!!!!!! - Strange Letter from DCA

incesticde · 21 February 2008 at 6:12PM

Hi folks,

I've just had a letter from the DCA (FCM) handling my last outstanding debt. The letter says

"we are sorry you have not stuck to your repayment schedule, we are considering court action etc etc . Baliffs etc"

It gives my balance as £6,100.

BUT ...

I set up a standing order with this company over three years ago and have not missed one payment, their last debit was on the 1st Feb of 100 quid (i can see it online now). And according to my records my balance is just over 3 grand with them now.

Why have i got this letter? Was it because i didn't reply to a request from them to increase the payment by 50% to £150? Or is it just a fcuk up on their part? Or scare tactics to get me to call them?

And why has the balance they have given the original opeining balance and not the currect balance?

I can prove all payments, I phoned them last year to get my balance (whcih was around 4,500 then).

What are they up to?

Broken_hearted · 21 February 2008 at 6:19PM

Have you got proof that interest was stopped, if so write and ask them for a break down of your account.

incesticde · 21 February 2008 at 6:54PM

Broken_hearted wrote: »

Have you got proof that interest was stopped, if so write and ask them for a break down of your account.

Hmmm.. Good point

Would the DCA be required to tell me that my balance was subject to interest and give me an APR etc?

<edit>

I have just found a statement from FCM from 17/Oct/2006 which gives my balance as £4733.70, and if you take off the payments since that gives the current total as £3253.70 (which matches my personal figure to the penny). So I have not paid any intrest on the account for at least the last 16 months.

The plot thickens.. what are they up to?????

incesticde · 21 February 2008 at 7:38PM

I've been plowing through my old letters from FCM

I have confirmation that my debt has not had any intrest payed on it for over three years at least
I have not missed a payment in at least three years
My original debt was £8500
I have a letter from them dated 4/11/2004 which shows my balance as £6,273.70 (I have paid £3040 since then, and can prove it)

My balance will nexver have been the amount stated in today's letter,
and surely they wouldn't add intrest on after three years

Is this a shakedown?

fermi · 21 February 2008 at 7:47PM

You have said yourself that you have been paying them £100 per month for 3 years without missing a payment.

A DCA will see that as a sign that they can probably screw some more out of you by applying some psychological pressure.

The DCA is probably attempting to make you call them up in a "worried mood" so they can try to make you up the payments.

Stating that you have missed payments when you haven't is a common trick to do this. As is sending you a letter stating the remaining balance is way way above what it should be.:rolleyes:

They may have simply made a mistake, but I would lay odds against it.

AGB863 · 21 February 2008 at 7:48PM

I have a couple of clients who have standing orders to pay the agreed amounts to the DCA's and at least twice a year they get a letter to say they have defaulted on the account - saying exactly what your letter says - but when it is investigated - it is usually because of the SO due to be paid over a weekend and the banks don't send it till the Monday so that it then arrives in the DCA'a account later than normal, but by then the DCA's computer system will raise and automated missed payment letter.

Have you spoken to the DCA's concerned?

fermi · 21 February 2008 at 7:51PM

AGB863 wrote: »

I have a couple of clients who have standing orders to pay the agreed amounts to the DCA's and at least twice a year they get a letter to say they have defaulted on the account - saying exactly what your letter says - but when it is investigated - it is usually because of the SO due to be paid over a weekend and the banks don't send it till the Monday so that it then arrives in the DCA'a account later than normal, but by then the DCA's computer system will raise and automated missed payment letter.

That's interesting AGB863. How would that explain that they quote the outstanding balance as being nearly £3000 more than it should be?

Sorry, not trying to be argumentative.

EDIT: I find it hard to believe that this happening just after they have asked for a 50% increase in payments and have been knocked back is just a coincidence.

Cleosmum · 21 February 2008 at 7:52PM

I wouldnt ring, I would write confirming the dates and amounts of the payments, with the opening balance, and current balance, and ask them to update their records accordingly, telling them they clearly have some computer/database glitch with the records they hold. Maybe CC the company director at their home address, they always LOVE that lol.

AGB863 · 21 February 2008 at 8:01PM

fermi wrote: »

That's interesting AGB863. How would that explain that they quote the outstanding balance as being nearly £3000 more than it should be?

Have not come across this before - but it still needs looking in to - it could still be a glitch.

DCA's do "slip up" I had a letter from a DCA this week, that was addressed to me at our organisation, with my client reference, accepting an offer of repayment to a debt of £29 per month, which was the amount that was offered, but the DCA's account number was incorrect for my clients account and it had someone elses name on - not one of our clients at all.

When I rang the DCA concerned they were adament that the named person was one of my clients and that they had recieved signed authority for me to work on their behalf - after about 15 minutes they admitted that there must have been some administration error.

fermi · 21 February 2008 at 8:07PM

AGB863 wrote: »

Have not come across this before - but it still needs looking in to - it could still be a glitch.

True. It could be a glitch, and needs to be queried so that if a record is incorrect it can be put right.

Maybe I'm too cynical, but a lot of glitch's seem to be in the DCA's favour and are ones that would result in the debtor calling the DCA up in a panic.:rolleyes:

Oh well. As long as incesticde is prepared to stand their ground and not be bullied into making unaffordable payments then it doesn't matter as long as the record is set straight.

incesticde · 21 February 2008 at 8:21PM

fermi wrote: »

True. It could be a glitch, and needs to be queried so that if a record is incorrect it can be put right.

Maybe I'm too cynical, but a lot of glitch's seem to be in the DCA's favour and are ones that would result in the debtor calling the DCA up in a panic.:rolleyes:

Oh well. As long as incesticde is prepared to stand their ground and not be bullied into making unaffordable payments then it doesn't matter as long as the record is set straight.

Many thanks for to all the posters for their advice.

(One thing I have noticed is that the reference number in the new letter is not the same as the one I've had on all the other accounts)

I think this is just a shakedown to try and get some more money out of me but it's not gonna happen.

Have no worries Fermi I will stand my ground and set the record straight. :cool:

I shall send a letter asking for a full breakdown of my account, detailing my payment history (which i have in Excel ready to go) and asking them to confirm/deny my current balance, just to confirm it's not an IT glitch

And as they tried a shakedown (Soprano-talk) maybe I should try one of my own... Seeing as I have to write to them Is it too late to ask for a copy of the Original Signed Credit agreement?

<<woke up this morning, got myself a gun>>

!!!!!! - Strange Letter from DCA

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