Absolutely Panicked by Call from Westcott Credit Services

Gemmadilem34

Hello all,
I am wondering if you can all help me. I am a panicked graduate!
Firstly, I do have have a student overdraft which I pay all of my income into (so that is doing okay) and a car on finance. But I have never owed anything illegitimate in my entire life.

Except, throughout university I really struggled with bills - I was living with two other girls and the internet (Virgin Media) was in my name. Getting money off them was quite difficult to pay this on time. They would send me cheques etc.

I called up Virgin Media around June 2009 to say I was cutting it off because we were all graduating. Now I know that somewhere along the lines I owed them around £40 but I just did not have this money.

Over the last few months I have been working and I am one of those types that - if I think I owe a little bit of money I get embarrassed, confused and worried and do not tackle it head on.

Well the last few days I have been receiving calls from the above Credit Services. I did not answer the first time, but when I called back to find out what it was- they said they were a debt agency. I panicked beyond belief but I know what it's for - most likely Virgin Media and I know the debt is small.

Question is:

Can I call up Virgin Media and send them a cheque to clear this debt once and for all? It has been hanging on my mind for a long time. The thing is, I worry that I will speak to somebody horrible who will rack up all of the debts etc

Another question - should I even bother? I know that apparently, last year my friend owed money for a gas bill and they wrote it off.

I don't live at this address so I don't know about letters.

Should I pay the money direct to Westcott? Are they legitimate?

ARGH ARGH will court action come about?????

fermi

Not going to get court action for £40.

You may be able to pay it off with Virgin. It all depends whether Moorcroft are acting on Virgin's behalf, or whether they have actually bought the debt? If they have bought it then it is nothing to do with Virgin any more.

Without you getting anything in writing, it is impossible to tell.

stapeley

As it is a small amount it may be the easiest thing to pay it off. As fermi says for £40 nothing drastic is going to happen . I am sure if you offered even £5 per month they would accept . But you may find that with their costs added it is more like £90 you owe .

Gemmadilem34

How should I go about finding out how much I owe? Should I call Westcott back up? I don't want them to send anything in writing to my current address (which is living with my parents) because then I will most likely be harrassed!

fermi

If you want to sort it out, then I would talk to Virgin first to see who holds the account.

Wescot are liars, so if you ring them up then they are likely to tell you that you must pay them, even if that is not the case.

Gemmadilem34

Yes good idea but I am wracked with nervousness!

stapeley

We always advise no contact by phone .Any agreement you come to on the phone is not worth the paper it is written on . You should sit down with your parents and explain the situation . I bet they have been in far worse situations . Time to grow up and get a grip ,it is only £40 , the cost of a pair of shoes . I would not be suprised if they offer to pay it for you , then you can pay them back a couple of quid a week . I wish I still lived with my parants and I,m over 50 .

jamespir

your panicking over 40pounds wroth of debt try having 7,000

Gemmadilem34

stapeley wrote: »

We always advise no contact by phone .Any agreement you come to on the phone is not worth the paper it is written on . You should sit down with your parents and explain the situation . I bet they have been in far worse situations . Time to grow up and get a grip ,it is only £40 , the cost of a pair of shoes . I would not be suprised if they offer to pay it for you , then you can pay them back a couple of quid a week . I wish I still lived with my parants and I,m over 50 .

Yes it is time to grow up but unfortunately my parents would never offer to give me the 50. They take a lot of board money from me etc. I don't mind the amount I have to pay - I am just worried about having to actually call up Virgin Media and for them to drop me in it by saying it's now something like £500 I owe.
These companies just whack things up!

Antoinette1976Totton

I agree - talk to your parents. I know £40 seems a lot right now but think of the relief and the sleep easy nights you will have.

Honestly - if they have let you come back home am sure they will be ok with you lending / borrowing ( I can never get that right!) the money of them.

If you explain and go to them am sure you will be fine.

If not get busking - £40 should be easy to raise.

Speak to Virgin and explain too.

Now come on - you are a student - you are going to have a degree or have one. I know you are nervous but honestly whats the worst that can happen. Plus - the longer you leave it the more interest thats added.!

YOU CAN CALL THEM - HAVE FAITH IN WONT BE THAT BAD....

aadebayo

I have just received a letter from Westcott, claiming that I purchased something from Marshall Ward. The purchase turned out to be a fraudulent one made in my name at an address that I used to live. Thankfully, the date of birth used in the transaction is different from mine. Wescott is now asking me to send them an ID of myself with my date of birth on. My fear is that my date of birth may find it's way pn their record. What should I do.