Sick of this countries consumer laws

crazyhaggid

I am the only one who has had enough with the soft consumer laws in this country. I was checking my credit file and noticed that Cabot who I am currently disputing a debt with have performed a search on me without my permission. I have contacted Expedian to ask to have this removed.

No doubt they will reply with the old ‘contact the creditor yourself’ I know there are regulations to stop this happening but who enforces them? I wrote to the Information Commissioner over a month ago about another unauthorised search on my file, I’ve still not received anything back.

Even if I do get a reply the worse that is going to happen to Cabot is that they will be told to remove it, what’s the point in all the laws that are supposed to protect the consumer when they aren’t actually enforced. It’s the same with the debt collection guidelines, companies blatantly ignore them and nothing happens.

I even had Cabot say to me in a letter that they are just that guidelines and so they can ignore them if they want. But I thought they only got a credit licence if they agreed to follow them? But again who’s going to enforce it. The whole system is a mess, I’m just wondering if I’m the only person who’s noticed this.

Rand over

DarkConvict

I was talking at university some weeks ago, my approach would be significantly more extreme than you would expect of me. Basically armed police with trading standards markings on. They would when evidence is significant go into the business, close down and arrest the necessary people, depending on the case they would begin criminal/civil trials, seize business assets where necessary and disbar the upper management from running a business or working in a business in that area for x number of years.

Looking at debt management companies and how they openly flout the OFT guidelines, sending out mass mailings, ringing neighbours, they would be promptly shut down. Debts a difficult one to judge because if you have run up debts, those who you owe money too are expecting it to be paid, took a friend 3 years to pay me for a pc, when it should have been done in 12 months. I gifted him over a 1/4 of it in the end.

Companies hide behind paperwork to much, and a law of common sense is needed.

crazyhaggid

[FONT=&quot]"[/FONT]Looking at debt management companies and how they openly flout the OFT guidelines"

Couldn't agree more this is the OFT's fault as they continue to allow them to hold credit licences, I thoroughly believe that they are allowed to get away with this action as it is normally people on low incomes/low social standings that are forced to deal with them.

DarkConvict

I have lost alot of faith in the OFT, i don't feel they do anything but state guidelines on fair practice, they don't do anything to enforce it. Its like having laws but no police to enforce it.

crazyhaggid

DarkConvict wrote: »

I have lost alot of faith in the OFT, i don't feel they do anything but state guidelines on fair practice, they don't do anything to enforce it. Its like having laws but no police to enforce it.

Thats really it, you've got it totally right and this is what makes me so angry there are laws/guidelines to try and protect consumers. These companies completely ignore them as they know there's no consequences to their actions.