Can I make them stop calling?

Hootie19

My husband has a credit card with Sainsburys (amongst others, but it's this one that's driving me to distraction)

They are calling the house phone 5, 6, 7, 8 times a day to speak to him, and it starts about 8am and goes on until about 9pm. He WON'T speak to them, so don't please suggest anything along those lines, he just WON'T. (His head is so deeply buried in the sand, he can probably see the Sydney Opera House.)

However, I am being driven to distraction, to the point where I have unplugged the phone just to avoid talking to them.

Is there any way that I, as the person whose name is on the phone bill, can get them to stop ringing the house? They of course won't speak to me, so I can't even find out how much crap he's in (although clearly it's a LOT, given the amount of time they spend phoning the house to speak to him), but it is ridiculous that *I* am hiding from them, by screening calls, when it's not even me they want to speak to. (He is making payments to them, but I'm guessing it's not enough.)

Does phoning this amount of times constitute harrassment? Is there *anything* (other than bumping my husband off - which *believe me* is becoming an option) that I can do to get them off our house phone. (He is not able to take phone calls at work, and doesn't use his mobile phone - I think I know why now. Nothing to do with trying to save money - more like avoidance tactics.)

Please give me some hope. I would really like to be able to pick up our phone occasionally!

r.mac_2

sorry to hear that you have been driven to such lengths!

I don't really know what else you can do apart from sitting your husband down and trying to get him to talk to you about it. If he's that scared to speak to them perhaps he could write/speak to them and authorise them to deal with you. That at least would enable you to find out the situation and stop the phonecalls.

Alternatively could you ask them to write to your husband rather than call? then ensure that the letter gets dealt with. Its hard, but as long as you are supportive and reassure him that you are a team and can face anything together then hopefully he will see that you really want to help.

I am sure that someone else will be along soon with other suggestions. Good luck

chatta

Maybe tell them he is no longer available on your home number, refer them to his mobile.......... Say he doesnt live there anymore...

rog2

You can request that they stop calling, as the constant harrassment is causing you distress, and you are not the person they wish to speak with. You can insist that any comunication to your husband must be made in writing. If they fail to listen, you can report them to the Information Commissioner for Harrassment.
You could, also, contact your telephone provider with a view to having their number (or - if they withhold their number - all withheld numbers) barred from calling your phone.

MCBIRNIE25

Of course you can stop this.

You need to send this letter immediately.
By Recorded Delivery

Dear Sir,

Ref. XXXXX
I am writing to you regarding the above account and the daily calls i am receiving several times a day from yourselves.
This behaviour constitutes harassment; this letter states quite clearly to you that I require ALL communications in writing for future Court use. Do not telephone me again - remove any telephone numbers you hold for me from your systems.

Your telephone calls are in breach of the Office of Fair Trading guidelines. If you continue with them after the receipt of this letter an official complaint, together with a log recording the times and frequency of the calls will be passed both to that office and to the Trading Standards office. For your information note that ALL telephone calls are taped.

This type of debt collection method is contrary to the ‘Administration of Justice Act 1970’ in that it is intended to cause alarm and distress to the recipient. Your methods will not be tolerated. A formal complaint, containing copies of all correspondence including yours, has now been submitted to the relevant authorities. This will be relevant to questions of your fitness to hold a licence under the Consumer Credit Act, whether or not it results in a prosecution.

Take further note that continued telephone calls after the receipt of a request not to call may constitute a criminal offence under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

Communicate in writing and ONLY in writing, your telephone calls will NOT be answered.
HOWEVER, CALLS WILL TRIGGER COMPLAINTS TO THE REGULATORY BODIES.

I trust that I have made myself understood on this matter,

Yours faithfully,

MCBIRNIE25

They are trying to crack you and wear you down. You need resolve, send this letter

MCBIRNIE25

They are trying to crack you and wear you down. You need resolve, send this letter immediately and keep fighting.

mountainofdebt

The first one is dealing with Sainsburys. As well as doing what has already been suggested, there may be a different tack to take. When they ask for your husband, ask them if they have a credit card to hand that you can make a charge to. When they ask why, say that your husband charges £20 per hour for delaing with telephone queries but all written queries are dealt with free of charge.


Secondly you need to know what potential doggy do your husband is in. If he won't tell you then tell him that your not covering for him any more and if they ring for him, you will pass them through to him.

Dolly_Smith

tell your husband to get a grip and sort it out (you might want to rephrase that though!)
sorry to sound harsh but this is so typical - he's big enough to get into debt but then hides behind his wife when it all comes to a head!

I do understand - my OH hates doing anything like this, but I absolutely insist. Unless the debt is a joint debt you can't help him - they won't discuss it with you. He has to do it himself

Donedoingdebt

Agree with what's been said. BUT, your OH is going to have to communicate with them at some point cos this is not going to resolve itself. Try explaining to him that this will eventually get passed on to a DCA or court action may be taken against him. Possibly, he may then have to deal with bailiffs standing at your front door, no doubt in front of some nosey neighbours. If he acts now, a lot of this hassle can be avoided & communication can be kept to phone and/or writing & no one else need know.

jeanette251978

I did have the very same problem with sainburys and it went on for many weeks. Many missed calls throughout the day when i was at work and the calls started at 8am through to 9pm like yourself and i remember them calling at 8am on a sunday morning. Id spoken to them many times on the phone and on one particular night i answered the phone and the woman was very abrupt because i couldnt pay anything. She said she would put a note on my file and then 30 minutes later what do you know.... they called again to go through the same conversation.

The next night they called AGAIN and went through the whole conversation AGAIN and i said whilst your putting ANOTHER note on my file please add that i find 9 calls a day as harrassment and im well aware that this is not acceptable.

she told me that i will get calls just for updates ... what 9 times a day ?? im not superwoman surely my circumstances cannot change within 30 minutes between calls.

anyway to cut along story short ive not received any calls since that one, i receive letters instead but they are sparce now!