MSE News: OFT warning over 'debt write-off' claims

immoral_angeluk

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Well with all due respect my job isn't to write people's debt off. My job is to help people deal with their debt efficiently and effectively. If I believe that a client has a strong case to be able to have their debt written off for some legitimate reason I will.
You don't know my job, so therefore shouldn't pass unfair judgement on my ability to give them advice and assistance.

and in addition, considering my long running connection to the forum, I do, quite regularly, refer clients to this forum for emotional support as well as to relevant third parties. Like I said, you don't know me, my job, or what I do, so please don't judge me.

never-in-doubt

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Well with all due respect my job isn't to write people's debt off. My job is to help people deal with their debt efficiently and effectively. If I believe that a client has a strong case to be able to have their debt written off for some legitimate reason I will.
You don't know my job, so therefore shouldn't pass unfair judgement on my ability to give them advice and assistance.

At first I thought you worked for a payplan type thing or cab - but it really isn't relevant, the best advice you can give anyone that has a default or cannot afford to pay is to check for unenforceability!

Why anyone classifies paying £10 per week for 90 years as a good think (like PayPlan etc do) need shooting! Stop paying, move and let it vanish then in 6 years you;re free of all obligation - morally wrong yep, I agree - but sod morals when your sanity and family come first!

Seriously though, I see your point - I was merely saying your original post is somewhat jaded and incorrect in the relevance to unenforceability and your beliefs of the process and successes.

never-in-doubt

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

and in addition, considering my long running connection to the forum, I do, quite regularly, refer clients to this forum for emotional support as well as to relevant third parties. Like I said, you don't know me, my job, or what I do, so please don't judge me.

The time you've been here means little, lots of peeps over on DT with 20,000+ posts but not one post over here on the boards that actually matter! As I say, post count/length of service means little really. I can categorically state that 10,000 of my posts are classed as helpful - doesn't make me better than the next guy, or worse.....

I never judged you, I answered using the facts at hand from post 2 of this thread

immoral_angeluk

never-in-doubt wrote: »

At first I thought you worked for a payplan type thing or cab - but it really isn't relevant, the best advice you can give anyone that has a default or cannot afford to pay is to check for unenforceability!

Why anyone classifies paying £10 per week for 90 years as a good think (like PayPlan etc do) need shooting! Stop paying, move and let it vanish then in 6 years you;re free of all obligation - morally wrong yep, I agree - but sod morals when your sanity and family come first!

Seriously though, I see your point - I was merely saying your original post is somewhat jaded and incorrect in the relevance to unenforceability and your beliefs of the process and successes.

I'm a money advice assistant for the CAB (ie junior debt caseworker), if you want to know. We're impartial, so cannot advise people to 'ignore their debts' for 6 years or 'move and let it vanish'. We don't take sides, which is why we have a mutual trust between ourselves, clients and creditors, and is pretty much the only reason that creditors are happier to work with us. Because they know that we're doing everything we can to help the client, but without being unfair to the creditor. This doesn't however mean that we're being unfair on the client, it just means that we're honest. If a client can afford £100 a month to repay their creditors, a creditor will know that we're not going to lie and manipulate it so they only have to pay £1 token payments...

immoral_angeluk

never-in-doubt wrote: »

The time you've been here means little, lots of peeps over on DT with 20,000+ posts but not one post over here on the boards that actually matter! As I say, post count/length of service means little really. I can categorically state that 10,000 of my posts are classed as helpful - doesn't make me better than the next guy, or worse.....

I never judged you, I answered using the facts at hand from post 2 of this thread

I wasn't in any way implying that my time here gave me special status or anything like that, I merely meant that I know what the forum is like and the fantastic support you can get here, so I refer my clients here where I deem appropriate.

niccatw

Hey there

I think we've established here, that part of the reason the forum is so good is because it let's people air their differing opinions - thereby giving the OP as much info as they could possibly need. I think we are all aware that the onus is still on us to check out that info and make the best decision for our own particular situations; this forum is just one of a number of ways of arming ourselves before making that decision!

Let's face it, the world would be a dull place if we all chose the same path and sauntered down it jovially without ever asking "is this for me?"

fermi

scotsony wrote: »

My CCA arrived, but it's never been signed by me! what's my next step now?

Hi scotsony.

You would get more direct responses in your own thread. I'll copy your posts and replies into one.

Edit: New thread here:

---

> CCA received - now confused

never-in-doubt

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

I'm a money advice assistant for the CAB (ie junior debt caseworker), if you want to know. We're impartial, so cannot advise people to 'ignore their debts' for 6 years or 'move and let it vanish'. We don't take sides, which is why we have a mutual trust between ourselves, clients and creditors, and is pretty much the only reason that creditors are happier to work with us. Because they know that we're doing everything we can to help the client, but without being unfair to the creditor. This doesn't however mean that we're being unfair on the client, it just means that we're honest. If a client can afford £100 a month to repay their creditors, a creditor will know that we're not going to lie and manipulate it so they only have to pay £1 token payments...

Fair play and respect - you guys give a great service to the community and I do respect that......... :T:T

Sorry, was being a little cheeky earlier - I understand what you mean and appreciate your input, as always

The_Truth_is_Out_There_

Why is it that this site champions the right to reclaim unfair bank charges, using legislation from the same act of parliament as is used for contesting enforceability of credit agreements?

When you agree to the contract of a bank account, you agree to that banks charges, yet several years down the line, the charges have got higher and higher, leading to Martin and others championing the fight that they are unfair or unlawful.

Using the legislation to justify this is heralded as a right of the consumer, not a loophole.

When you enter into a credit agreement, you agree to pay the relevant interest and charges, but they can be variable. So several years down the line, the interest rate has gone from an APR of 0% to 39%, is that not just as unfair as the cost of bank charges?

Yet if a consumer uses the same legislation to contest it, and finds a flaw in the agreement to ‘get out’ of the agreement, it is seen as immoral and abusing a loophole in said legislation.

I totally agree the claims industry that has appeared and is abusing the legislation is wrong, and should be stopped, I also agree entirely that bank charges where too high in relation to the cost to the relevant bank.

But find the attitude that it is immoral to use the legislation one way, but the right of the consumer if you use it in another somewhat hypocritical.

And find the assumption that everyone using the legislation to get agreements deemed unenforceable as trying to get out of paying what they owe judgemental, which if I am not mistaken is against this sites ethics, yet the site team are doing just that in the news articles.

Yes it is true, some may be abusing the legislation to get out of paying a debt, but one could claim the reclaiming of bank charges is an abuse too, after all if you got charged, you did agree to the costs, if it was your fault, and I stress that part, as I am aware in some cases charges are incurred from the mistake of the bank, or other companies, drawing funds when they should not.

WRINKLES

Well said i agree you can not enforce an agreement without a signature FULL STOP