Halifax Collections and DMP headache

JenDom · 8 December 2017 at 12:02AM

Has anyone on a DMP had any problems with Halifax - particularly their Collections department? I just really need to vent! Here is my debt management plane diary so far:

September - set up a DMP with StepChange (I am eternally grateful to them btw!)
All creditors accept apart from Halifax.
November - first payment went out. Halifax Collections ring me at work asking me if everything is ok as I have not paid my minimum payment on my credit card. I explained about StepChange and my DMP with them. Halifax say they have not received any proposals from StepChange. I contact StepChange, they say they've sent them my DMP to their website portal but the proposal was rejected.
December - second payment out. Halifax Collections ring me at work again basically saying the exact same things as their first phone call. I ring StepChange and the same conversation as above happens, except that when I contact Halifax Collections with StepChange's response, they insist that StepChange contact them BY PHONE. I inform Halifax that StepChange does not work that way (even I know that!)

Bottom line: Halifax insists they have not received any DMP proposal from StepChange. StepChange counter that they have evidence Halifax rejected my DMP in October. StepChange very kindly resent my DMP again in December while I was on the phone to them just to placate Halifax and my growing panic. I will contact Halifax Collections in a week's time to see if they have received my DMP.

I think what upsets me more is that Halifax have my mobile and home phone number but they ring my work place. I did all the above while in an open plan office and it was all I could do to stop getting hysterical.

Scrolling through this forum I cannot seem to find anyone else who have had experience with Halifax Collections. I cannot be the only one!

Thank you for listening.

sourcrates · 8 December 2017 at 12:31AM

They are just been awkward beggars, in future stay off the phone to them, I’d send a letter, again informing them of the DMP, but also tell them to remove your phone numbers from there systems, and to only contact you in writing in future.

I’d also stop going from piller to post with them over payments as well, if they don’t
like your proposals, they will simply sell the debt on, a solution which may benefit both parties to be honest.

National_Debtline · 8 December 2017 at 10:34AM

Hi JenDom

Do you remember ever giving Halifax your work number? Either way, you are entitled to ask for all contact in writing in future. Or you could ask them to only use one of the other numbers you provided, whatever you feel comfortable with. If they ignore your request consider making a complaint, this can be taken on the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) should you need to.

With regards to the DMP, creditors don't have to agree to take part but I agree the confusing part is why they are saying they haven't received the offer from Stepchange. It sounds like some kind of breakdown in communication along the way.

As sourcrates says, the most likely option if Halifax continue to refuse the offer is the debt will be passed to a debt collection agency (DCA). You might actually find Stepchange have more luck dealing with them. A DMP is an easy way for a DCA to get a fair, regular payment towards the debt. Try not to worry about the situation, but if you are still concerned have a chat with Stepchange.

Susie
@natdebtline

JenDom · 14 December 2017 at 8:55PM

Hello

Just an update - Halifax have finally said (in writing!) that they have received my DMP proposal and are now setting in motion all the necessary steps they have to legally go through as happened with all my other creditors. Hopefully I can now move on to actually paying them all off as I fully intend to do.

Thank you Sourcrates and Susie for your kind replies.

Halifax Collections and DMP headache

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