NEED help with debt with Orange

Marsdendean

Hi All.

In august i had an outstanding debt with Orange for £96. They agreed to stop the service charges of £40 a month, and setup a payment plan. I forgot to make the payments, and then got a letter on the 2nd November from Northen Debt recovery asking me to pay £96. I rang them and told them i would make payments of £20 a month to clear the debt, and was instructed to ring back when i could make a payment.

On the 12th November i got a letter from buchananclark + wells asking for £480.62. I rang orange and they basically told me they cant help, but they were claiming the full contract length from me.

If Orange had told me if i defaulted on the repayments they would claim the full amount from me, i would of canceled the contract under there recent call plan changes (which didnt come into force) like my partner did and have rid of the debt.

I now need advice and an e-mail address for both companies, so i can try to explain what has gone on and try to get somewhere.

Whats everyones thinking on what i should do next? Thanks

drbesty

It's in the T&Cs that if you default on repayments then Orange will claim the full amount, the debt has now been sold on and Orange have nothing to do with it, your best bet is to negotiate with the debt collectors, either knock down the lump sum or setup a payment plan and stick to it

Jon_01

As above, talk to Buchana Clark & Wells they now own the debt.
If you can offer to pay it off they may do a deal to have it removed from your credit file, if not you'll have a strike which will stay there for 6 years...

PJB

I too received letters from B,C&W and others last year and still do as 3 sold on an alleged poxy debt of £15 from 2003. Asked them to pove the debt but they couldn't as they do not have the documents, contract etc.

Ask them to prove the debt. If they cannot they cannot do anything! If they can it will be for £96! Or even netter and if you can pay the £96 or make a payment plan offer to pay, can't see them going to Court with that!

Marsdendean

Thanks a lot.

How come Orange can sell the debt to Northern Debt recovery, then take the debt off them and charge me £480 odd 10 days later???

Is my best bet to strike a deal with Buchanan and try to offer the £96??? I of course cant afford the £480 if im struggling to pay £96.

Bad times at the moment, this is all i need

Silk

Marsdendean wrote: »

Thanks a lot.

How come Orange can sell the debt to Northern Debt recovery, then take the debt off them and charge me £480 odd 10 days later???

Is my best bet to strike a deal with Buchanan and try to offer the £96??? I of course cant afford the £480 if im struggling to pay £96.

Bad times at the moment, this is all i need

Hi Marsdendean,
Have a read of this .............

http://www.buchanan-clark-and-wells.dpcregistry.co.uk/

DarkConvict

Just worth noting from OFT guidelines - http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

Charging for debt collection
2.9 Charges should not be levied unfairly.
2.10 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:
e. applying charges which are disproportionate to the main debt.

The fees are far higher than the main debt,

PJB

Silk wrote: »

Hi Marsdendean,
Have a read of this .............

http://www.buchanan-clark-and-wells.dpcregistry.co.uk/

+1. They are the worst! I have received in excess of 50 letters from these and others regarding the same £15 debt, cost effective!

Got stressed and peeved at first and wrote back and even threatened reporting them to the police for harassment but now i just smile everytime i get one as it is their money they are wasting and i know they cannot do anything, sweet!

maxtweenie

DarkConvict wrote: »

Just worth noting from OFT guidelines - http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf



The fees are far higher than the main debt,

Are we sure the OP hasn't got 2 different debts? One to Northern Debt for the £96 outstanding bills, and one to BCW for £480.62, the remainder of the contract? That's how it looks to me, and if it is, then the fees aren't substantially higher than the debt.

Fire_Fox

Never deal with debt collectors by telephone, always in writing. You have the right for a statement of how the charges are made up, and to see proof of the debt from Orange (CCA) - there are template letters to request this on a DFW board sticky. Sorry but I don't see how you can possibly 'forget' to adhere to a payment plan, sounds like you are paying the price for being slack.

robt_2

DarkConvict wrote: »

Just worth noting from OFT guidelines - http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf



The fees are far higher than the main debt,

The OP says the monthly line rental is £40, multiply that by 12 to get the £480 which is being claimed - no 'fees' have been added. That is assuming the OP had 12 months line rental remaining to pay.

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Never deal with debt collectors by telephone, always in writing. You have the right for a statement of how the charges are made up, and to see proof of the debt from Orange (CCA) - there are template letters to request this on a DFW board sticky. Sorry but I don't see how you can possibly 'forget' to adhere to a payment plan, sounds like you are paying the price for being slack.

And recorded delivery too. It is amazing how many letters debt collectors letters get lost on their way to them :rolleyes: