Wonga Payday Loan / Marston Group - Help Please!!!!!

FatherofTwins

Hi

Wonder if anyone can give me some advice please.....!!

I took out a Payday Advance with Wonga for an amount of £405.50 in December 2008. Much to my surprise I was then made unemployed due to the recent credit crunch crisis and laid off in January 2009.

I advised Wonga of this and was able to come to a payment arrangement of £10 per week for one month and then I was to call back and speak to the same adviser to see if my circumstances had changed. However they never even attempted to take to the money from my account and then when I did telephone again the adviser I spoke to was someone different and was extremley rude and un helpful.

I then wrote to Wonga complaining of this adviser and also explained my personal circumstances with supporting documentation to state that I was claiming benefits.

I then received a phone call from Wonga saying that I had not stuck to my agreement of the £10 per week and I explained that they have never even attempted to take it nor had they telephoned me or wrote to me to say they that they could not collect it!!!!!!! I was some what really confused. I asked if they had received my letter and she said she didnt know!!! I then went on to Royal Mail and got the signature to say that the letter had been delivered which proves to me that they totally ignored it.

Anyway I now have received a letter through the door from Marston Group stating that I failed to respond to their previous request - but this is the first letter that have sent to me!!! And they are asking for an amount of £1015.18, thats nearly another £500 on top of what I borrowed, they are also saying that if I do not respond within 5 days of receiving the letter they will be sending an enforcement officer to my door.

Please help someone!!!!!!

Thanks

boredofbeingathome

I think you may need a bit more advice from a non fee paying debt management company. Like cccs.

I don't know anything about these companies but i would start by logging a complaint with their complaints dept. and i would do it in writing with dates and times of your phonecalls and letters and what was arranged with them.
I would also ask for a copy of their phone logs, for which i expect that there will be a charge, so that would be a Subject access request under the data protection act.
Don't be bullied into paying any more than you can afford, your circumstances are genuine and i doubt they will be able to do a lot other than add charges on paper, which may be claimable back.

The important thing is to get the right advice and i do know that an enforcement officer has about as much leverage as a chocolate fireguard. These are intimidating tactics and they are harrassing you.Only a court appointed official can enter your house legally, you do not have to give them anything at the door or answer them.

Hopefully someone will be along soon who has had dealings with these folk.


There is some useful info here

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/debt_advice.php

boredofbeingathome

This one in particular is good
http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=03_harassment

boredofbeingathome

I found this thread as well which may be useful

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/community/forums/t/wongapayday-loans-31340.aspx

FatherofTwins

Thanks for the info its much appreciated.

I think I will go down to the CAB tomorrow to see what I can do.

Thank you :beer: