is this allowed

jillyflower

hi i'll try to make this as short as possible. I was running a small business but had to close it down before i actually ran out of money. I made an arrangement with the suppliers that I still owed money to and they agreed to let me pay them the outstanding amount monthly until it was all paid off. One of the suppliers (who hasen't been very helpful, but agreed to the arrangement) had now sent me an invoice but on the outside of the envelope in very large writing had put, YOU OWE ME £300. PLEASE PAY YOUR DEBTS. I live on a small island off the coast of scotland and as a consiqunce everyone is now asking me about the problems i'm having (thanks postie) is this acceptable or can i do something about it. Don't know what I want to do except stop it happening again. any advice would welcome thanks.

Justicenpeace

Hi Jilly,

I'm not able to help with the specific question I'm afraid. However, I'd be tempted to write on the envelope you send - in big letters "PAYMENT ENCLOSED AS AGREED. PLEASE READ YOUR MAIL AND TRY NOT TO BE RUDE IN FUTURE". I'm not sure this is good advice though.

All best wishes,

Justicenpeace.

Tixy

Hi Jilly

Poor you, I can imagine how embarrassed I would be in your situation. However I suspect there is probably little you can do about this.

I too would be tempted to do something similar to what Justice suggests but again not sure it would actually achieve anything.

Maybe you could stick to the arrangement but start paying him in 2pence pieces or something equally annoying!

shadydaz

complian to the post office/royal mail about the situation. There must be a breech of customer privacy regarding this situation that mail workers sign as part of their contract of employment.

DarkConvict

This is in breach of OFT guidelines, by disclosing your finanical situation to others they have broken this rule.
As they are collecting a debt i assume they should abide by these rules.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

Physical/psychological harassment
2.5 Putting pressure on debtors or third parties is considered to be oppressive.
2.6 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:
i. disclosing or threatening to disclose debt details to third parties unless
legally entitled to do so
j. acting in a way likely to be publicly embarrassing to the debtor either
deliberately or through lack of care, for example, by not putting
correspondence in a sealed envelope and putting it through a letterbox,
thereby running the risk that it could be read by third parties.

If this has caused you distress, you might be able to pursue damages against your supplier that disclosed these details, consider speaking to National Debtline or CAB.

captainhaggis

Send him a brown paper-wrapped box and use your computer (I'd be happy to do it - I do web/graphic designy stuff) to develop a logo for a beastiality pornography company.... Throw that on the outside of the box and post it to him......

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

EDIT : Or better yet, send it to (his name) but 'accidentally' put the neighbour's address on it.

EDIT AGAIN : Or perhaps put a sticker on the outside of the box saying "Your erectile dysfunction problems end now! Your order is enclosed!"

Shoe_Gal

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

property.advert

I would investigate whether you have a case against the person who wrote on the envelope. You could well have a case against the postal workers but I don't think you will get any evidence to prove their gossiping.

timmmers

DarkConvict wrote: »

This is in breach of OFT guidelines, by disclosing your finanical situation to others they have broken this rule.
As they are collecting a debt i assume they should abide by these rules.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf



If this has caused you distress, you might be able to pursue damages against your supplier that disclosed these details, consider speaking to National Debtline or CAB.

It's a supplier.not a licenced DCA...so no chance of that I'd say. It's like me doing it.
The OFT can't do a thing about me beng rude.

TBH this is very different to the usual stuff here...it's a business not a bank, a debt that is needed for cashflow not pure profit.

The letter asking for time isn't a right, it's a favour. They could have gone the legal router instead. A small business goes bust and often takes other with it if they don't watch out....and the OP was careful not to go bust and instead closed before that happened. Maybe that's why they are annoyed? They are struggling, he isn't because he expects them to wait while still running their business in hard times.

If I were the OP I'd ring them up and aplogise for the situation, they are clearly angry and likely (And able) to do much worse if they choose. Faced with problems in their own business for supporting his...so would I be.

I've been in their circumstances trying to make ends meet and had people owe me a lot of money in this way...not rushing to pay me back. I did far worse to them than a nore on a letter and got it back the same day ...visited the !!! at his golf club odd how he suddenly had 800 quid in his wallet despite the sob stories to me...yet was flush in front of his mates there/

The postman was out of order ..or whoever passed the info around.

t

bathgatebuyer

My factors company sent me a letter with 'Legal Action Planned' showing through the envelope's window. Wasn't too chuffed with that particularly given that I was querying the bill in question. I made sure everyone knew I was querying the bill, but should have never been put in that position in the first instance.

never-in-doubt

As Timmers states above, this would be a libel (defamation) claim (Civil) if anything and it just wouldn't be worth it. The OFT Guidance on debt collection activities (posted by DarkConvict) would, unfortunately be irrelevent in this instance.

That said, Royal Mail staff should sign a disclaimer at the time they start work confirming they will adhere to privacy etc - all you need a is a couple of people to confirm the postie told them and then report it.