debtors to sell property, to raise funds by further borrowing or to extend their borrowing
c. using more than one debt collection business at the same time resulting in repetitive and/or frequent contact by different parties
d. not ensuring that an adequate history of the debt is passed on as appropriate resulting in repetitive and/or frequent contact by different parties
e. not informing the debtor when their case has been passed on to a different debt collector
f. pressurising debtors to pay in full, in unreasonably large instalments, or to increase payments when they are unable to do so
g. making threatening statements or gestures or taking actions which suggest harm to debtors
h. ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment
i. disclosing or threatening to disclose debt details to third parties unless legally entitled to do so
j. acting in a way likely to be publicly embarrassing to the debtor either deliberately or through lack of care, e.g. by not putting correspondence in a sealed envelope and putting it through a letterbox, thereby running the risk that it could be read by third parties.

The link to the whole document well worth a read.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/...50/0/oft664.pdf

Morgan Stanley are also an American bank who when they were contacted by cccs on my behalf with my offer wrote to me saying fine we accept that for a year will review in October 2006 and I have never heard from them again I feel that was more than reasonable it is fair that the situation should have a yearly review being an American bank working out of the UK didnt seem to turn them in to agressive rude bullies.

*I will not be bullied or be made destitute by billion dollar companies*

Brilliant, Sparkle.

That's my new motto.

Thank you.