Moorcroft debt recovery help!!!

Samie1981

I have been reading several forums/threads about Moorcroft Debt Recovery, but can't seem to find any help with my query - hopefully someone out there will be able to help!

I entered into an agreement with Moorcroft to repay a T-Mobile debt. I have suffered the, what appears to be normal behaviour of Moorcroft, bully-boy tactics and the unhelpfulness (is that even a real word?!?!?!) of their customer services.

My query is that I switched banks in September 2008 as such I had to change all my standing orders. Whilst setting up my Moorcroft standing order I missed out my account reference. This wasn't brought to my attention until I received a letter from Moorcroft saying that I missed a payment; which was almost 3 weeks after the payment was due.

On contacting them I explained that the payment had been sent and not returned to my bank but that the payment would be missing a reference number. I got the usual "so ya gonna pay the remaining balance now then?" saga, which I refused to do - as it was my very last payment on the agreement and the debt would have been cleared (yippee!)

Anyway (sorry for the length of this thread!) I forgot the cancel the standing order in time with my bank so another payment of the same amount got sent to Moorcroft the following month. This meant they had received £24.52 for the final payment plus an additional £24.52, so (my logic) my account should be £24.52 in credit.

I have spoken to god knows how many people at their customer services and written countless letters (which stupidly I have not sent my recorded delivery) and I still haven't received a refund, but I did receive a lovely letter from them stated that my account had arrears of £49.04!

Can anyone please tell me what they think the best course of action is? Do you think it is reasonable to ask for further money back for time spent sending letter and phones calls etc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

XX

Teacher2301

Write a letter stating you would like a statement of your account and that you believe an error has been made on what they consider as to the balance on your account. If they do send one - check it through very carefully from day one with all of your bank statements and check - then send proof that their balance calculation is incorrect (i have copied bank statments with a lot of tipex but left details such as name and address to prove that it's yours ( also tipex out every detail you do not want them to see - I mean every details - cheque numbers, direct debits, cash withdrawals - the lot - you don't want them analysisng your spending habits do we!) Ask for any repaymenst if they are due and state a date you would reasonable expect a refund (I'd give 28 days). If they disagree, ask for clarification and their reasons and their proof such as you have given them. I have read that people have threatened these companies with CCJ's for failure to pay-up refunds - but I can't really advise this course of action (be interesting to see if you were successful and then sent in the baliffs to collect your money!)

sparkey1

Speak to your bank. There will be a reference for the transaction. The go to Moorcroft and ask to speak to accounts. Ask them to check for any transactions that match the amount and appeared on the same day of receipt. These will probably show as unallocated on their suspense account. (This will be the general pot where missed payments go). Also ask Moorcroft to check with the bank where the unallocated pament came from. It should be able to identify your sort code and account number, and maybe the transaction reference provided by your bank.

Dont speak to the telephone collection department, speak to the accounts people.

A statement of account will not help you as the payment will not be allocated to your account because you didn't put the reference number on it. It will be in there internal suspense account, and will need allocating. Ask them to check their suspense account for payments that have not been identified to a customer. (They may call it something else).

A statement of account will only help if all the payments have been allocated. (Unlikely if you didn't put a reference number on the trasaction). However if the payment was allocated you should be able to compare it with your own banking records. It could be that you are one payment out on your settlement date.

As for tippex all across your statement, does it really matter? If you have paid them off, they dont give a damm where you are spending your money!

Teacher2301

sparkey1 wrote: »

As for tippex all across your statement, does it really matter? If you have paid them off, they dont give a damm where you are spending your money!

Yes I think it does. I have read that when other MSE'ers have sent copies of bank statments, companies like these do scruitinise them and evaluate how much more money they can get out of you - so yes show them the payments but protect your privacy. I agree with everything else you say sparkey1 but not this - it worked for me over an identify theft case so no reason not to work here for the op - it all depends on if the OP wants to do this or not (it is time consuming).

sparkey1

Agree with you on the privacy issue, and yes they will check the statements if you owe them money. Some companies will as a matter of routine ask you to forward them. Personally I wouldn't, but a mate of mine does as he sees it as an easy way to avoid hassle.

Shame you didn't get a bumper pack of Tippex when Woolies closed down!

Samie1981

Thanks guys for all your help. The letter is now typed and ready to be sent to Moorcroft on Tuesday so fingers crossed!