has anyone had dealings with groundwell debt recovery?

gemms32

Last year I stupidly agreed to a 14 day trial of a book from bca online, they sent me the first book for free then the second book to pay for. A week or so later I received the whole collection of books which I decided I didn't want and I phoned bca to ask them to collect the books. I few weeks later the books were still waiting to be picked but bca were sending me invoices to which I would phone bca and explain the books hadn't been collected. This cycle went on for a few months and eventually they were picked up and I was left with a returns card which annoying I lost. I told bca this but now I keep receiving threatening letters from groundwell debt recovery. Is there anything I can do??? :mad:

NorthernLas

If you google groundwell debt recovery, they come up as being part of BCA. Go back to BCA and get them to confirm in writing that you do not owe them any money.

gemms32

well my problem is that bca say I owe the money as I can't provide proof of returning the books so as far as they're concerned it's down to me!

Gothicfairy

I know this is a thread from last month but I have had the same problem and now I am up to a "notice of intended legal action ccs collect.
They are saying they are going to take me to court and send round the bailiffs ( all without a ccj or default so they are doing well already) for £78.73 of books they claim I have had.
Problem is, I never had them.
I got 3 books from BCA and paid for them over the phone ( I have the details) I even asked the agent if that cleared the account and was told yep..All sorted
Then I get a bill for a collection I had not recieved so called them and wrote.
Bill came again > same call and letter
5 letters from groundwell which I did nothing with as it is down to BCA to deal with.

Now a nasty little letter from CCS Collect about the same thing.

This is all getting a little silly now and I am running out of ideas

hchpotter

I am in the middle of a very similar dispute with Groundwell after ordering a book from Books Direct in December which was promptly paid for.

One month later Books Direct issued a letter saying that, due to late payment, they were adding further charges to the outstanding amount. Failure to pay within 7 days would mean that they would pass the debt to a debt collection agency.

We immediately phoned Books Direct who quickly confirmed receipt of payment and admitted that they had paid the cheque in to the wrong account. I "wasn't to worry".

Several days later a menacing letter is received from Groundwell. The debt has increased from £9.48 to £23.98. There is no contact number to call Groundwell, and neither are they listed with 118118. Again I call Books Direct. Again they confirm there is no debt. Again, I'm "not to worry".

Several days later a second letter arrives from Groundwell. Over the course of a week the "debt" has increased from £9.48 to £23.98 to £108.98 + undisclosed interest. A debt that can rise from £9.48 to £108.98 in the course of a week is carrying a phenomenal APR! The tone of the second letter is more menacing, threatening county court action and warning me that they will share the fact that I am a default creditor with credit rating agencies. Again there is no number to contact Groundwell on. So we contact Books Direct. Again.

Books Direct once more confirm that there is no debt which they finally agree to put in writing. They promise me that they have contacted Groundwell to cancel all future ation (incidentally Groundwell are part of the Book Direct corporate structure). When I asked for contact details for Groundwell so that I can contact them directly, Books Direct tell me that they don't have the contact details (which makes you wonder how they can contact Groundwell to instigate, and subsequently cancel, their debt recovery.) I have asked repeatedly for Groundwell's phone number, email address and contact name but they are not forthcoming. All very fishy and quite clearly a scam. Please don't fall for it.

If you have the misfortune to get embroiled with this shower don't ring the main number - you'll have to wait for ages and then you'll get Darren who's not very helpful and refuses to give his full name. Instead, ring 01793 747105 and ask for Darren's manager. She's far more helpful.

We await Groundwell's next letter(s) with much anticipation.