Blemain Finance

To start with I hope that I have used the correct section. I would appreciate some advice on Blemain Finance. I have done a search and have found some old threads but they do not seem relavent.

From what I have read I understand Blemain are a last resort. We took a secured loan out with them in 2000. At the time our credit history meant that other avenues were not an option. We have had a few problems in the past where some of the payments have been a few months behind but in the last few years I would say that we have not been behind.

Just lately we seem to get nothing but hassle from them and it is causing a lot of stress. We have now paid off the loan (including interest) but still have outstanding late charges and default interest. We normally pay by ringing up. This is from the time when we cancelled the standing order as we knew that the funds would not be available but we did contact them and make regular payment. On several occasions we have been contacted and told that the payment is overdue even though it wasn't (due that day). I know that leaving it to the day is not ideal.

In October they left us an answerphone message with a contact number. The full number could not be heard so we called the general number. They tried to find our account but couldn't. In short after a long period on hold we were told that we didn't owe anything and it was probably just a sales call to see if we wanted another loan. It turn out that there was actually six months still to go. We queried what had happen but we were told that that was nothing on our account. There wouldn't be as it looks like the wrong account was access. We asked them to look into as the phone call was probably recorded. We have heard nothing about this. To be fair we have not followed it up and just wanted to pay everything off.

The more dealings we have with them the more incompenent I think they are. I can't believe a word they say. On several occasions teamleaders have agreed that the payment is not overdue and that we should not have been contacted.

They have the wrong postcode for us and we keep telling telling them and we have even written to them. This has caused a lot of problems. This may have been why we were told that we did not owe anything. I doubt that half the letters (changed at £30) they have sent out got here due to the postcode. I am wondering if this is against the Data Protection Act.

Today we had another call asking us when when were going to pay. As it happens my brother paid today as we believed that it was due tomorrow. So he was suprised to get home today to find that they had been hassling my mother.

At the moment I am not sure who is looking after the account Bleinmain or Monarch Recoveries. It turns out that the payment is actually due on the 29th of the month not the 2nd. I cannot find the paperwork which would confirm this. We have been paying by the 2nd for years and this has never come up before. The teamleaders have even agreed in the past that it was not overdue. If the date was the 29th this would be incorrect.

We have asked for a breakdown of the charges and were told that noboby had asked for this before. I find this hard to believe. I know that we owe charges. We have been late in the past so I would expect these. I just want to make sure that they are fair. The more we talk to Blemain/Monarch the more concern I am that there may be some charges that are unfair.

Some friends have said just pay them off and put it down to experience as they are a large company and will win even if they have included unfair charges. I know that we have not been ideal customers but I do feel that we have been treated unfairly. We have to keep calling them and are kept on hold. They do not seem to be able to answer a question without checking first but they still seem to give incorrect information. I know that it is their job to chase up late payments but does that mean they have to talk to people like they are children.

I am not sure where to go from here. I am wondering if I should put everything in writing or asked for recordings of our telephone conversations. The thing is that I do not believe anything they say anymore. Any advice appreciated.