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

hattiefats

I felt so sorry for the couple at the beginning. What a horrendous experience for them. I thought they had insurance but it was never mentioned again. I have to say when my FIL died unexpectedly recently the banks and ccc were very reasonable. They agreed to suspend all payments etc without interest until the life insurance etc came through. The insurance paid up after 4 weeks and that was that. It must be such an added trauma to have the bank on your case when you are dying/caring for an ill loved one.
They were treated very badly indeed.

delain

why didn't the Original company just let the debtors pay 16%?

tuggy

You can watch again if you missed it

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/4od#2929731

fermi

delain wrote: »

why didn't the Original company just let the debtors pay 16%?

They would dare to start setting precedents like that.

angelflower_2

I dont know what I was expecting but I was very disappointed in the program. Didnt tell me anything I didnt know and even questioned some of the advice. I too was VERY surprised they didnt talk about helping people out of debt and couldnt quite understand the point of the program.

Whilst the staff and 'mark' in particular were not nice, I can understand how they are driven. At the end of the day, they get paid based on how much money they can collect and are therefore are motivated to get this. I think there are many people who tell stories to avoid paying debt and I think it will be difficult to decipher genuine people from those taking the mick. I had experience of this working for a letting company for mainly social housing and when the council changed the benefit rules and paid rent directly to tenants rather than us, we had many who chose not to pay. Out of the many, there were only ever a couple of genuine stories.

The bit I didnt like was the fact that the same employees were different companies. I knew there were different companies within these places but never realised they werent as seperate. That is very misleading. I especially didnt like them quoting themselves as working for solicitors as if they had more legal pool than they did.

One question it raised for me....if they bought the debt from a company, are they able to raise a CCJ? I always thought the instruction would have to come from the original client as the credit agreement was with them?

enemes

angelflower wrote: »

One question it raised for me....if they bought the debt from a company, are they able to raise a CCJ? I always thought the instruction would have to come from the original client as the credit agreement was with them?

Hi angelflower ... I too was a bit disappointed in the programme. However, at least it will make it harder for some of these cold faced idiots to phone around as they did before ... for a few days at least.

Anyway ... your point about CCJ's. Presumably they don't exist in Scotland, so what would the Scottish equivelant be? (I'm a bit ignorant about all this TBH!)

mark236

The programme brought to light the urgent need for the OFT to start acting like a proper watchdog. Like the guy said, the OFT have no teeth, just another government dept that is little more than useless.

angelflower_2

I think they do exist in Scotland......I think I have one :rotfl:

fermi

Scotland has Decrees rather than CCJs I think.

tomterm8

angelflower wrote: »

One question it raised for me....if they bought the debt from a company, are they able to raise a CCJ? I always thought the instruction would have to come from the original client as the credit agreement was with them?

I don't know how it stands in scotland, where I think the law is radically different in this area, but in general under english, welsh and northern ireland law it is possible for them to sue and get a CCJ. It is sometimes necessary under the old law of property act 1925 for them to include the original creditor under the contract, but for contracts made after the Contracts(rights of third parties) act 1999 this is generally not the case (there are exceptions, but they are arcane).