Buchananclark + Wells Are Going Down

Hater_Of_BCW

Hi all,

I'm new to MoneySavingExpert.com, and this is my very first post. Unfortunately I could not find where to create a new thread, so sorry for that.

Anyway, my wife received a letter from BCW and then a threatening phone call from them about 3 weeks ago, stating that we owed them £282.62. She rang me at work, and I Googled BCW and found that they were a really bad debt collection agency. I told her that we needed to get a letter from them detailing the debt, from British Gas from our old address from over 2 years ago, highlighting a detailed statement. We had paid £563 at the end of 2007, so I was not prepared to pay anymore until they could prove that we owed this cash.

The next call my wife got, that same day, was again from a stroppy Scottish woman. My wife asked for the statement etc, and she was told it would cost £10 to get the information. My wife refused, and I told her not to deal with BCW and that I would write British Gas a letter.

British Gas wrote back stating that the debt was for electricity owed from our previous address, but the dates did not tally up with when we moved, so we asked them to check their information. In the meantime my wife was still receiving threatening calls from BCW. I had a new service installed on our BT line, so that I could block BCW calls. So each time they called my wife, she could add them to the call barred list, as she had told them that British Gas were now dealing with us directly - BCW called my wife a liar.

Then last week, we received a "FINAL NOTICE" letter from BCW demanding immediate payment of the debt. I compiled a letter stating that I would take legal action if they called my wife again, and if they passed on our details onto a debt collection officer, then they would be in breach of the data protection act, and that they had also breached harrassment laws as well as defamation of character by calling my wife a liar. I included the letter from British Gas stating that they were now dealing with the matter, and sent the letter to BCW recorded delivery on Monday 14th Sept.

I also wrote to British Gas asking them why my wife was still being harrassed by BCW, sent them a copy of the "Final Notice", a copy of the stern letter I sent to BCW and asked them to now over look the debt as a result of the actions of BCW.

My wife was again called by BCW yesterday, and my wife told them that they are breaking the law by calling her, as we told them to stop calling in the letter sent Monday recorded delivery, and DELIVERED Tuesday (I have a print out from the Royal Mail track and trace website). The pserson from BCW said that it can take 5-10 working days for recorded mail to be delivered. We know it was delivered, then ended the call.

This morning my wife had a call from British Gas apologising profusely for the disgusting way in which she was treated. They have wiped the oustanding debt clear, and have terminated their contracts with Buchananclark and Wells. So BCW have just lost a major contract.

So, this message is for any Buchananclark + Wells employees out there:-

I hope you are all out of a job.

dancingfairy

Hi. To be fair I think your post was mainly helpful for people to learn what they needed to do to challenge debts that they don't owe and to not let people bully you. It was just a shame that having written such a well composed message that you ended with such unpleasantness.
Yes they may have treated you in a disgusting manner and yes you have higlighted some important points - but it would be a shame if your post got removed due to the last paragraph - maybe you could reword it or delete it so the helpful information could be kept?
df

dancingfairy

Thanks for changing that. There some good points in there and I hope anyone else suffering the same thing can take some valuable pointers from it.
df
Oh and when you can see all the threads in this board listed if you click on the bit that says thread tools there is an option for starting a new thread.

Hater_Of_BCW

Dancingfairy, the tools option does not include one for starting a new thread. Is there any way that my first post can be set up as a new thread?

The options are print, e-mail and subscribe!!!

dancingfairy

If you can see this bit the bit above says thread tools - you need to go back out to the list of all the threads - click on the bit that says debt free wannabe at the top under the navigation - you should then see something that says forum tools and can do it from there?
Um will pm a board guide and see if they can move the posts to a new thread for you.
df
Have pm'ed Fermi to move your post for you - don't know how busy she is but she should be able to do that for you. Gotta go for now.

fermi

If you go to the main Debt-Free Wannabe board, then to the top left you will see a button.

Click that next time to create a new thread on this board.

Hater_Of_BCW

thanks again Fermi, got that now

Hater_Of_BCW

Er, we had another call this afternoon from BCW. Any ideas on how to get them to stop? Anyone know any e-mail addresses for directors etc etc?

GeorgeUK

No idea about addresses or emails, but you could give them a bit more rope.

Write a letter of complaint stating that under section 10 of the Data Protection Act, you require that they cease processing your data within 7 days of receipt of the letter. You also require that they remove all your data from your files within the next 7 days and look forward to receiving a letter from them within 10 days confirming that they have complied with this request.

If they contact you again after the 7 days, you can inform the Information Commissioners office that a company that should not have any of your details is processing your data even though you have issued a section 10 notice requesting they stop.

Hater_Of_BCW

Thanks George,

but I have already done this!! Please see letter below:-

SENT RECORDED DELIVERY AND ALL RECEIPTS KEPT FOR FUTURE LEGAL REASONS


Ref Number
Client Ref
11th September 2009


Dear Buchananclark + Wells,

I have been receiving numerous calls from you regarding an apparent outstanding debt owed to yourselves. In fact, you have called that many times that this has caused me great anxiety.

One of your colleagues branded me a liar when I informed your colleague that we had been in touch with British Gas over the debt. Please find enclosed a letter from the complaints department of British Gas. You may be aware that we have blocked your office’s phone number from being able to get through to us.

So, how would like to play this one? By all means, I am prepared to go to court, but I will make this VERY clear. We will take legal action against Buchananclark + Wells under harassment contrary to Section 1 of the Administration of Justice Act, and defamation of character and slander if your company contact me again without you checking properly with British Gas. You have refused to prove that I owe you any money, and you even tried to charge me £10 to get such proof. If you are considering sending “debt investigation officers” round to our home, there will be another count we will have against Buchananclark + Wells with a breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 Part 1 Principle 4 "personal data" as you do not have permission to pass my details on to a another party. Also, the debt investigation officer will be charged with harassment and trespass, and the police will be invited round to extract them from our private property. Until you can show that you are not in breach of the Data Protection Act, we are in dispute with Buchananclark + Wells. Any evidence that you have indeed breaches the Act will lead to complaints to the Information Commissioners Office, Trading Standards and the Office of Fair Trading without further notice to Buchananclark + Wells.

All future correspondence from Buchananclark + Wells will need to be made in the form of a letter, as all calls from you will be terminated and the number you use will be blocked using our fantastic BT nuisance calls facility. You also need to be aware that I am registered disabled.

Yours,

So what is our next step?

OrkneyStar

Give it some time as it may take a while for BCW to show on their systems that BGas have taken the debt back from them, and have been dealing with you directly ?
Hope you get it sorted out.