Mercers et al

somadjoe

I wonder if anyone can advise.

I spoke to Mercers today regarding my Barclaycard debt to tell them that my BR hearing is set for November. She told me that I had to make a payment today or the debt would be passed to Calder for doorstep collection.
I explained that I couldnt make the payment as I would be seen to be giving preferential treatment to a debt. She told me that this was nonsense and that I must keep paying up until I am declared bankrupt.

Is this true?

I know that Calder and Mercers are one and the same so she talked about doorstep collection. I said that they could do nothing without a court order but she told me it was policy to keep sending people round. Anyone else had experience of this and able to pass on their advice?

Thanks
SMJ

ani_26

My advice to you, and i'm not an expert, is don't speak to them at all. Don't pay them. Don't even explain why you are not paying them. Don't even waste a phone call on them. If you are definitely going bankrupt, you are throwing good money after bad. Save it to pay for your bankruptcy.

Yes they' re particularly nasty.Incessant phone calls. Don't answer the phone. Don't answer the door, if you don't want to. Its your right, i believe to invite them into your home or not. Yes its extremely stressful and upsetting, doing this, but sit it out. I doubt any further action will commence, before you go bankrupt, and i would'nt say it will matter anyway.But like i say, i'm no expert.

mjm3346

This thread may be useful to you about callers to your address

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2701383

ani_26

Appointments? who said anything about appointments ?

Very useful thread link xx

ontheroad_2

Don't call them again, and don't speak to them again. Theres no point, they will do what they want to anyway. You are right, there is no point in paying any of your creditors anything prior to your bankruptcy, save your money for the BR fees. They will only attempt to hound you more if you tell them you are planning on going BR, as they know then they've got no chance of getting any repayment on the debt.

If a DCA does call, its perfectly fine to tell them (on your doorstep) that you don't wish to call Mercers, or that you will call them yourself (ie without the DCA being there) in the next couple of days. I had one DCA come to the door from Egg about 6 months ago, as soon as he'd been once (he was very polite, no hassle) I sent the letter I found on this forum about not allowing them uninvited onto my property. He has not returned.
My husband has a debt with Barclaycard, and Mercers were involved in attempting to collect on the debt. Its been around a year since he last repaid anything on his Barclaycard, and they have not sent a DCA to our house.

If the non-stop phone calls from your creditors are driving you to distraction, just put the ringer volume on your phone down or off - thats what we have done.

now

Nohope wrote: »

My advice to you, and i'm not an expert, is don't speak to them at all. Don't pay them. Don't even explain why you are not paying them. Don't even waste a phone call on them. If you are definitely going bankrupt, you are throwing good money after bad. Save it to pay for your bankruptcy.

Yes they' re particularly nasty.Incessant phone calls. Don't answer the phone. Don't answer the door, if you don't want to. Its your right, i believe to invite them into your home or not. Yes its extremely stressful and upsetting, doing this, but sit it out. I doubt any further action will commence, before you go bankrupt, and i would'nt say it will matter anyway.But like i say, i'm no expert.

Hey Nohope great to see you handing out advice:T it is a great start.

You are right do not deal with them, they have to serve you with a 7 day letter, then they have to send you a SD to which you have 21 days to reply after that thet only option they have is to take you to court and force BR or a payment plan. You say you have a date for November? Has this been set in stone by you or are you just thinking about it? or are your courts so busy they can't see you until then? what date in November? Do not be bullied stand your ground and request that they do not call you at home, there are rules set out by FSA to stop this type of callers. Also they have to have your permisson to come on to your property and if you do not invite them they have to leave.

now

ontheroad wrote: »

Don't call them again, and don't speak to them again. Theres no point, they will do what they want to anyway. You are right, there is no point in paying any of your creditors anything prior to your bankruptcy, save your money for the BR fees. They will only attempt to hound you more if you tell them you are planning on going BR, as they know then they've got no chance of getting any repayment on the debt.

If a DCA does call, its perfectly fine to tell them (on your doorstep) that you don't wish to call Mercers, or that you will call them yourself (ie without the DCA being there) in the next couple of days. I had one DCA come to the door from Egg about 6 months ago, as soon as he'd been once (he was very polite, no hassle) I sent the letter I found on this forum about not allowing them uninvited onto my property. He has not returned.
My husband has a debt with Barclaycard, and Mercers were involved in attempting to collect on the debt. Its been around a year since he last repaid anything on his Barclaycard, and they have not sent a DCA to our house.

If the non-stop phone calls from your creditors are driving you to distraction, just put the ringer volume on your phone down or off - thats what we have done.

Or change your phone number it is free if you say you are getting unwanted calls, that is what we did as even after BR we still had Citi card and MBNA call all the time

somadjoe

Thanks everyone for your replys, my wife is more concerned about doorstepping than I am. Speaking to them today you've got to wonder what type of person chooses the likes of Mercers as a career choice

karend1980

These people are a flipping nightmare, I am BR and still get constant phone calls and letters. Its gone from mercers to calders now for me .. Just ignore them they talk so much crap most of the time x

Questionner

Mercers hang up on when I say I won't pay them immediatley, and then another agent calls again within 30 minutes.. I also don't answer the door to strangers anymore!

now

Questionner wrote: »

Mercers hang up on when I say I won't pay them immediatley, and then another agent calls again within 30 minutes.. I also don't answer the door to strangers anymore!

change your phone number it is free when you say you are being hassled, and put it xd.......... When you go BR if they do call you tell them you are BR and that they are breaking the law see how fast they put the phone down :j