Question about debt collection agencies

Talheedin

Hi Everyone,

I’ve got a question about debt collection agencies. I’ve had a dispute with phones 4 u for about seven years (totally their fault) and this has been passed through many debt collection agencies all of whom have stopped contacting me as soon as I’ve phoned them and explained that it was phones 4 u’s fault and I have all the documentation. I have even offered to pay the proportion of the debt that I maintain that I actually owe (I have never refused to pay this) and I just don’t hear from them again.

Since I bought the phone I have moved but my parents still live in that house and I get any mail that comes for me from them. I hadn’t heard anything about this for well over a year when another group of collectors started writing a couple of weeks ago (it’s funny how they come out of the woodwork when you’re down on your luck).

Now my question is what will happen if I just ignore them? I don’t live at that house anymore. It’s been seven years since the dispute started. Should I really bother to contact them?

Thanks

Talheedin

Dr.Shoe_2

If they contact you, you must respond otherwise it looks as if you're trying to dodge your debt and as you say you're not then you don't want them to think you are.

According to the rules (is it law?) a DCA cannot chase you for a debt if you're in dispute over it until the dispute is resolved.

Talheedin

Thanks Dr Shoe,

Looks like I'll just be writing letters once or twice a year for the foreseeable future. Oh well.

Talheedin

System

Make sure you keep copies of all letters, send them all recorded delivery and also write directly to the Managing Director.

Another good tactic is to go to your local CAB and get them to write on your behalf - it's sad but true that advice agencies (esp. charities if you 'qualify' for help from any) have much more clout than individuals.

Contact local and national press. Makes for a good story if you're trying to pay them what you owe yet they're harrassing you with DCAs. Watchdog and those kind of programs might also like to get their teeth into it.

Finally it may be possible to sue them...but possibly not if you owe them. I had a similar problem with O2 that dragged on for 4 years. They owed me money but claimed I owed them. In the end I sued them and won. It was remarkably easy and cheap through https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/ . Get legal advice before you do this though...some solicitors offer free half an hour advice slots. If you're going to do this get all your paperwork together and have it well organised before you go!

Good luck!

Talheedin

Thanks davegillian,

Fortunately I do have all the paperwork for this so if there's ever a stand off I should be well equiped.

I've not actually paid a penny toward this yet as Phone's 4 U wouldn't even acknoledge my letters of complaint and just sent it straight to a DCA. I've never refused to pay what I think I owe them and have made several offers of final settlement all of which have been met with silence. I also include the calculation of what I owe in the letters which also shows a £10 deduction for each letter and phone call I have to make and a further reduction for the price of any fees that are added (to cover the beer I have to drink due to the stress it causes).

I'll just continue doing this for as long as it takes.

Talheedin

System

Haha then sue them for turning you into an alcoholic! Lol!

Snaggles

Talheedin wrote:

and a further reduction for the price of any fees that are added (to cover the beer I have to drink due to the stress it causes).

Like it! :rotfl: