Ask a DCA Worker

Peekay32

Hello ladies and gentlemen, I work at a DCA. If there's anything you want to know, ask and I'll try my best.

A few things to note:-

- I'm not a phone monkey
- I don't work for one of the big players
- Different DCAs have different policies and ways of working and what I say does NOT cover all DCAs.
- I will try not to give out advice. Anything I say that looks advice-like should be taken with a large pinch of salt.

Also please no abuse, I'm a nice guy, honestly.


Now ask away...

tallyhoh

What happens if you try & collect & the people at the address say the person you want has moved? & they are not on electoral register.

Thanks.

penguin83

Hi Peekay - welcome to MSE

What sort of percentage full and finals are you accepting at the minute? Has it changed because of the current climate. We are not in a position at the moment to offer any but it would be handy to know what sort of amount we are working towards.

Thanks in advance. xx

Peekay32

tallyhoh wrote: »

What happens if you try & collect & the people at the address say the person you want has moved? & they are not on electoral register.

Thanks.

We write off if the debt is low value, alternatively we get an external tracing agency to track them down. I think they use one of the primary credit check databases to do this and then verify their information in some way or another.

smashedbooboo

Hi Peekay, and welcome to the boards, We do not judge here, and all are welcome. It would be good to get some help from the other side. I hope you dont get any abuse, but if you do then please dont take it personally. This is a hightly charged and emotive subject. We have had many peeps coming from DCAs but they never stick around to help as they said they would. As i said before welcome hun and will look forward to you posting again. Thank you. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Peekay32

penguin83 wrote: »

Hi Peekay - welcome to MSE

What sort of percentage full and finals are you accepting at the minute? Has it changed because of the current climate. We are not in a position at the moment to offer any but it would be handy to know what sort of amount we are working towards.

Thanks in advance. xx

Cheers penguin!

Frankly I couldn't answer that question as working out a settlement figure could only logically apply where the DCA has bought a portfolio of debt. . The DCA that I work for isn't big enough yet to buy debt, so it works for commission - so for this reason when it comes down to settlement it tends to act as a mediator between the creditor and the debtor.

I'm going a little bit down the rambling path here and I don't really know what I'm talking about, but it doesn't make logical sense to me for a DCA to try to negotiate a settlement - either a debt is valid in full or not! (By valid I mean that they have docs to prove it exists in court) The idea of settlement smells like weakness on the DCA's part.

Make sure the b**tards back up their claims!

Lodge

Hi Peekay32.

I've got three of my debts in the hands of a DCA - each one is around 5K.

I've come to payment arrangements with each of the DCA's but the amounts I am paying seem very high compared to some people on here.

Each DCA said these are the minimum amounts they would accept (around £75 to each debt per month) so I agreed to pay them in fear of being taken to Court if I tried to negotiate lower payments.

Could you answer me two questions please?

1. Could I have negotiated lower monthly payments?
2. How often do DCA's take people to Court? By this I mean How often do they persue a debt through the Courts rather than come to a payment arrangement?

Thanks in advance.

D.

HeadInSand_2

Hi PeeKay32, will DCAs ever start to use munitions? Such as small semi-automatic weapons or anti-personnel mines?

rog2

Peekay32 wrote: »

Hello ladies and gentlemen, I work at a DCA. If there's anything you want to know, ask and I'll try my best.

Also please no abuse, I'm a nice guy, honestly.

Hi Peekay

First of all, and taking your post at face value, I accept that you may well be a 'nice guy' so I will refrain from any abuse, although the 'profession' that you represent, albeit at a very junior level' has never shown the same consideration towards me, or, it would seem, towards the majority of posters on this forum.

I do have a couple of genuine questions which are aimed at 'Debt Collection' as a whole, so any implied criticism, or even disgust, at the tactics used by many in your 'profession' is not meant as a personal 'attack', so please do not take it as such:

1. Please could you tell me why so many of your 'profession' seem to carry out their trade in a manner that completely goes against the OFT Debt Collection Guidelines to which they should adhere, in order to maintain their licences? http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/oft664.pdf
2. Please could you tell me why so many DCAs try to collect on 'alleged debts' which are out of statute, even after the 'alleged debtor' has informed them that he/she will not be making any payments towards the 'alleged debt' as it is 'statute barred'? http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=25_liability_for_debts_and_the_limitation_act
3. Please could you tell me why it is that so many DCAs attempt to 'pursue' debts without having ensured that they have the correct paperwork, including, where applicable, true copies of any executed consumer credit agreement and deeds of assignment? http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=getting_a_copy_of_your_credit_agreement_and_account_details
4. Please could you tell me why so many DCAs ignore, or appear to ignore, requests from 'aleged debtors' to accept payments at a rate that the 'debtor' can afford?
5. Please could you tell me why some DCAs will suggest that the 'debtor' takes out a loan - often with a company that is reccomended by that DCA, in order to 'pay off' the 'debt' that they are pursuing?
6. Please could you tell me why it is that very few, if any, DCAs will advise any 'alleged debtor' to seek advice, from any of the debt counselling charities, either regarding the 'debt' that they are pursuing, or about the debtor's overall financial situation?
7. Please could you tell me why so many DCAs will imply that they have powers that they do not have - such as sending in bailiffs, siezing property or petitioning for bankruptcy on 'debts' of less than £750.00?
8. Please could you tell me why it is that many DCAs, operating on behalf of the original creditor, will automatically assume that the original creditor is 'in the right' regarding a 'debt' which may well be in dispute?

As you say that you are 'one of the nice guys' and do not work for one of the 'big players' I have, deliberately, left out any question relating to 'attitude', 'threats' or even 'physical behaviour' of some members of your 'profession' that is often reported on these boards.

I fully accept that not all Debt Collectors are either nasty or evil, but, as you will, no doubt, appreciate it is an 'industry' that will only survive out of misfortune, and, in the current economic circumstances, is one of the few 'industries' where growth is virtually guaranteed.
I also accept that there is, and always will be, a need for a 'Debt Collection Service' and that not all 'debtors' are in debt unintentionally, but, as it stands, it is a very poorly regulated 'Industry' and will, inevitably, attract an element of 'opportunists' who can see an 'easy buck' to be made out of other people's misery.

That said, you have my, albeit guarded, welcome to DFW. As this is a forum primarily for 'debtors' who are attempting to 'deal with their debts' helpful and informative input, in line with the forums code of 'etiquette' http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/announcement.html?f=76 are always welcome.

I would ask you to accept, even tolerate, any cynicism that you may find in my reply, albeit unintended on my part, as there have been several members of your 'profession' who have posted here, in the past, initially 'offering help' yet have gone on to 'Troll' this forum and to try to discredit any advice given to those who are unfortunate enough to have to deal with DCAs.

stapeley

Rog 2 your a star !

dotstar24

well said Rog2 x