Missed 1 payment phone non stop!

purpleparrotuk

Hello

For anyone who has not seen my other thread. Hubby is in the process of applying for an IVA. I am going to do a DMP with the same company but have to wait for his outcome first.

Anyway, the debts under my name only are 1 credit card and 2 loans.

We were advised to cancel our unsecured direct debits and open new accounts which we have done.

We also sent of token payments to all out creditors and letters advising them what is happening.

The payment for the credit card was due to come out a few days ago. I got a statement yesterday saying because I had not paid enough they had added late payment fees. They also said i had cancelled my direct debit.

So to cut a long story short thought I had best phone them up. Got through to an Indian call centre and explained my situation. They didn't give a stuff. They said they would put a note on my acount but the charges etc would still happen.

The problem is I received about 10 calls from them yesterday after I called them up. When I answer it is a message system that tells me to press numbers if I am the owner of the card etc.

The lady in India said the note on my account would stop them calling me but not stop the charges. Are we going to get this now for months on end?

I will be sending a letter tomorrow to ask them to freeze the charges etc but doubt it will do much good.

I am scared stiff now and get no sleep last night. It has only been 1 payment for petes sake :mad: and I did send them letters to let them all know.

Hubbys case is no better off. For the past 3 days he has answered calls from the same credit card company all saying we had no paid. They all said they would put a note on the system. So why do they still call day after day?

bottleofred

Hi Purpleparrot,

Phoning these idiots can often be a mistake as they can be abusive bullies. If they call again, don't go through the security part with them and tell them you only want to be contacted in writing. The automated calls will go on for a while, but simply put the phone down. You can post the letter below.
Dear Sirs,

Account No: XXXXXXXX

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing. I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls and I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only. I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine. Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company may be recorded and used in evidence and I expect this harassment to cease immediately.

Yours faithfully

NorthernLas

Read SaltnVinegars first post about their experience.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2673537

Don't answer their security questions, send the letter or change your number.

Hannah_10

No additional advice as it's already been said but just saying, you shouldn't have to take this, it's not fair or right.

GeorgeUK

I agree with all the above, just wondering though if you were going to be doing your DMP with one of the free debt charities or if you are using a fee charging company. Wasn't sure from your post.

purpleparrotuk

GeorgeUK wrote: »

I agree with all the above, just wondering though if you were going to be doing your DMP with one of the free debt charities or if you are using a fee charging company. Wasn't sure from your post.

Sorry it's a non fee one for dmps

saltnvinegar

purpleparrotuk wrote: »

Hubbys case is no better off. For the past 3 days he has answered calls from the same credit card company all saying we had no paid. They all said they would put a note on the system. So why do they still call day after day?

Hi I'm at work and having a quick 5 min coffee break so can't respond to your whole post right now. To answer this point though:

Imagine your creditors as sharks (shouldn't be hard to do)

You are swimming in the ocean and are in a little bit of trouble and you have given them a scent of blood by informing them you are entering into an IVA/DMP.

Your creditors, behaving like sharks, are going to try to take to bite out the largest lump they think they can get away with:

1) Before your other creditors get in there first
2) Before your IVA/DMP kicks in

Hence the phone calls, they are trying to harrass you with the aim of:

1) Trying to reduce their exposure by getting you to reduce the balance as much as they can

2) Stressing you out to the point you will make a payment to them in preference of your other creditors and maybe even pay off the whole balance (borrow money from friends/family etc).

BTW If a creditor asks you if you can borrow money from friends/family/other loan credit card etc this is very naughty and should be reported to the OFT.

I was trying to be brief (but I've failed again!) but to summarise:

This is normal par for the course behaviour from many creditors when faced with someone entering a DMP or IVA.

Do not speak to them on the phone as they will only try to bully you and quote your DMP reference number and company and ask for all further correspondance to be put in writing.

If they continue to ignore this request theres things you can do to get them to stop (harrassment and telecommunications acts to start with).

Please please please don't lose sleep over this. That is exactly what these companies want you to do.

Post Bottleofreds letter and this should be enough for them to stop and if they don't you can start legal action against them.

SnV

purpleparrotuk

Thanks for the replies.

The F***ers have started to phone my work now!. 2 calls this morning each time I have told them to stop calling my work number and put it in writing. Only the one company again.

I am not going to take this any more :mad:

Hubby has 9 creditors and has only received abour 3 calls in a week.

PARIS_5000

Can you change your home phone number ?

saltnvinegar

Ok, you need to send the letter that Bottleofred suggests asap and make sure you start making a note of the time/frequency of the calls somewhere.

Once you have done this and if they keep ignoring this written request you can take action.

Don't let this get you down or stressed......... thats exactly what the tactic is designed to do.

SnV

purpleparrotuk

4 times so far today.

I have asked my work colleagues if they call to say I am not there.

I will ending up losing my job if they keep it up.

I will send the letter tomorrow and also check my online account to see if the phone number is on it to delete. I think I may not get on it though since they have stopped my account.