We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

Harrasment from credir card company

Hi all,
Is anyone else suppered or suffering this?
Suffise to say that I am in the pooh with debts, which I will explain another time, but I have after reading these pages contacted CCCS and have an appointment mid Sept with them
One of my debts is with a dcertain Credit card company (I take it no names?) following advice from CCCS I have told them that I am speaking to CCCs (as they refused to discuss a payment plan direct with them and suggested CCCS also) and gave them the case number.
However this week I have had 7 phone calls from this CC company, even though I am paying them £150.00 a month, in the past three days, now saying that they do not speak to intermediates! I am sticking with the line that as i am discussing this problem with CCCS, I am not prepaered to accept these incessant phone calls every day!
Am I wrong in thinking this is harrasment? is there anything else I can do?
Mortgage 15 years to go: £130,000
Bank Overdraft: £3,000
Credit cards 14,600
Total debt: £147,600 :eek:

Equity £247,000

Comments

  • Sorry to hear you have problems with harrassing phone calls - having been through this I know how stressful it can be.

    The people who are calling you are talking out of their bottoms - it's against the Office of Fair Trading to refuse to deal with an appointed third party. In the introductory pack you get from the CCCS there is form for you to complete and send to all your creditors informing them that you are a client of the CCCS and they are your chosen representitive.

    In the meantime try this: as soon as a caller tries to take you through the security details say something like "I am a client of the Consumer Credit Counselling Services. My reference number is *******. You have my written authorisation to discuss my account with the CCCS."

    That's it - just put the phone down. Don't go through the security details, don't get into a conversation/ argument/ opportunity for the operative to make you feel stressed/ ashamed/ embarassed/ !!!!!!. Use a polite tone of voice, stick to your script and remember that this your phone and your fianances and that you are taking the first steps to be in control of both of them.

    Good luck with your appointment with the CCCS - I am into the second year of a ten year DMP and get no phone calls or letters at all now, so it does settle down.:)

    PS this was the script I used when I was feeling scared and low and just couldn't take another abusive phone call (thank you MBNA). After a few months of being on a DMP and using this and other debt sites I realised that DCAs like to play psychological games to try to get you to pay more. I started playing them back at their own game and it was great fun. I was never rude or offensive or told lies but still had a good time. Now, no-one rings me and I've got nobody to play with...
    Don't judge people on they way they look, the way they speak or what they're called because they can't help that.

    Only judge people on what they say and what they do.
  • Rallya
    Rallya Posts: 255 Forumite
    I changed my phone number and went ex directory when I kept getting harrassed by my creditors, now I only deal with them in writing.
    Official DFW Nerd Club - Member no: 126 :j


    The road to Hell is paved with good intentions...
  • madduck
    madduck Posts: 291 Forumite
    I know it is really hard just now, these phone calls get you so down, but honestly it will get better. Like Blissfulbabe, I'm 2 and a bit years into a DMP that could take up to 10 years.

    In the first stages after contacting CCCS it was tough. Some of your creditors get extra vicious as soon as you start to make efforts to sort out your finances. They will threaten you with all sorts. But stick with it, it does get better. Keep in touch with this message board, I wish I knew about it 2 years ago, it would have made things for me so much better. I thought that I was the only person going through it. I thought that I had just to take all the crap that these people threw at me. As the others have said, try not to get into length conversations with them, they are only going to try to make you feel even worse than you do already and force you into paying money that you don't have. (Like if you had thousands stashed away in a Swiss bank account you wouldn't pay it to them to get them off your back!!!)

    Let them know that your with CCCS and that they should contact them. The phone calls will go on for a while. You'll keep getting letters for a while. If you've not had default notices before, they'll come. If you've not had accounts passed to Debt Collection Agencies - that'll come too.

    But it does calm down. Two years on, my debt is reducing for the first time in my adult life. I've stopped getting my 8am Saturday and Sunday morning calls from GE Capital (I had 2 accounts and they were really lovely - waking me up at 8am on both mornings - seperate calls for each account). Credit rating shot to hell - but to be honest - couldn't even contemplate getting into debt again - ever!

    Stick with it - you've done the hardest thing by admitting that you've got a problem and contacting CCCS. Don't let them grind you down.
  • Thanks 'madduck' for this. ( sorry to jump in )
    I have had a terrible day with calls at home and at work.
    I'm glad to hear it does really get better. At the moment it is really bad. I feel like a criminal in my own home and afraid to answer the phone
  • Thanks for all the advice. I am really lucky that I have two telephones into the house, one being ex directory and the only access they have is to my posted telephone number which is down my office and connected to an answering machine. the AM comes on and the call cuts off. Funny that!

    MBNA (Virgin) have been OK, its Capital One who are being the "difficult" ones.
    Mortgage 15 years to go: £130,000
    Bank Overdraft: £3,000
    Credit cards 14,600
    Total debt: £147,600 :eek:

    Equity £247,000
  • When I read the first post it reminded me of the issues I had with Capital One and then I have just seen the last post where you mention their names. I just wanted to let you know that after me writing to them twice with an offer of payment and each time them calling numerous times to say they would only deal with me through the CCCS I got in touch with CCCS had my phone call with the counsellor, got the pack and then wrote directly to Capital One quoting my ref number and offering them the same amount I had offered originally 5 months before, they have accepted it and have frozen interest & charges for a 6 month period which is what I requested - there is light at the end of the tunnel !! - Best of luck xx
  • I think it's important to name and shame the CC companyj.
  • It does get better. But be prepared for another flurry of calls after about 6 months when they start suspecting you of winning the lottery and not telling them. I've just been through this. I now simply politely refuse to go through the security drill - I just tell them that I don't give any details to strangers over the phone and tell them to contact Payplan. Got one recently - woman said very plaintively 'but you won't know what I've got to say'! Do I care what you've got to say?
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 240.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.1K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.