Any experience with these particular creditors?....

ladykate

Hi,

On 16th March we wrote to our creditors offering pro rata payments... Has anybody any experience with these companies? I would appreciate a bit of advice as I am a bit worried about what to expect or do next...

British Gas - will not accept our payments.... they have told us to pay what we can afford and if it's not the full amount then another department will deal.

MBNA - Asked us to ring and discuss the incomings and outgoings only to be told they would contact us and tell us if they will accept our offer.

Clode - Got a letter saying DD is cancelled and if we pay any other way there will be a 1.6% charge.

Halifax - no response.

Sainsburys - no response (this is biggest debt)

Littlewoods - no response.

Scotcall - accepted amended payment (we offered £3 - they wanted £5)

GE Money - no response

Blair Oliver and Scott (debt collectors for Sainsburys CC)- we actually upped our payment to them in line with the other pro rata offers but we haven't heard back from them.


Any advice would be VERY helpful and most appreciated

Thank you

Kate

Merlinexcalibur

Re Littlewoods. There is some information on this creditor in the CCA thread on page 2 (currently). Littlewoods is also one of the difficult ones to deal. But do take a look in the thread I just mentioned as there may be info there can help you tackle them.

Scotcall - accepted amended payment (we offered £3 - they wanted £5)

They are a DCA (far as I know who act on behalf of a particular creditor eg Barclaycard). However, I'd be careful who you are actually paying as it's not uncommon for Scotcall AND another collections department from the same creditor to pursue for payment. Just saying that because it's what someone told me connected with a debt charity a while ago. To be careful whom you are actually paying eg who has the debt. What I am saying is make sure who you are paying and that it's actually getting to the creditor.

This is entirely your own volition but, for those who haven't replied, I would possibly send a request for your consumer agreement enclosing the standard fee of £1. It is merely a tool which can be used later for example and you are within your rights to request at any point. I have to go out in a second so just posting really quickly but others here will help with the template letter.

Link to the thread I mentioned:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=767025&page=127

ladykate

Thanks for replying!

Yeh Scotcall is a debt collector - it's from an old Scottish Power bill...

We are going to write some more letters this weekend (when the kids are in bed) and we will ask for the agreements.

Thanks, will take a look at the link now.

angela_2107

ladykate wrote: »

Hi,

On 16th March we wrote to our creditors offering pro rata payments... Has anybody any experience with these companies? I would appreciate a bit of advice as I am a bit worried about what to expect or do next...

British Gas - will not accept our payments.... they have told us to pay what we can afford and if it's not the full amount then another department will deal.

MBNA - Asked us to ring and discuss the incomings and outgoings only to be told they would contact us and tell us if they will accept our offer.

Clode - Got a letter saying DD is cancelled and if we pay any other way there will be a 1.6% charge.

Halifax - no response.

Sainsburys - no response (this is biggest debt)

Littlewoods - no response.

Scotcall - accepted amended payment (we offered £3 - they wanted £5)

GE Money - no response

Blair Oliver and Scott (debt collectors for Sainsburys CC)- we actually upped our payment to them in line with the other pro rata offers but we haven't heard back from them.


Any advice would be VERY helpful and most appreciated

Thank you

Kate

Hi Kate i have recently helped my lil bro, and have had probs in the past myself and have delat with some of these creditors..heres our expereinces

British Gas - idiots....speak to the team who set up payment schedules, when you get a decent person get their name and stick with them, they did accept our offer - after 2 months! told them to accept the offer or see you in court.

MBNA were great - 12 days to accept, they did send the form out for income expenditure but agreed within 3 days of sending it off

Halifax, i had debt with these, we agreed a payment schedule- eventually

Scotcall are a DCA - get EVERYTHING in writting - you set up a standing order, DO NOT EVER EVER give them your debit card details... same with Blair Oliver and Scott

Cant help on the others but someone will be able to soon

ladykate

Erm- We have agreed to pay monthly over the phone with Scotcall and Blair, Oliver and Scott - with the debit card... They can only take what we agree though can't they?

ladykate

Polite little bump!:rolleyes:

Merlinexcalibur

Erm- We have agreed to pay monthly over the phone with Scotcall and Blair, Oliver and Scott - with the debit card... They can only take what we agree though can't they?

Okay. Don't ever do this. Very foolish thing to do. As I am sure others will tell you. You have no protection, no control over your account. When you pay, they can take your money whenever now and empty your bank account, leaving you overdrawn, in debt with your bank. Now, providing you haven't given them your debt card details already I would not call them back but do what Angela suggested. Once you have given them your card details they can essentially do what they like as you've given them permission to use your card to debit. If it's too late already ... this is a very basic thing you must never do with a DCA or creditor when in debt.

ladykate

Thank you for that advice.

I will write them (Scotcall) a letter tomorrow telling I will pay via standing order... Blair, Oliver and Scott haven't got back to me yet but when they do I will pay with standing order too...

Cheers

Deep_In_Debt

Hi

MBNA were great with me too - my first creditor to accept my dmp and freeze interest and a year later, interest is still frozen and I have no hassle from them. They wrote to me a while ago to say they will review my situation again in October.

Halifax - they were hell with me. Refused to accept anything and constantly hassled. Debt has finally been passed to Blair Oliver Scott who have been great, frozen interest and accepted my repayments. It took Hellifax nearly 10 months to pass my debt on but finally it's going down.

As others have said, never pay anything over the phone. You could always say you've lost your debit card and cancel it with the bank and get a new one sent out so that the DCA's can't access your money and then set up an SO.

Good luck.

ladykate

Good idea Deep in Debt - I will get their bank details today and cancel my card.... Thank you....

LilacPixie

for those who have not reponded send them the pro rata payment offered.