Who regulates Debt Collection Agencies?

Amethyst30

Please can anyone help? I have been trying to manage my debts, been through CAB but am now making arrangements on my own. In May this year I wrote to all my debtors using the last information the CAB had given me, one of which was Moorcroft debt Recovery, whom I belived were managing two accounts. When I wrote to everyone I made an offer and sent cheque payments to back it up. Moorcroft cashed the cheques then wrote to me saying they weren't handling the accounts. So I wrote to the original account owners and asked what was going on. I had no reply.Then Moorcroft wrote to me saying they were handling one but not the other, and to use a new reference number. Fine I said - what has happened to the money I have sent you so far? ie the money for the account you are handling should reflect the money you already had, plus can you confirm that you have sent the money on for the account you are not handling -if not give it me back. When I formally complained, all they did was confirm they'd accepted my offer, and when I said what about my other isses well they've ignored me.

I've written to CSA and Financial Ombudsman (which is the organisation Moorcroft tells you handles complaints if you cant resolve it with them.) The financial ombudsman tells me they cant help me because it originally was a mobile phone bill. They suggest Ofcom. I contact Ofcom who tell me they cant deal with it because its no longer owned by the mobilephone company. What???

How can it be that it is entirely dependant on where the debt originated as to who will deal with fraudulent behaviour of debt collection agencies? So if one agency is handling more than one of your accounts, you could end up having to complain to more than one regulator. Thats if you can get anyone to take it on. I'm having to deal with a bad case of passing the buck. And all the while the debt collection agency is laughing because they are not being made to be accountable.

I have been diligently making my monthly payments even though I have no faith that its reducing my debt, frankly I am too scared to stop the payments because of all the threats I'll get.

And it gets worse, two weeks ago I then receive a letter from an entirely different company you now claim to be handling the account, the balance not only does not take into account the money I already sent Moorcroft but has gone up more than it was to start with. I write to them and ask who sold them the account, why the balance has increased and has Moorcroft sent them on the money they received after the account was apparently sold (which they cashed and did not return to me, or tell me the account had been sold). I've had no reply.

Why shouldn't I be told what is going on with the money I send? The CSA promotes reasonable behaviour, but only for those who volunteer to adhere to the code ( clearly none of these companies).

I'm a single parent of two young children, I work full time, I'm not trying to shirk my responsibilities, I want to manage my debt and pay people back, but I fail to see how I will ever be clear when I get messed about like this.

Sorry for the ramble but I am at my wits end

RAS

Hi

Talk to the trading Standards Office nearest Moorcroft's office.

Did you make it absolutely plain that the second cheque was for the account which Moorcroft are not handling?

10past6

RAS wrote: »

Talk to the trading Standards Office nearest Moorcroft's office.

When you mention Moorcroft, they won't be surprised :rotfl:

Amethyst30

RAS wrote: »

Hi
Did you make it absolutely plain that the second cheque was for the account which Moorcroft are not handling?

Oh yes, couldn't have been more clearer if I'd used phonetics, I've got more horror stories than Stephen King with regards to various Debt Collection Agencies. They are happy to scare you into not knowing what you are doing but when you get the courage to look at what they are doing and question their behaviour thats when it gets ugly.

Am now a little nervous about their notoriety though..........

Amethyst30

Update - The OFT also wont help. Have come to the conclusion that debt collection agencies can do what the hell they please.

Moorcroft have now sold the debt on, they didnt tell me so I was surprised to receive the letters from the new company - laughably enough when I phoned Moorcroft they said they didnt know anything about it and I should send them copies of the letters so they could investigate, which I did.

I also wrote to t-mobile and the new company. I eventually get a letter from t-mobile confirming whats going on. This was back in October and Moorcroft still havent written to me. Didn't stop them still accepting payments I sent them after the date they supposedly sold the account.

I'm far too polite to post what I really think about this lot!!!!