Wanadoo debt collection agency

Si_Jonz

Hi folks,
I used to be a customer of Wanadoo up until Oct 07 when I decided to switch provider to Virgin. I explained in an e-mail that I wanted to close my account and requested my MAC code. I received the usual "sorry u are leaving us" e-mail and provided the code to Virgin.
About 2 months later I received a call from Wanadoo saying I still owed them a months subscription. I disputed this and the helpful chap on the other end apologised and credit the account to a zero balance. I had several more of these calls (obviously these people dont talk to one another!) and then heard nothing more.
Last week Jan 09 I received a demand from a Debt Collection Agency to the value of £40. My subscription was only £18? so I'm guessing I have been charged £22 for the letter. I have heard nothing from Wanadoo for over a year and now I have been threatened with legal action by the DCA.
Where do I go from here? ....I seem to just be going around in circles and I am adamant I will not pay the money just to make these people go away...#
Incidentally from the internet threads I have been reading I don't think I am alone in my dismay at Wanadoos Customer Service

Merlinexcalibur

Who is the debt collection agency? It may be one I have come across, so I would be able to tell you if the £22 is their charge. Right now, it sounds like it is. If that is the case, a collection agency/creditor cannot pass the cost of collecting the debt to the debtor. Any contract for collecting overdue money purely resides with the company NOT with the debtor. As Wanadoo were the ones who are saying you owe them this amount, therefore they are the ones who have contracted the agency not yourself. Hope that made sense. You are not liable to pay these fees but DCAs try it on nontheless. Relying on debtors not knowing their rights. There are supposed to be guidelines they must adhere to but in my experience they just flaunt those in order to make you pay.

And, I am sorry to say this but you will get nowhere on the phone. Which is why writing to them is important. It is actually up to any DCA to prove you owe money not the other way round. If they can't then they cannot force you to pay them.

Mostly it's down to poor record keeping ie they don't keep their payment systems up to date.

It is unlikely you would be taken to court for an amount of £40. Though, any DCA will again try it on to panic and make you pay them.

£22 is a large amount for a letter. But, if you can let me know, I can tell you whether they are an actual DCA - not an inhouse outfit claiming to be - and whether this is a charge of theirs.

I would get straight on to the Ombudsman Service as well. Tell them what has happened, they will then write to the company concerned and if nothing is resolved a fine will be issued against them. That includes the DCA BTW. And most DCA's will not want a fine because some are just cowboy outfits run from someone's upstairs pokey little office. Some don't even hold licences to collect nor even know what the laws are on collection. Not all, but some. And getting a fine will hit them hard. Particularly right now in the current climate.

So, do not pay what you don't owe.

Merlinexcalibur

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1416857

On the basis of the other thread, above, mostly covering the same thing as yours I would say it was a charge levied by the DCA. I'd follow the advice given by Fatou in that thread in that case. And it's also the same DCA in that case as well. BTW, I am not affiliated in anyway with any company nor DCA. Just in case you were wondering why I was asking. I like to help and do so with whatever knowledge I have acquired, is at my disposal.

Merlinexcalibur

No reply. Rather suspected their wouldn't. So, either your someone who wants help or ...

[Deleted User]

Was it "Buchanan + Wells" or someone like that? If so, just call up Orange (they bought up Wanadoo) on 07973 100 550 and complain. They should call B+W off.

Si_Jonz

Being "chased" for money by dlc - Direct legal & Collection based in Buckingham Road, Brackley, Northants, NN13 7DN. Now received a "red" letter claiming that i need to take action by 20 jan or they MAY commence legal action!!!!!!

Si_Jonz

Thanks for the advice Merlin :beer:

Have sent a letter to the DCA today telling them that I dispute the debt with a brief explanation of the situation. Apparently this halts the process while they investigate.
Have also written to customer services Orange at two different addresses (hoping) for a reply. I will give them a few weeks and if it is not resolved i plan to make a request to the Data protection manager to discover exactly what is held on me.
I know that i am in the right and I don't believe that this will ever reach the courts but would like to preserve my flawless credit record so I guess its time to take the fight back to them!
Apologies for the delay in replying I'm a lowly shift worker and if im not working I'm sleeping.......guess I'm getting old

linuxsapien

billbennett wrote: »

Was it "Buchanan + Wells" or someone like that? If so, just call up Orange (they bought up Wanadoo) on 07973 100 550 and complain. They should call B+W off.

BC&W... !!!!!!, is all I will say.