DCA monthly repayments options. Can you help?

Mr_Linnet

To cut a long story short I`ve been paying Blair Oliver and Scott £10 per month.

This was set up with the help of the local CAB. I refused to give them my bank details to set up a standing order so I have been sending a postal order by recorded delivery each month which costs me over £12. I dont get a receipt from BOS or an acknowledgement advice nor any statements.

I wrote each month requesting monthly statements and was eventually sent internal copies from the Halifax. After checking through these statements I noticed that two amounts totalling over £100 in interest had been added to my account. I queried this with Blair Oliver and Scott on six occasions but got no response.

Reading through the forums I found a link to e-mail addresses for Chief Executives, so I sent one to Eric Daniels. I received a letter yesterday from the Halifax chief executives office. They apologised on Blair Oliver and Scotts behalf saying they had recieved my letters but could not explain why I haven`t received a reply. However they were going to refund the £100 worth of interest payments but couldn`t arrange a monthly statement. regrettably they cannot send monthly statements, once an account is administered by Blair Oliver and Scott statements are sent out on a six month basis. This is because the only transactions on the account are the agreed monthly payments.

Can I ask for a paying in book enabling me to pay cash over the counter or are there any other options I can request?

Sorry for the length of this post and I said at the beginning to cut a long story short but I would really appreciate some help and advice.

Many thanks in advance for all responses.:D

ElkyElky

I know some DCA's have their own payment card, which you can take to any Paypoint or Post Office and make a payment towards your account. Perhaps telephone them and ask.

If you did set up a standing order, they wouldn't be able to forcefully take any money from your account other than the £10 standing order amount so it'll be quite safe if you choose this option. With standing orders, you'll be in full control and can cancel whenever you so choose. Although I'm not sure why they would need your bank details... you can set up the standing order yourself on online banking using their account number, sort code and reference.

Whichever method you choose to pay, remember and always keep evidence of you paying.

Mr_Linnet

Thank you ElkyElky for your reply.

Unfortunately through previous experience audio files go missing and no record is available so I prefer to write rather than telephone. Another reason for not telephoning is that they have only supplied me with an 0870 premium rate telephone number.

I was reluctant previously to arrange a standing order as I have read so many horror stories on here where DCA`s and the such like have withdrawn money from peoples account leaving them with nothing to live on, however, if I have control of the situation with a standing order then perhaps that might be an option although I do not have online banking facility or option at present.

Your last sentence makes complete sense, that is why I send a postal order by recorded delivery. Double protection with a traceable resource.

danouk

A standing order is money "pushed" from your account to someone else's. A Direct Debit or Continuous Authority is "pulled" by the payee on the basis of an authority signed by you (physically or electronically signed).

If you set up a Standing Order you are in total control. There is no mechanism for the payee to pull money from your account by standing order, and the payee does not require your bank details to receive a standing order.