Any help?

p4r4s1t3

Hi all,

i've been in Australia for 1 year.

Before I left, I had a £740 debt to Lloyds TSB which was a result of snowballing bank charges.

Begrudging to pay this debt, I ignored it as my proceedings for reclaiming the charges were going through - if I won, this debt would be non existant. So off I went to Australia.

The debt has been passed around for a year to different recovery agencies, all who have nothing short of harrassed my parents over the phone, 3, 4 5 phone calls a week.

My mum went into the branch in question and set up a standing order to pay off the debt for £10 a month - the first one went, the second one was returned saying the debt had been passed to an agency.

The following months saw my mother hopelessly trying to get these agencies to let her deal with my account - all who refused.

Now I have returned, and I am going back in a week or so, and I won't be coming back. There is no way on gods earth I am paying the full amount before I leave, or any amount for that matter. However, the agency in question won't accept a payment of £5 per month from my mums account.

What should I do? The aim of this is to stop the phone calls, I don't particularly care whether these pasty scumbags get their full amount or not, I won't be coming back from Australia.

We have tried (through my mother) to set up minimum payments. This worked (as mentioned above) until the second one was returned. Now the latest agency want £200 upfront to continue paying a small amount each month - which I will not be paying.

How should we deal with this?

bargainbetty

If you have no intention of paying it, have your mother send a letter to each of them (not signed, saying that you are no longer at that address and cannot be contacted through them. No forwarding address is required. Ask that all calls stop and any further telephone calls will be reported under the Communications Act as harrassment.

Personally, I'd tell the agency that they can have £10 per month with no up front fees, or they can get stuffed. They tend to take what they can get once they realise you know your rights. Better to clear the debt really, you never know what will happen in business law. If you got legal judgemens against you they may one day be taken into account in Australia. Look at Switzerland handing over bank details to the USA inland revenue.

Pay your debt, leave clean. So much easier that way, and you stop your parents taking the heat over your business.

Good luck x

Primrose

I feel it's unfair and irresponsible that you should leave your mother having to sort out your problems. You're presumably an adult and say you have no intention of paying a debt which you quite legitimately incurred. £740 is not a huge amount of debt compared with some debts that people on this site have incurred. Why not stay in this country, find a temporary job and pay the debt off before returning to Australia. At least then you'll be able to leave with a clear conscience. Surely you owe your Mum that much after all she's done for you over the years instead of just clearing off and leaving her to clear up your mess. Is that the way you're going to continue behaving once you're back in Australia? Just remember that Mum won't be there to bail you out again if you do.

savingmummy

Why wont you pay it? it is your debt!!
I really feel for your parents and they will continue to be harrassed via post and phone until you acknowledge the DCA.

you could pay that in 2 large instalments if you worked and saved hard enough! It isnt a huge sum!