Please please advise me! Panic-stricken.

GardenLover

Hello all,
I have just had a card in the post from MBNA which said someone would be calling to my house today! I rang the number and insisted no-one calls around EVER. The operator confirmed that no-one would call at the house. I also asked them again to stop ringing me. They said they couldn't stop ringing me as they're a telephone banking service. Is this true? And will they honour their statement that they won't come to my door? I am beside myself. How much worse is this going to get? Will it get worse when they sell my debt on to a DCA? O god what a mess. I live at my parents' house and they absolutely must not find out what trouble I'm in financially.
Sorry this is such a disorganised, inarticulate post but I'm full of tears and the shakes. I feel so alone and afraid.
Thank you for any advice - I'd really appreciate any experiences anyone has X

abbecer

Sorry I have no idea of procedures to do with anything like that. Just didn't want to read and pass you by. Someone will be along soon who has a lot more knowledge than I do.

BIG BIG HUGS XXXXX

Rebecca x

amyandjon

why are you frightened of parents finding out dont carry this burden alone... my parents know my financial state why should i be ashamed im doing something about it now learning my mistakes you can end up getting more stressed if you bottle it all inside good luck with your journey x

Deep_In_Debt

There is a letter on the forum somewhere that you can send to ask them to stop calling you which send recorded delivery.

Will see if I can find a link.

Piquant_2

Gardenlover, try not to worry too much. Someone who knows about these things will be along shortly. You're never alone on this site.

Piquant x

GardenLover

Thank you for your replies. Sorry to bump my own post but I'm in panic-mode.

CCCS_Sarah

GardenLover wrote: »

Hello all,
I have just had a card in the post from MBNA which said someone would be calling to my house today! I rang the number and insisted no-one calls around EVER. The operator confirmed that no-one would call at the house. I also asked them again to stop ringing me. They said they couldn't stop ringing me as they're a telephone banking service. Is this true? And will they honour their statement that they won't come to my door? I am beside myself. How much worse is this going to get? Will it get worse when they sell my debt on to a DCA? O god what a mess. I live at my parents' house and they absolutely must not find out what trouble I'm in financially.
Sorry this is such a disorganised, inarticulate post but I'm full of tears and the shakes. I feel so alone and afraid.
Thank you for any advice - I'd really appreciate any experiences anyone has X

Hi GardenLover,

Try not to worry. The letter has probably been sent to many other people the same day, as this sounds like a standard collections letter.

There is no guarantee that they will not send someone to your home, however it is highly unlikely due to the cost factor.

You are entitled to have your number removed from their database, as anything important they are going to send in the post anyway. If you write them a letter requesting that they remove your number from their database, as this is causing undue stress. They have to do this to comply with the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidelines.

If you find they still continue to call then make a note of dates, times, peoples names etc and make an official complaint.

Do you have an arrangement in place to pay back the debt? If so, if this is based on your income and expenditure do not be pressured to pay anymore.

Hope this information helps, if there is anything else you are worried about just give me a little PM and I’m happy to answer any questions for you.

Sarah

GardenLover

Thank you CCCS_Sarah. I am paying £1 per month to my creditors - I am about to start my student nurse training and my bursary will only be £500 per month so £1 is all I can afford until I am qualified.
Sorry to panic - I know I need to toughen up as I'm in for the long haul.
Many thanks again for your advice.

GardenLover

I am so sorry to post again - does anyone know if there are any rules about how credit card companies contact you by post? Are they supposed to send correspondence in a plain envelope? The card I got today was a postcard, with MBNA clearly printed on it.
Again, apologies for resurrecting this post but I just know I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight if I don't get some kind of plan of action together.
Thanks, as always XX

fatbelly

OFT Debt collection Guidance - pdf file here

2.6 (j) describes an unfair practice as

'acting in a way likely to be publicly embarrassing to the debtor either
deliberately or through lack of care, for example, 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.'

Feel free to remind them of their obligations

very_silly_and_scared

Me again,

Have PMed you. Stop worrying for tonight, and don't forget it gets quiet on here late in the evenings....I don't know the legal requirements BUT in your circumstances with your parents etc you need to insist as strongly as possible even if it isn't. Your correspondence should be private. This clearly isn't

Sorry can't help you with the practicalities but someone will be along in the morning and for tonight, stop worrying as there is nothing much else you can do til the morning....when at 8am you can call CCCS for advice and at 9am Debtline...! xxx