Help... for collectors?

CreditManagerNI

I have been reading for a while various threads on here and specifically problems with Creation Finance.

I am a Credit Manager in Northern Ireland who has been in debt before and struggled ou of it after 5 years of fighting with a lovely collection of 9 defaults to my name. I understand the problemseven though I work on the other side of things now and I hope that my problems with debt makes me better at what I do now.

I noticed some posts about Creation Consumer Finance and snipits of letters they have sent and they all seem to be very demanding and certainly the approach of the collectors seems to be very aggressive.

What is the main problem in peoples dealings with these companies? Is it purely the aggressive and threatening letters that people are getting? Is that the problem? When I was in debt I buried my head and did nothing about it until Debt Collection Agencies were appointed and I had to call. I found them all very helpful and without their understanding I would more likely have a string of CCJs now.

Has anyone any experience of these over the years? Have things changed that much??

GeorgeUK

Hi CM. I think you better get your flak jacket ready.

I have not had any dealings with debt collection agencies myself, but the board is ful of stories of threats etc. Now that all the legislation regarding debts is available online, people are becoming more aware of their rights and the debt collection agencies powers and what conduct is required as well as their legal obligations.

When you see a post with a woman distraught after a DCA told her to go down to the supermarket to get some cardboard boxes because that's where her children are going to be sleeping soon - i take it this isn't what you would be expecting from someone in your profession to be saying?

Good luck with the debts and also with the job. Hopefully we'll be able to say "things are so different in NI, there's this one chap..."

petrafyde

This has to be a wind-up!

Yes Mr.CreditManagerNI it does have something to do with threatening letters, abusive phonecalls and the visits. Not to mention irritation and pure frustration at the fact these companies can buy the debt for as little as 5% when the original creditor wouldn't allow us to pay it!

Ta-daa!

brightonman123

Irresponsible lending by the company

I have been on both sides of the coin- as credit controller (most lately business customers, who are the worst!), and as a debtor.

I think trying to get people to acknowedge they owe whatever is half the battle.. depending on the company setup and backing, spreading payments could keep customers more likely to pay up, and loyal to your brand (hope that some likelyhood of any bad debts has been factored in to your initial prices!).

chase letters threatenin blah blah dont scare me now- i knw i am in shtook!

even when i was in a well paid job (for the area), i had no chance of getting a mortgage for my flat, thats WITH a (ingerited from parents) right to buy discount factored in!

credit cards, imo, have been far too easy to get, and rack up balances which can get out of control.

centralisng call centres for almost every large firm is a mistake- there's no 'local knowledge', or discretion..

iam trying to pay what I can, but do intend to pay everything off (bar the ripoff fees!).

boredofbeingathome

Is the OP extracting the urine? Honestly...

CreditManagerNI

petrafyde wrote: »

This has to be a wind-up!

Yes Mr.CreditManagerNI it does have something to do with threatening letters, abusive phonecalls and the visits. Not to mention irritation and pure frustration at the fact these companies can buy the debt for as little as 5% when the original creditor wouldn't allow us to pay it!

Ta-daa!

Not a wind up and I completely and categorically agree it is disgraceful that debts are bought and sold frivilously. I was at the receiving end of a debt sale and still get letters for a debt that I paid 8 years ago to one agency and it has been sold on a few times since it was paid. That god for the Statute of Limitations!

CreditManagerNI

I agree that collections in the UK are not good. It is good to see another credit person here with similar experiences. Even us involved in credit have seen the the worst of these agencies. If any of my staff told someone to go to the supermarket and get boxes they would be out the door before my boot hit them because they would hear me roar!

These sort of things are totally unacceptable, EVER! Does anyone have a generic name and shame web site or can this site setup something to name and shame agencies?

I also believe that part of the problem is not the fact that the information is there for consumers as I feel this is essential but the companies out there offereing pre-pack IVA and bankruptcies when the best thing to do in most cases is to make a call and say I want to sort this out, help me. I know it isnt just as simple but it is a first step.

Now the flak jacket is one but please try and see the meaning behind what I have written, it is not meant to point any fingers anywhere.