Shop Direct Finance (Littlewoods/Very etc) Robbing the poor

Kilmaley01

Well I'm completely confused as I have a catalogue (Kays) which is part of Shop Direct and I dont pay any interest, just buy things at 0% over 20 or 52 weeks, so how come you are paying 40%??

I'm in dispute with Shop Direct at the moment and have just sent my 3rd letter to them reclaiming charges. £12 here and there, pretty much every other month for the last 3 years. Late payment, minimum payment, you name it and i'm usually only late by a day. I'm making a claim for almost £300 in charges they've TAKEN from me.

But can you explain the interest?

Kilmaley01

dj - you say this affects 'flexible' accounts? Wasnt aware of such an account with Catalogues? In general thought you were just given a credit limit and that was it?

endure

needtochange wrote: »

We have an account with Littlewoods who are also my husbands employers and last year became unable to pay the minimum monthly amount along with other debts. On the advice of the CCCS we offered all of our creditors a payment of £1 per month until our situation improved. Some creditors are ok with this some have sold the debt on and Littlewoods have begun to take £60 per month direct from my husbands wage to pay back the debt which, incidentally, is now almost double what it was a year ago due to 'late payment' charges etc being added to the amount owed.

I thought that it was illegal to take anything other than statutory deductions from someone's wages without specific written permission?

Kilmaley01

Endure.....not sure how the law stands with it but a few years back my ex had the same thing done to him through his work, without his permission!

katsu

It may be that in his contract of employment one of the clauses was that he should agree to them reclaiming money of theirs that he owes them. This type of clause is usually there to cover salary overpayments etc. He should check his contract and other bits of paper he was sent to sign, then decide if he wants to make a fuss if he can't find one.

Perhaps they have some kind of welfare fund he could apply for or he could seek support from his trade union to negotiate something more affordable?

djpleasure

@Gromit2303, i purchased something and was paying monthly, also purchased some other items, this was then turned into a flexi account which i believe is more than 20/52 weeks etc, not something i was totally aware of....a small print thing i think. I got statement and was initially paying thre minimum payment stated.

"However, if purchasing an expensive item, it can be useful to spread the payments over a longer period, and the Littlewoods Direct "Flexible Account" can sometimes prove an ideal solution."

The interest details are at http://www.very.co.uk/rf/vry/static.do?page=help7&segment=07

I am continually hit with 12 quid late payments, even though my bank transfers are suppose to be direct via online banking, it appears they are a meer 3 days late, they will not drop the late payment fees, nor the high interest

sablelady

gromit2303 wrote: »

Well I'm completely confused as I have a catalogue (Kays) which is part of Shop Direct and I dont pay any interest, just buy things at 0% over 20 or 52 weeks, so how come you are paying 40%??

nikki30 wrote: »

I agree with Clarence83, I shop with both Littlewoods & Empire and I never pay any interest on anything I order as I spread the payments over 20 weeks on things like clothing and 52 weeks on bigger items like Televisions and furniture.

Sorry to burst you bubble but when you spread the cost over 20/52weeks the interest has already been factored in to the price.

I'm unable to post links but go and compare the prices of this item :-Sony 40inch LCD TV Cat No. PY2731

on Littlewoods/Kays/Empire and then on Very (formerly Littlewoods Direct)

ExtorsionExterminator

Started a new line of complaint with Shop Direct Group, Littlewoods, Additions, Marshall Ward etc today. I work in this field and know my facts. 'Hoping to be able to let it run to the highest level.' ;)ie FSA etc, in order to get this sorted out once and for all, for everyones sake. I realise that the company is struggling at the moment but who isnt? Biting the hand which feeds can,will, only end up in tears for Shop Direct -A point short of 50% interest?! This when BOE interest rate is the lowest in recent history? It is tantamount to later day Highway Robbery, and of the poorest sector of people in society. "At least !!!!!! Turpin wore a mask!"

Girlyshopper

They also hit my account with £12 charges, so I wrote for a true certified copy of my agreement with them back in November. They have apparently sent this to me three times and their last letter regarding it was rather nasty.

I fail to understand that the agreement has been lost in the post 3 times, but my statement never fails to arrive on time!!

Anyhow, what kind of letter do you write to them after they have had the 14 day period to respond?

Thanks

Moneytroubles_2

Grrrr - I'm with VERY too! After LBM i started PADDING and now have the balance down to £470 from around 1400 - eeeeekkk!

Good Luck to others who have debts with them xxx