new poster, not sure if in right area but here goes..

lancslad_3

I became unemployed 4 months ago and struggled to pay my mobile phone bill since..

The debt for reconnection is £146.24.

My network provider has passed me onto a debt collection firm who i spoke to on monday 2nd of Feb and paid by direct debit £26.24, with the promise of paying the remaining £120 by monday the 16th. The guy on the phone said that if he came in to work on tues(yesterday) and i hadnt paid it he was passing me over to the mitigation dept.I failed to pay due to a few other bills and recieved a letter today saying you need to urgently call us on 08.....

I'm really stuck for cash for a few weeks now and can't really afford to pay anything till then.plus they were saying i have to pay the total contract amount which is over £500 if i didnt pay this week..

advice!!:o

Merlinexcalibur

First rule: never speak to these people on the phone. You are wasting your money. Completely. And when in debt that's not a good idea or you may lose your phone line next. Unless you are using a mobile phone ... even worse.

Only deal with them writing.

Few questions for you to establish what is being dealt with here:

1) Who is the collection agency?

2) You really should approach someone like CCCS to help you get sorted with dealing with this. It's freephone, which makes is even easier to access.

3) My serious advice, if only to prevent yourself digging into a deeper hole agreeing to anything on the phone which is what they want, nothing else, would be never phone them. Again.

4) See 2 for advice on how to proceed with sending a statement to them, making token payments.

he guy on the phone said that if he came in to work on tues(yesterday) and i hadnt paid it he was passing me over to the mitigation dept.I

Oh, did he now. Bit like saying I'll swing a baseball bat at you if you don't do what I say by midnight. He is making psychological threats to you. Perfect example why never to speak with them on the phone. Remember, they know nothing at all about legal matters. They may kid you they do. They don't.

lancslad_3

thannsk for the reply mate.

the firm is dlc, direct legal and collections.

i rent off my dad who lives next door to me and used his phone to call them also.

i REPEATEDLY said that this was NOT my number and they should not ring it but they keep ringing me on it and leaving messages.

i can raise the 120 pounds by 1st march.

have you a contact number for the firm you mentioned in your second point? thanks

Merlinexcalibur

They are Consumer Credit Counselling Services. They have a thread here, where you can ask a counsellor questions directly. Under CCCS at the top I think. Top of the page, I don't have it offhand, but a quick Google would bring it to you. Also, for your own protection, search under OFT guidelines for further usage. It will help with the harassment side.

I'm just wondering how they obtained your father's number? Has he or yourself given it to them at some stage. If not, report them to BT, to their nuisance calls bureau. But extreme but it sounds like they've got his number underhandedly. IF it's not listed anywhere ie ex directory. Because they've traced it without permission if so, and are harassing you through his phone line. Against Data Protection far as I know. Plus the intimidation aspect of it. Unfortunately, it's all too common. Some agencies phone your neighbours, get them to pass on made up notes saying a relative of your has been involved in a traffic accident. Sick. But they get away with it. So, what's the first thing anyone would do faced with that worry? Phone! Bingo! It's a nasty collection agent the other end of the phone. Now in America they have stringent laws on this but here ... Well you can see?

lancslad_3

so what do you suggest i do?

i can 100% pay the £120 by the first of march.. so would you recommend i email them this info or write as you've said i shouldnt speak to them on the phone again..

they'll stop ringing obviously when i've paid this off so im not too fussed about reporting them for harrassment etc as i can pay in less than two weeks.

whats the odds of someone knocking on the door between now and then if i only recieved the letter today saying i needed to urgently contact them?

Merlinexcalibur

i can 100% pay the £120 by the first of march.. so would you recommend i email them this info or write as you've said i shouldnt speak to them on the phone again..

I would firstly speak to CCCS. They are now closed, close 8 pm weekdays and 1 pm Saturday, closed Sunday/Bank Holidays. I would make no offers to them. Accept what you can actually afford. I assume you are on a benefit of some kind?

Right, so are you actually now saying you are going to pay them to get your phoneline back? Or that you can't afford to maintain your phoneline? As you said you were going to pay them in two weeks? So, in other words ... you won't be liable for the rest of the penalty fees? Am I understanding you correctly?

No one is likely to come to your door, if they do just don't open it. But no one is likely to visit your house before 2 weeks is up. In fact, probably not in the next 2 centuries.

Only make an offer that you can afford. You've mentioned you are out of work. So, I would automatically then assume you were struggling financially? Is that the case?

But, yes, WRITE, but only please don't tie yourself into something you cannot afford. Which is what you sound like you have been panicked into doing.