Fashion World

ShirlA

I bought a bathing costume over the internet for £14.95 last october. I had some problems with my mail and whatever and I was working flat out and so I forgot to pay the £14.95. Well one day I got a letter asking for £30.00 and I was really annoyed so I rang them up because I wanted them to help me by taking off those charges as it was a genuine mistake. I paid the amount of £14.95 for the item but I expressed that I was very unhappy about these charges. Instead of doing anything to help me, or comprimise or anything these people keep putting £12.90 on top of those charges EVERY MONTH and now they say I owe them £80. All that for a £14.95 bathing costume? I have paid the original asking price for the item, so why don't these people quit? They call me four times a day, they are rude and inconsiderate and every time I defend myself they are nasty. They send me letters and phone calls and harrass me and on top of that put the charges up every month despite me having paid for the item in full. What can I do about this? Do I have any legal rights?

Tozer

Tell them to get stuffed. They are entitled to charge you for the losses flowing directly from your breach in paying late (interest, little bit of admin, etc).

ShirlA

Thanks Tozer. I tried that but the charges go up every month nonetheless.

Tozer

ShirlA wrote: »

Thanks Tozer. I tried that but the charges go up every month nonetheless.

Tell them that the debt is not due.

There is all sorts of stuff about anti-harassment laws on the debt board with some template letters.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

October means 7 months have passed. that is 11 pound per month.

I would suggest that it isnt an unreasonable charge for pursuing a debt owed to them due to a blatant disregard for the terms agreed too.

Factor in say a letter a month, a few collection calls and all the back room facilities to enable this and I dont think the OP has much case not to pay

Tozer

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

October means 7 months have passed. that is 11 pound per month.

I would suggest that it isnt an unreasonable charge for pursuing a debt owed to them due to a blatant disregard for the terms agreed too.

Factor in say a letter a month, a few collection calls and all the back room facilities to enable this and I dont think the OP has much case not to pay

Utter carp.

It would have to be a genuine pre-estimate of the loss likely to be suffered for it to be enforceable AS WELL as being a contractual term.

£11 per month for something costing £14.95 with the principal debt cleared? This has to be one of your most ridiculous posts.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Not really.

The OP didnt clear the debt until sometime later and the company incurred real efforts in enforcing and maintaining that account.

The OP should have paid at the time and would have avoided the issues. why should the company incur all the extra costs of enforcing a debt due to a customer who simply couldnt be bothered paying as they eventually paid the original amount only.

It will have all been in the paperwork for the account when opened

Tozer

So on what legal basis do you say that?

daveboy

On MSE there are two camps.

1) The 'I'm entitled to buy it and pay for it when I like' camp where the company are seen as thieves when charges are incurred for non payment or late payment on a credit account or credit card.

2) The 'you signed an agreement detailing the fact this would happen if you didn't pay' camp.

For the record, I am in the second group.

I firmly believe it's a legitimate tax on idiots and laziness.

So I firmly agree with the post by LinasPilibaitisisbatman.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

The legal basis that the company has incurred costs in getting what was owed to them and I dont think £11 a month would count as unduly hefty in doing so - or to any judge. for example the OFT said £12 was a fair amount for chasing overdue credit cards

bottomsup

I would say you have no rights as there is something in the T&C about a late payment fee.

Missed payments If you don't make a payment by the due date stated in your statement, or if you pay less than your minimum payment, we reserve the right to make a reasonable administration charge to cover our costs of reminding you. Our current charge is £12 for each missed payment reminder, and is payable whether we, or someone acting for us, contacts you. You'll also be responsible for any collection charges that we or any collection agencies engaged on our behalf incur in recovering any missed payments. The amount we charge could be changed at any time, though we'll give you reasonable notice if this does happen.