Channel 4 Dispatches - Undercover debt collection exposè - Marlin Financial Services

fermi

Marlin Financial Services et al undercover report.

Now available to watch online if you missed it.

>>>>>> Dispatches - 4oD - Channel 4 <<<<<< Click

Also to be repeated on:

Wednesday 22 July, 11.05PM More4
Thursday 23 July, 3.15AM More4
Friday 24 July, 4AM Channel 4

Credit Today online - Dispatches to air debt collection exposè

Dispatches to air debt collection exposè

A Channel 4 Dispatches reporter has gone undercover in a debt collection agency for a programme that will air on 20 July, Credit Today has learned.

Presented by Jane Moore, Channel 4 said the programme reveals "some of the tactics deployed to get debtors to pay up, and talks to those unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of this treatment". Earlier this year, Dispatches reporter Tom Randall got a job as a debt collector inside "one of the UK’s fastest growing agencies".

The programme is understood to also focus on the sale of debt portfolios. "Some of the biggest high street businesses are cutting their losses and selling on their bad debts to agencies for as little as sixteen pence in the pound," it said. "Agencies who buy up these debts are entitled to pursue debtors for the full amount. In this multi billion pound industry the stakes are high, and Dispatches reveals the lengths collectors will go to, to recover their debts."

Kurt Obermaier, executive director of the Credit Services Association, confirmed that a CSA member had made the trade body aware of the situation. He said the company had the correct policies in place for collections but individual employees appeared to have deviated from them. He was not able to reveal the identity of the agency.

Credit Today understands that allegations include collection professionals putting undue pressure on vulnerable debtors, making premature threats of bankruptcy and chasing third parties and statue barred debts.

I wonder which one it is?

There is a long long list of possibilities, as that description covers most of them. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Sol00

Thanks, I'll be watching out for this.

nailer_man

Will sit and watch this program with some interest!!

Thanks for the post.

That Jane Moore lady is a consumer champion....

Deep_In_Debt

Wonder if Worst Crudit will feature? The description certainly fits them.

fermi

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

Wonder if Worst Crudit will feature? The description certainly fits them.

Certainly does. :rolleyes:

But it would be nice to see one of the others that hasn't recently been "slapped" by the OFT get the bad press they so rightly deserve.

Toffee_Penny

I have scribbled the date on my calendar

Thanks

fermi

http://www.credittoday.co.uk/news/news-item.cfm?news=1237

Marlins is the one apparently...........

Agency prepares for television ‘expos!’ - 13/07/2009

The debt collection agency targeted by a forthcoming undercover Dispatches programme is Marlin Capital Europe, Credit Today can reveal.

An undercover reporter secured a job at Marlin in May this year and spent six weeks secretly filming staff in the collections centre. The programme makers have now sent a list of allegations to the agency about the way Marlin communicates with debtors including claims collectors have harassed individuals. Marlin has until tomorrow to respond before the programme is aired next week.

It is believed that Dispatches is also looking at a second debt collection agency though its identity is not known.

Dispatches said: "In recession-hit Britain some of the biggest high street businesses are cutting their losses and selling on their bad debts to agencies for as little as sixteen pence in the pound. Agencies who buy up these debts are entitled to pursue debtors for the full amount. In this multi billion pound industry the stakes are high and Dispatches reveals the lengths collectors will go to recover their debts."

Dispatches has taken information from consumer web forum the Consumer Action Group. It is also being advised by a debt charity.

Marlin president and executive chairman Martin Dunphy said it was difficult to ascertain the context of some of the events from the letter alone, but that two members of staff named had been moved to administrative duties as a precautionary measure. "We have been through the allegations and are looking forward to getting proof of the alleged behaviour of specific individuals so that we can assess the situation. Our initial conversations with those members of staff indicate that the quotes have been taken out of context," he said.

One of the allegations relates to the way collections staff manage people in vulnerable situations. Dunphy said collectors have to deal with people making false claims and endeavour to engage with people to understand their situations and manage them sensitively.

Dunphy said members of the team who worked with the journalist felt violated and were upset at the situation. "We’ve explained to the staff that it is business as usual. We’re going to address the allegations and we have every confidence that our business will stand up. We are not perfect – there will always be one-off cases – but we do pursue a vigorous compliance culture," he said.

The makers of the programme have said they will not breach debtor or client confidentiality. However, Dunphy expressed concern over the welfare of staff and said the company is working with Dispatches to ensure none of them are put in danger by the programme. "It is a sensitive business and there are safety issues. We don’t want any of our people made vulnerable."

"We don’t see this as an attack on Marlin, but the industry as a whole. He just happened to get through our door," he said. "There can be no credit without a corresponding mechanism to ensure that when people take it out they honour their obligations."

Dunphy said he believed a second undercover reporter applied to the firm but did not take up the position offered.

angelflower_2

that name rings a bell....who do they collect for?

fermi

angelflower wrote: »

that name rings a bell....who do they collect for?

I'm not sure anyone in particular.

But as always these forms buy in 'job lots' of debts from creditors, so you often hear similar stories close to one another.

scattykat

i will be watching this as me and my partner are in it, marlin chasing my partner for a debt that was over 6 years old and they admitted it was statute barred

malestrom07

hi

marlin collect for Yorkshire Bank, Clydesdale Bank, Bank of Australia and a few fag end sub prime companies