Halifax credit card debt/IQor collection - HELP!!!

hannahtulip

Hi, new to the forum, please be gentle! im really confused and could do with some advice please

I had a halifax credit card with a debt of 5k. i also had an egg card with a debt of 5k.
Two years ago my husband lost his job and we defaulted on payments on the 2 credit cards, an overdraft and bank loan but worse still, the mortgage.
becuase of the default on the mortgage we were taken to court. we got in touch with a company called gregory thornton (i think that was what they were called, they manage all debt and you pay them and they pay the debt) before we went to court

by the time we got to court my husband had found work and was earning a healthy enough wage to cover these debts (with GT's help), we were able to prove this with an incomings/outgoings form.

The judge accepted that we could afford to pay our mortgage and other debts but advised us NOT to use Gregory Thorntens and do it ourselves. so we kept our house, cleared the overdraft and loan and did not use GT!! we used a standard letter to each company stating that we couldnt afford to pay anything

however since that letter we havent heard, nor contacted the credit card debt. we have only just recently paid the bank loan in full and are in a position to clear the cards with regular payments. that brings me to today.
a lady came round my house from iQor on behalf of halifax. i havent heard of iQor but i know i have a debt outstanding with halifax and worried about the doorstep conversation i let her come indoors. she was nice and explained that i have to setup a standing order to start payment on the 5k halifax debt. i gave her my husbands debit card details and made a £20 payment and she said she has setup a standing order now each month we pay £20. it was all done so quick i didnt realise if she was above board or not (hubby wasnt too pleased but luckily not that angry!) he says that he googled iQor and they harras people and may not even own the debt

now im worried. 1 they have my husbands account details and 2 do they even own the debt? should i contact halifax?
i would like to pay this debt off but dont want to be ripped off in the process!
sorry if ive gone on a bit, i tried to make it as simple as poss. appologies also if i have posted in the wrong forum:A

any help or advice would be much appreciated!
Cheers!

sofababe

A standing order is something that u set up with your bank. It sounds like she has set up a direct debit which isn't good. Iqor then control the payments, and DCAs have been known to take more than they should. Personally I would call them to cancel the direct debit and ask for their bank details to set up a standing order with your own bank. I made this mistake with a DCA but cancelled before the first payment was taken out. Are u in a position to make a full & final offer? If they haven't had a payment from u in a while they may be open to a low offer? Its worth a try if u can

Tixy

Hi hannah and welcome

Agree with the above. She will probably be taking the payment as a debit card payment each month, this unfortunately means they can take more than you agreed (they shouldn't legally but it can be hard to prove what you owed).
I would contact the bank and see if they can stop any future payments going through - he may need to cancel that bank card and order a new one.

In future never agree anything in person or on the phone, always make sure things are done in writing.

Once you have cancelled the payment if she has left you an address I would write to send the prove it letter, if not then I would wait for them to write to you and then send the prove it letter.

Once they have proved you owe the money, how much the balance is and and proved they have a right to collect it then set up a standing order to pay the debt at a rate you can afford, or you could offer a reduced full & final settlement if you were in a position to do so - thats where you offer say something between 25% and 50% of the balance paid in a lump sum to pay off the debt in full.

Here is a copy of the prove it letter - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11570893&postcount=2
Here is a factsheet on F&F settlements - http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=24_full_and_final_settlement_offers

For future reference if you got into a position where you needed someone to manage your debt in future you should approach one of the debt charities for advice, they will manage your debts on your behalf but not charge a fee unlike companies like gregory pennington (who I guess you contacted last time).

If you have any more grief with iqor or if they turn up again come back for advice. Remember they want to scare you and bully you, don't let them do that, try not to be intimidated. You don't need to let them in your house and if they phone and start saying things you are unsure of you can always hang up and come get advice from here first.

Good luck