mercer doorstep collector

bunty1983

ive recently sstarted setting up dmp with cccs which should start dec/jan but have just recieved letter from mercer on behalf of barclaycard saying their next step is to send local debt collector round for money owed (1,000) as they havent been able to contact me (i ignore their number as they just try and get me to agree to payments i cant afford).i am paying token payments of 1.00 a month til dmp is set up and im about to send the letters from cccs out, jus really worried someones going to come knocking on my door sometime soon!do they usually leave you alone once dmp is in place?

scaredy_cat

from what i've read a doorstep collector has as much rights as a chocolate teapot is useful!!!:rotfl:

You don't have to give them any money, you can tell them to bog off (or go away if you want to be polite!) and if they don't leave you tell them you will call the police. They have no rights to enter your house either!!

bunty1983

i know its just the thought of who they send round as im in house with baby all day and its quite worrying,i know i can say go away its just the thought of doing it!!

scaredy_cat

do what i do - pretend i'm in the bath and just don't answer the door!!

Deep_In_Debt

If it's any consolation I'm female and on my own and I managed to see off the meat heat that turned up from Mercers.

You don't have to answer the door to them and if you do, tell him to sling his hook or you'll call the police. I left the guy standing in the pouring rain for 20 minutes until the police turned up!

As others have said, they have no legal rights - about as many as the paperboy!!

I didn't think the I could do it but you get the strength from somewhere.

fatbelly

Everyone gets that standard letter from Mercers - very few get a visit. It's such a waste of their time. Treat it with the contempt it deserves and keep paying the £1

10past6

Bunty

DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO INTIMIDATE YOU, send them this letter by recorded delivery:

DCA / Creditors Address

Your Address

Date

A/c - Ref: XXXXX

Please be advised that I am only prepared to communicate with XXXXXXXXX in writing. OFT rules and regulations clearly state that you can only visit me at my home if you make an appointment and I have no wish to make an appointment with you.

There is only an implied license under English Common Law for people to be able to visit me on my property without express permission; e.g. the postman and people asking for directions etc (Armstrong v. Sheppard and Short Ltd [1959] 2 Q.B. per Lord Evershed M.R.).

Therefore take note that I revoke license under Common Law for you, or your representatives, to visit me at my property and if you persist in sending "doorstep callers" to my home, you will be reported for harassment and be liable for damages for a tort of trespass.

You would also be liable for conspiring in a tort of trespass by acting in defiance of my instructions and sending someone to visit me nevertheless.

Should it be necessary, I will obtain an injunction

ONLY PRINT YOUR NAME - NEVER SIGN

continualdiamond

We got threatened with a door step collector from mercers and in the 6mths they kept threatening, no one ever turned up. My OH was outta work for 6mths this year and all our creditors got £1 each mth, it was all we could afford.

In one day alone they rang 6 times!!!!! I had that many 'please can you call mercers on .......' on my answering machine when i got in from work. They even said the £7.90 offer was not enough cos we used to pay £9 and asked why it was less.

When i replied it was less because my OH was now back in work, but a lower paid job and asked them which they would prefer £7.90 or a £1 i had a long silence from them before they said '£7.90 will be fine' :rotfl: :rotfl:

dancingfairy

All hot air - maybe it's cos they are lacking in a certain department and are trying to make up for it??

Seriously please try not to worry and take advice from the people on here who have got the t-shirt and done it.

Deep_In_Debt

Mercers were a complete nightmare for about 5 months until they sent the idiot round and then they stopped harrassing me.

I'm paying them £35pm via my dmp and I told them it was either that or nothing - so they accepted it! Not heard from them since the visit and that was back in May.

debtman2007

A colleague of my OH had a visit from Mercers collectors yesterday. She was very frightened it was at night(eveninig), dark and she was alone with two young kids. They implied they are baliffs and unfortumnately she was panicked into paying them £100 which she really can't afford.

She is recieving 10+ calls a day. She is making £30 a month payments but a plan has not been offiicially accepted.

I have tried to explain that the were not baliffs at all and only after you default on a court order will the balliffs call but im not sure she is convinced. understandably i guess, if i hadn't discovered this site i would feel the same.

Would it be worth her sending the letter above to stop any further visits. i have already sent her a template to stop calls. i will also give her the national debtline number to call.

I just want to help her like all of you have helped me.

Any advice??