Welcome Finance / Cattles Finance

*informer*

All,

For those thinking about taking out a new loan, please let me give you some advice. AVOID Welcome Finance. They are very nice to your face when wanting to sign up, but if something goes wrong then GoodLuck!

Im quite lucky as I only have 2 payments left on my loan and then it is bye bye to Welcome Finance and NEVER to return.

I have had quite a few problems with them over the last 5 years when I have had 2 loans with them. Now looking back, I was mad to go with them in the first place but was young and stupid.

I work within Customer Service and I have never experienced worst. Most recent example is they are charing me £25 for a failed direct debit, but my payments are supposed to come out on the last working day of the month, which has been the case for the last 2 years or so, but last month they decided to take it on 28th of the month. So because the money wasnt there, I get charged by my bank, charged by them and all because they made a mistake.

Made a complaint to the CEO of cattles (via email). After 8 days I recieved a reply from a compliance officer who asked for an account number which was supplied already on original email, to which I responded same day and given details AGAIN. Further 5 days and still no response from the compliance officer, so I sent a further email chasing a resolution. I then received an email saying that they have 8 weeks and only have to update me in week 4 (which felt to me like they didnt give a sh** and will reply when they feel like it). They also said "Your compliant is in the process of being logged onto our system and an and will be dealt with in due course." How long does it take to log a complaint onto a system.

If that wasnt bad enough, I then get a silent call from their collections team. I return their call to 0845 number and spoke with a chap on first evening who said everything is fine and account is in order. Next evening, yet another silent call (im registered with SilentCall Guard) and I return the call and again it was their collections department. This time they said they will have their manager take me off the dialer list.

Its now been 15 days since I first emailed my complaint and have not had any sorted of response in relation to the issues I raised. They only response I have had is crap about processing it etc.

Lets see how long it really takes them with the hope it goes to the FSA/FOS as I know who is in the right!

Has anyone else had problems with WF? I am sure some of you will agree with me when I say to others to avoid WF when considering a loan.

moley1_2

hi can you give me sum help to do with welcome car finance??

Sol00

Yes I have dealt with WFS and I echo what you say.

I'm not sure why they're dealing with you by email however, as I was told on numerous occasions that it isn't their company policy to communicate this way. I would probably recommend you write to them instead as I doubt they'll take emails seriously.

homer2008

i think people on these forums are pretty aware of the wideheads at welcome!!in fact how many newmembers sign up on these forums with welcome there main problem..like a bad stink welcome are still hanging on..not long now ..the end is near for these muppets

Sol00

One can only hope.

nikki2804

My OH has a loan through WF. He swapped from an HBOS to an A&L account and used the switching service. WF never picked up the new DD signal so tried to take money from a closed account. £25 charge. One telephone call and the £25 charge was gone as it was there fault. We dont deal with an 0845 number though, weve got the number for the Edinburgh office.

TBH weve had no problems with them 'cept they pass details to 3rd party organisation ...

Freebyman

You will be lucky, WCF have ceased trading. However your agreement will be with Welcome Finance, try the local office first, but to be honest I would try head office in Ruddington Fields, Nottingham.

Big_Ginger_Cat

I heard that Welcome are on the verge of going into Administration - I had a secured loan with them against a property that, unfortunately, I had to give up a few years ago.

The mortgage company sold my house but unfortunately nothing went to Welcome so I offered to pay at a reduced rate, they ignored that and other letters that followed.

They then tried to take me to court for the full amount, I returned my claim stating that I had offered to pay etc, I then received a letter from their solicitor stating that the case had been thrown out, so legally dont have to pay!!

I have also tried to get onto their website and cant - not a good sign!!:T

iolanthe07

I then received a letter from their solicitor stating that the case had been thrown out, so legally dont have to pay!!

No wonder they're going into administration then, if your case is typical.

Cumbrian_Male

moley1 wrote: »

hi can you give me sum help to do with welcome car finance??

Companies act 2006, which is now fully implemented, states that if a company prints it's web address on it's stationary then email must be accepted for formal communications.

dempseyk_2

This may sound stupid but if WF go into administration what becomes of the agreements that customers have? are they null and void or will the administrator chase the outstanding balance?