Greenwoods

cherryblossoms

Hello,

I'm a long time lurker (for bargains information) and a first time poster, I'm looking for some advice hence my HUGE step to registering and my post.

I had a call from a Greenwoods agent today, when I answered the door at first I thought it was a last ditch attempt to influence my election vote when I saw the clipboard and the Male and Female smiling at me. The gentleman informed me he was from Greenwoods and asked if I'd heard of them, I advised my partner had hired a suit before from a local branch when to my horror he explained the company were actually debt collectors :eek:

Apparently an account I had with Next while I was living at my old property still had an outstanding balance, I advised that I hadn't used the account since 2007 and I'd not received any letters to my knowledge. I've been living at my present address for the past 3 years and i've not had any letters here either! From what I can remember I closed the account after my last bill but I must be wrong!

The amount owed is not a lot at all and I'm Happy to pay it in full if I can get clarification that I actually do owe the money, the agent said I could call Next but they probably wouldn't deal with me now so can anyone advise where I get proof of the debt from as the agent couldn't tell (or wouldn't) me.

Another thing that puzzled me was that I could pay £2 a week to clear £105 or if I paid in full it was £117, I advised if the debt is mine I wish to pay in full to have it cleared to which he stated "it's only £2 a week if you would rather" Surely they would rather have the balance paid off if you offer or am I being completely clueless?

I feel very silly asking for advice with this, nothing like this has ever happened to me before, apart from my home I don't actually have any debts as such, no credit cards, loans, store cards, finance so i'm feeling a little clueless!

Thanks in advance.

DarkConvict

Do get in touch with next, its possible they do have the wrong person or next collections had the wrong information on the status of your account. Always seek clarification before paying a debt - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11570893&postcount=2
Did you keep written proof of the final bill from next and do you have a bank statement showing the payment was made in 2007?

Next have to keep information for 6 years so should have information on it.

Another thing to check is your credit file, get a free online trial of experian and equilfax or pay for the £2 statutory reports.

GeorgeUK

Did they leave any contact details or an address?

I would definately write to them and request proof that the debt is yours before making any payment.

You are right to feel that something isn't right here though - they would not be able to add interest or charges so the amount owed should not change, and you are correct that DCA's usually try to get you to pay as much as possible as soon as possible.

You could write to Next, but they may say that the debt (if one exists) has been passed on - you could see exactly what state your account was left in by sending a subject access request (SAR - cost £10), but why pay money when you may not need to?

I would phone Next in the first instance and then write to Greenwoods requesting proof that the debt is yours if you got nowhere.

Does sound a little strange though - never heard of them myself.

DarkConvict

I have heard of greenwoods on the forum before, and i to thing the suit shop. They seem like small fish in the DCA world thou.

fatbelly

Greenwood is provident in different clothes.

They have fairly recently started to buy old debts and use their network of collectors to pursue these.

Advice so far is good - see what you can get out of Next and, if they confirm that the debt has been sold (assigned) to Provident, then write to them at their head office (Colonnade, Bradford).

WRINKLES

they want you to take out a loan and pay back at two pounds a week so they can make even more monry out of you

PHYTHIAN

Wrinkles is spot on.

They are first and foremost a doorstep loans company. Think you'll find you will be paying back about £170 because of their extortionate interest rates.

Ask them to prove the debt is yours....also contact Next. If you are sure you have paid it off...how did you do that? Maybe bank records would help.

I get the feeling Greenwoods are ' trying it on' and it is a very underhand way of getting you to take out a loan. Tell the agent you're on to him and watch him run.....pretty sure what he is doing is illegal.

ZIZA

I also had a man called at my home yesterday from Greenwoods asking if I wanted to buy LovetoShop vouchers and pay for them weekly. I declined and he went away. I'm not in any debt.

WRINKLES

i think we will here a lot more about greenwoods [provident] and yes what they are trying is illegal

DVardysShadow

If anyone turned up at my door and would not take an instruction to provide proof of a debt they wanted to collect, they would have made a wasted journey. I would not discuss terms to pay it back either.

cherryblossoms

GeorgeUK wrote: »

Did they leave any contact details or an address?

I would definately write to them and request proof that the debt is yours before making any payment.

You are right to feel that something isn't right here though - they would not be able to add interest or charges so the amount owed should not change, and you are correct that DCA's usually try to get you to pay as much as possible as soon as possible.

You could write to Next, but they may say that the debt (if one exists) has been passed on - you could see exactly what state your account was left in by sending a subject access request (SAR - cost £10), but why pay money when you may not need to?

I would phone Next in the first instance and then write to Greenwoods requesting proof that the debt is yours if you got nowhere.

Does sound a little strange though - never heard of them myself.

Yes they left me a mobile telephone number wrote on a customer details form, at the bottom of the form is a registered office based in bradford and a registered number. Like I said in my original post If I owe the money I'm happy to pay it straight away I was just a little puzzled at the fact the agent was almost pushing me to sign to pay in instalments for such a small amount!