Welcome Finance Help

keenster

Hi All,

This is my first time on here and I am hoping that someone can give me some help regarding Welcome Finance.

Where to start.... OK I have been with Welcome for over 4 years and have had 2 Cars on finance from them.

I have never missed a payment until the beginning of this year due to losing my job. I notified Welcome via telephone in the first instance and I said that it maybe best to VT my car due to my financial position (the car was 2yrs in to the agreement therefore exercising my rights). In which time I was asked to send my request for this in writing. I did this and never got a reply.

So after so long I contacted them again and was told to send another letter by registered post, in which I did but again never got a reply even though this was signed for.

I then sent emails and another letter this time to a different address in Hessle but still never got a reply and every time I called I got hung up on after sitting there for 20 minutes in some instances.

This went on for 6 months and of course my arrears were getting higher and higher. I never heard anything from Welcome so thought I would ring again.

I actually got to speak to someone this time.... but after explaining what had been happening over the last 6 months all I was told was that they had trouble carrying over all of the accounts from one office to another and it seems that my account was never acted upon or any of the letter replied to!!!

I was also told that my agreement was never a HP agreement against the car but a personal loan, therefore I cannot VT the car as they do not actually have any attachment to the it! In other words they are using this to try and detract from taking the car back.

What actually happened at this point was it seemed to waken up my account again and instead of looking at my letters offering ways of coming to a resolution they just referred it over to their collection department.

So we are 8 months in now and all the collection department have done is referred the full amount of the debt to Lewis Debt Recovery and they are now chasing me for the full amount.

When I got this letter from Lewis Debt Recovery I was immediately back on to the phone to Welcome where I wasnt given any help, even after going through the fact that they were partly to blame for this they just said that they couldn't workout a new payment plan or except the car back via a VT arrangement and to deal with Lewis Debt Recovery directly.

So I am in a situation where I cannot afford to pay off the debt in full and feel like I have been shafted good and proper by Welcome.

I still have the car, its been SORN since the beginning of the year when this all started and I could sell it but looking at its value it would only just cover half of the full debt.

I got the car from one of their car outlets so why would I think I was getting a personal loan from them!!! I feel I was mis sold this and I also think they are just saying this to get out of the VT side of things and wash their hands of it all.

I have also asked them to send me a copy of the original agreement with my signature on. Which when mentioned they hesitated but said they would! what's the betting I never get this, if I do not get this from them is this something in my favour?

I know that there has been a lot of unethical procedures/practices spoken about Welcome on a lot of different forums and wondered if any one could give me any advice on how to deal with this?

Is there any outfit I could speak to that can help me fight my side?

I feel like getting the masses together and really taking on Welcome.

Any help would be appreciated, even if its other similar cases that other people have had.

Thanks

evenstar2009

I'll join the "we hate Welcome Finance Group' !!! I just looked at their website and they are not taking any new loan applications and i heard a rumour that they're in trouble as a company - does anyone know any more on this? I'm going to have to ring them today to request lowering my monthly payment due to a salary cut hmmm i think they'll be really nice and helpful about it don't you??!

evenstar2009

Welcome Finance problems in an article here's the link:

http://www.vrl-financial-news.com/asset-finance/motor-finance/issues/mf-2009/mf-february-09/welcome-financial-services-pr.aspx?page=9432

Peelerfart

The link points to an article dated Feb 2009 .

evenstar2009

yeah i noticed that after i'd posted it :0(

luckypanda

Hi Keenster

I used to work for Welcome and I'm not surprised at your experience.

If you think you could sell the car for half of the loan then call them and offer them a 'short settlement' of x amount. Explain that you cannot afford the payments but you're willing to clear the debt via this method.

When you call to discuss this be really nice, I know it's tricky but they have a pretty sh^&y job and although they're no angels they are likely to respond a lot better if you're nice to them.

If they agree to it ask them to put it in writing.

If they don't budge then you need to try to get hold of an area manager or someone higher and demand a copy of your loan agreement. You could also try making a formal complaint through the ombudsman to see if that helps.

quaidrm

I hate Welcome finance too! I had a car with them which I got in June 2007. I took out PPI and the basically all of the insurances but they are not worth the paper they are written on!!

I had the car a year when I got diagnosed (and survived) bone cancer which meant my health was more important then work! I asked to start my PPI which they said I never had (i have the policies which i have sent them copies off many times!!) so I just lowered my payments which was fine for a while (circumstances changed!!) Anyway, in March of this year I had my little boy and still couldn't pay for my car so tried the PPI route again (same answer I dont have it so sent the docs to them again! My account changed departments and locations around 10 times so i had to explain my strory over and over again to them.
Finally I spoke to someone with sense and I said they were to much hassel and for them to come and get the car which they did. The collecters (who were really nice guys actually) informed me that they had picked up loads of cars for Welcome and to wait for them to contact me as he had heard they were in serious trouble and would be totaly bust within 6 months!!
Since taking the car I have not heard a peep from them! I send all letters recorded which no one is signing for (i track them online)! Also the Kettering and Swindon branches are both shut! But if they have gone bust, Direct payments will still be paying their debts! Cancel the direct payments and inform them you are doing so. Don't answer to them always request a wriiten response!!

My advice:
Always write to them - never talk - conversations get lost!
Always send stuff to your account office and head office!
Always send recored and keeps your tracking number for the signature.
Always take names, dates and times!!

They are robbing idiots and glad they have gone bust to be honest!!!