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

fermi

On in 3-4 mins.

Broken_hearted

Sat here ready, though I doubt it will show how bad they really are. Hope the people featured are more sympathetic than other debt programmes as I hate people sobbing why are they chasing me I needed to have several holidays and a whole new wardrobe.

Deep_In_Debt

Typical Halifax! They hassled me for months once 5 times an hour! Until I complained to the world then they passed the debt on.

LilacPixie

watching it now.

phunkeymonkey

There are some very sad stories highlighted on this programme, and the way Marlin acts is atrocious. However all throughout the programme I can't get away from the thought that these people did borrow and spend this money and should be prepared to face the consequences of their actions.
If there weren't so many people trying all sort of tricks to avoid paying their debts, there would be no market for companies like Marlin to operate in. Responsible and sensible debtors would attract reasonable and sympathetic creditors/collectors; but unfortunately the whole system has got to the state where each side views the other with suspicion.
It's a shame because it is the genuine companies and decent struggling people who end up unfairly victimised.

On the whole, a decent programme though.

Broken_hearted

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

Typical Halifax! They hassled me for months once 5 times an hour! Until I complained to the world then they passed the debt on.

Halifaxs actions at times verge on being evil. Still seething over them phone DH hospital ward.

tomterm8

Some of the program was good, but they misstated elements of the law, especially in areas regarding limitation. Overall, not much there I didn't know already but at leat it made public some of the common abuses.

fermi

Yep. I noticed especially the mistaken assertion that if you make a payment to a debt that is already statute barred, that they can then take you to court because of that. :rolleyes:

crotig

Unfortunately I think the only thing that will change from that program will be a few people who watched it now will have a better idea of what the debt collectors can and can't do and when they are lying through thier teeth.
I think the fact that it is a profit making industry is one of the main evils driving it. While it is perfectly reasonable to expect people to pay for debt that they took onboard, for banks to sell on the debt at a loss to financial sharks like these is wrong. Also why are debt collectors allowed to interest and charges on debts they have purchased from other financial institutions if they are not the original party in the agreement, or has this stopped now?. It's been about 5 years since I ended a 9 year saga with debt collectors and the amount I ended up paying back was about 6 times the original debt because of charges and interest. Now I have all new debt to worry about but no debt collectors as I'm making my payments and keeping my head above water.
Interesting that 'Mark' was the only one whose face was shown. Perhaps he was asked by the program and was happy to have his face shown. He seemed to feel he was on a mission to get people to pay up by any means. Seemed like a deceitful lowlife to me.
I think the name Marlin will fade away and be replaced by one of their many pseudonyms.

deepintrouble

Is it me or did the portrayal of bankruptcy seem a little "odd"?

Surely if you had been been made bankrupt you would no longer have debts to be chased for?