Halifax debt and their approach to people

marko2002

Hi guys, I'm not actually looking for advice as such but please feel free to offer any if you think it's relevent. I simply want to highlight what these people are capable of.

My situation is unfortuantely my other half has been ill for a long while now and I had to stop working to care for her on a full time basis which meant our income has went down considerably. Unfortunately, we had 2 credit cards, 1 with Cahoot and 1 with the Halifax as well as a few other debts. I wrote to these people explaining the situation and to be honest I wished I hadn't bothered cause all I've had is grief from them. Apart from cahoot who have believe it or not gave me a lot of time to sort things.

I approached a CCCS (consumer credit counselling services) who ran a debt management plan and basically told me that if we spent according to THEIR recommendations we wouldn't have enough coming in so the long and short of it all is basically we can only deal with priority debts at the moment such as rent and fuel (electricity, etc). Once these are settled we can then deal with the other debts through the debt management company as we should then have a few quid to put towards the other debts. Obviously, we scrimp on some things to afford others such as provisions for my wife that are required due to her illness.

Long story short, Halifax bank have pestered me constantly and despite explaining the above to them they still phone each week asking if we have friends, family or anyone else who we can get money from!. Now, tonight at around 8:50pm I received a call from someone at the Halifax and when I began to ask if they knew what time it was and that they can't expect me to deal with matters such as this at this time they simply hung up. Now, I'm sitting with my family as we have 2 kids also, and for them to put me in that position was terrible. To hang up on me because of it just proves to me how these people operate. Cahoot on the other hand have been great and they have even stopped all further interest and charges until such times as they can't hold off anymore and the debt gets passed to a debt collection agency which is merely their normal practice after a certain length of time.

My only reason for posting this here is to highlight just what an absolute sham the whole debt business is and the advice that you must contact these people and not ignore them is absolute rubbish, as I have corresponded, worked with and done everything required of me to satisfy the Halifax yet they still see fit to humiliate me and add adverse pressure to an already stressful situation. Halifax have acted terribly with us, particularly when our family is trying to come to terms with my wifes illness and they simply don't care, they really don't - they are obviously prepared to go to any lengths possible to humiliate people into more debt to repay them. I have never denied responsibility for this, or any debt, but I can't give them what I haven't got and have always spoken with them and taken their calls, never putting our heads in the sand but now I wished I had to be honest!.

My reaction to the Halifax from now on is simply to tell them I no longer with to conduct any further conversations with them via the telephone and if they wish to contact me they should do so via letter. I would be interested to hear from anyone with a similar situation and how they overcame these issues.

Thanks for listening guys
mark

elsie52

Hi Mark

I sympathise with you totally. I don't have any dealings with Halifax, but have several creditors who are cut from the same cloth. I also agree with you on Cahoot, they have been absolutely wonderful.

Do not let these people get you down, you are doing everything that you can. Do not even speak to them on the phone, except to tell them that you will only communicate by letter. I am sure some more knowledgeable person will be along to reiterate that and give you the correct wording for your letter.

Good luck for the future and look after yourself as well as your family.

BlueIsTheColour

Hi there,

Well done for posting on here, am sure you will get good support that will make you feel more able to take these guys on from the lovely MSErs.

Look here at post #5, and send the letter to the Halifax

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=11636295#post11636295

I have an overdraft debt with them and a card via Sainsburys which is also them, they have been fine about the overdraft and were fine about the card but have recently referred it on to DCA

In basic terms, they cant have what you havent got, and you are doing everything you can do to show your commitment to them, send them a token payment each month in the meantime

Hope it gets sorted out soon

marko2002

Guys, thanks for your responses, it's always a relief to get things like this off your chest and find support. These things actually used to worry me sick, but my family come first now, particularly my wifes health and kids well being so Halifax are way down on my list of priorities, once I'm in a position to afford token payments cahoot will be first in line and it should be reiterated that Cahoot really are human and it really does make a difference, well done cahoot at least you can sleep at night
Thanks again guys
Mark

MyLastFiver

Mate, consider unplugging the phone if the calls are getting to you. Have you sent them your Statement of Affairs? Can you make token payments even of 50p or a pound? Once they can see a payment, no matter how small, they may be prepared to "pend" your account for a month, stopping calls.

boredofbeingathome

They do have a reputation for hassling folk. I am so sorry you are going through this in what must be a very distressing period in your life.
I would send them the letter and report them for harrassment.

GeorgeUK

Hi Mark.

I would have expected a DCA may act like that but a bank?
As already mentioned, only communicate with them in writing and if they do phone, refuse to answer any security questions. This way they won't be able to discuss any account with you.

Have you tried reclaiming bank or credit card charges if there are any?

marko2002

Thanks again for the replies guys, I'm not really that concerned regarding the phone calls as it will give me great pleasure to tell them I am not prepared to discuss the matter on the phone any longer and if they get shirty about it they'll get the pips like I did. I also had a bank charge claim sisted (I'm in Scotland) just after the OFT case kicked off and I intend on applying to have this lifted as soon as I am able to get the CCCS involved again and start making token payments but this can only be once I've settled the priority debts which should be in a couple of months. It will probably help my case to have the CCCS debt management plan as this can be submitted to the court as grounds for removal of the sist which as we all know if lifted will no doubt see the bank payout without question as they always have.

I will keep this thread alive with updates as and when they happen and thanks again for the support it's really appreciated
mark

GeorgeUK

Just to throw something else at you Mark.
With the charges in Scotland, there is a bit of a discussion going on as to how far back you can claim. Under the English legislation, it is 6 years, but under the Scottish legislation it may not be 5 years - there was a post on the consumeractiongroup about how part of the legislation refers to any lawful charges. If the charges are found to be unlawful, then you may be able to claim back 20 years in Scotland.

Have you tried requesting copies of the credit agreement for loans and credit cards?
(Although this may be opening a hornets nest you don't want the hassle of right now)

marko2002

Hi George, I had heard that a while ago also regarding going back even further for bank charges but my account was only open for around 10 years and the majority of the bank charges levied were more or less covered over the 5-6 year period anyway. As for requesting copies of credit agreements I'd rather not approach them at the moment as I can't stomach these guys just now but will have no hesitation once I'm in a better position.
Thanks for the advice
Mark

Fairycake_2

Hi

Have also had similar dealings with HBOS through an AA credit card debt.

All of my other creditors (whether banks of DCA's) have been fantastic but this lot are just bullies who think that intimidation works. Like a previous poster said, they cannot have what you haven't got!

Long story short they have decided that my payments aren't good enough for them and the harrassment started. Phones calls for weeks on end, late at night and weekends etc. My husband finally stepped in and told them he was going to report them to the police for harrassment. He did go and ask advice from the police and they said that if this was happening and it was making you feel threatened or ill then you could report them.

Finally, we have discovered that they are not legally bound to have your telephone details on file. You can request that they are taken off and they deal with you in writing.

Since this last time, I have had no further calls and it is a big relief.

Keep your chin up and keep fighting them.