Moorcroft - Threat To Visit My 70 Year Old Mother - Legal Position

BigLad_2

Hi,

My mother is an arrangement to pay £ 5-00 per month for an outstanding credit card bill.

Moorcroft frequently claim to have not received the cheque and request another, promising that if the first turns up they will destroy it. They then simply cash both cheques, taking a double payment.

Having tired of this game I refused to mail another cheque for the month of August as they had cashed two in September (I pay them on her behalf).

I then 'phoned and wrote to them providing proof that two cheques had been cashed and we were therfore one month ahead.

They have ignored the exalpanatory e-mail I sent to them (they themselves requested e-mailed explanation of the situation). They have now escalated the matter to thier home collections division and state that a representative may call to discuss the situation.

My mother is 70 years old and frail. I don't want anybody visiting her without me being present. My questions are therefore:

1) Is there any way that I can prevent them from visiting (intimidating) her without me also being present?

2) If there is no way to prevent them from calling does anybody have any advice on how my mother should deal with them?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Jon.

dane-katie

Cant help with this but i was once visited by them he said he was here to collect outstanding money for XXXX company, told him i couldnt afford to pay, he wanted me to pay £5 a week, i told him to get off my property and he went. He turned up in a little white van wearing a suit, they have threatened to turn up at my house thousands of times and have only ever done it once, just ask your mum not to answer the door to anyone she doesnt know, hope everything goes well.

NorthernLas

1. Mum can write and refuse a doorstep visit.
2. The have no legal power, if she does open the door she should tell she doesn't want to speak to them and close it again.

Have a read of the following thread all about DCA and bailiffs https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/23624459#Comment_23624459

Barricade

Your mother would be classed as a vunerable person (elderly), so therefore they shouldnt be sending a bailiff and looking more to help without intimidation/harrassment.

However.. as I've found.. bailiffs and the companies they work for are a***holes.

As NorthernLas indiciated, she opens the door, tells them to !!!!!! off, and closes it. Do not let them in, no matter what excuse they use. I've had one asking to use the toilet before now.

In the event they fail to listen and continue to harrass... call the police.

BigLad_2

Thanks folks,

Have drafted a letter and included NID's section on denying home visits.

Cheers

Jonathan.

AGB863

Under English law- unless your mother makes an appointment for them to come and visit at a specified time and date - they are tresspassing and as such the police could be called if they do not leave the property when told.

McKneff

I know that they shouldnt be doing this and its the principal of the thing but dont you think your causing your mother (and yourself) even more stress for the sake of a fiver.
Why dont you just pay it yourself, nobody is short of a fiver these days !!!!!! and it will get paid off a month sooner that way.

Jinx

Pay them by recurring online payment. Goes out regularly, no forgetting or double banking! ( I assume you have online banking even if your mum doesnt?) If you want the details I have them

ganonman

Not sure where I heard this, but I thought I'd mention anyway...

Don't let him in nomatter what the excuse is, because that would be classed as being allowed access and then you cannot stop them coming in next time or force them to leave.

Sorry if I'm wrong

mr.ton

ganonman wrote: »

Not sure where I heard this, but I thought I'd mention anyway...

Don't let him in nomatter what the excuse is, because that would be classed as being allowed access and then you cannot stop them coming in next time or force them to leave.

Sorry if I'm wrong

...and what is supposed to happen when he is in the house exactly?
He cannot take stuff - only court bailiffs can do that.
If he took any money off the woman, that would be theft.
So if he cannot be forced to leave, then whats supposed to happen then? just sat there on the sofa with feet up?

BigLad_2

McKneff wrote: »

I know that they shouldnt be doing this and its the principal of the thing but dont you think your causing your mother (and yourself) even more stress for the sake of a fiver.
Why dont you just pay it yourself, nobody is short of a fiver these days !!!!!! and it will get paid off a month sooner that way.

No offence and thanks for your reply - but it's precisely because of this attitude that they persist in trying it on.

Cheers

Jon.