Beware of Cheque Centre

saltnvinegar

Spogg wrote: »

Despite the debt spiralling out of control, I never received any letters from them, they just told me verbally that the debt collectors could pay me a visit and I think one day, two blokes were at my door in blue shirts. Now thankfully I could see out but they couldn't see in. They tried to open the door, luckily it was locked from the night before. It sure got my heart raising, especially when they knock on your door at 8am. So yes, they are able to send debt collectors. Just in case, keep your doors locked, I think they have the right to attempt entry for a debt settlement.

Hi Spogg

Just to put your mind at rest on this. They can send whoever the want round, but a debt collector has NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER to enter your home. This would be illegal trespass and as has already been pointed out you should call the police immediately.

The ONLY time someone can force their way into your home is if they are court appointed bailiffs and only for specific debt.

Debt collectors and bailiffs are very different.

They can say whatever they want, but if in the unlikely event someone does turn up tell them to take a hike.

Spogg wrote: »

NEVER GO TO CHEQUE CENTRE FOR A PAYDAY LOAN AND IF POSSIBLE, TRY TO AVOID GETTING PAYDAY LOANS FROM OTHER LENDERS. They all work the same way nearly and it will ruin you again. If you have to, take the smallest amount needed.

Whole heartedly agree!

Fiddlestick

pink_princess wrote: »

Are you in Scotland ? If not they can t wage arrest.

Oh yes they can - it's called an Earnings Arrestment Order.

Whether the court will grant one is another matter, but it's possible.

Culex

Hannah_10 wrote: »

Spogg are you a plant?

I suspect he's a cactus - one big !!!!! !

petowner if I can give you any 1 peice of advice above all else it is stop phoning them. It is the thing you do that is most self-sabbotaging. Your opening comment was right, they are liars. They say things on the phone that they would never dare put in writing because they know you can't prove it. Even if you could record the calls (which hardly anyone can) you would by law have to tell them you were recording or you couldn't use it.

I'm not so sure about that - have you never seen BBC Watchdog exposing some shonky crooks by recording some of the comments made? They seem to get away with secret recordings of telephone conversations.

So, as of right now it's time to play hardball back. Anything they can do you can do better, with the right pointers of course. Here's a starter for 10... The Golden Rule and safe payments.

Then there's the "do not phone me or send doorstep collectors" letter and, should they ignore that, here are some ideas of how to have fun with them.

Culex

Hannah_10 wrote: »

They say things on the phone that they would never dare put in writing

You may be astounded to see just what they will put in writing - I certainly was, when I visited their website.

On their FAQ page, under "Short Term Loan Online FAQ's" (sic; the grocers' apostrophe was in the original):

Q.How much can I borrow?

A. You can borrow from £100-£750 depending on your status and income. Interest rates are 25%.
To find out how much you can borrow apply for your online Short Term Loan now.

Are their interest rates really as low as 25% - or is that per week rather than APR?

I'm not a lawyer, but I'd say that may contravene a number of laws such as the The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. I have printed that fib to a file, and I'll contact Consumer Direct when they're open. I expect their views may be interesting.

pet_owner

Dont know about their interest rate but when they contacted me by phone,and told me that they would accept £500 to clear the account. I told them I did not have that sort of money lying about the house,they said to contact them next day,which I did to be told the figure to pay off the account was now £750. The figure is now £881 plus court expenses of £250.

The figure just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

I wish I had never heard of Cheque Centre or Payday loans

pet_owner

One thing Iam very concerned about is that although the Court has sent out Decree papers to Cheque Centre, they (Cheque Centre) have not sent me my copy. The Sheriff told me that I should get a copy of the decree within a few weeks from them, this has not happened.

I never got a default notice from them,and they are at it again by not sending me a copy of the court papers.

Culex

pet_owner wrote: »

Dont know about their interest rate but when they contacted me by phone,and told me that they would accept £500 to clear the account. I told them I did not have that sort of money lying about the house,they said to contact them next day,which I did to be told the figure to pay off the account was now £750. The figure is now £881 plus court expenses of £250.

"Court expenses" of how much?

Have they added in the date? Look here for how much the fees ought to be.

Culex

pet_owner wrote: »

One thing Iam very concerned about is that although the Court has sent out Decree papers to Cheque Centre, they (Cheque Centre) have not sent me my copy. The Sheriff told me that I should get a copy of the decree within a few weeks from them, this has not happened.

I never got a default notice from them,and they are at it again by not sending me a copy of the court papers.

Yes, they do seem to be, don't they?

Doubtless they will assert in court that the papers were served in time; perhaps they believe that by delaying the papers or by denying them altogether, they will get an easy judgement by default.

Please get yourself a lawyer, preferably one who can run rings round those pernicious, pestilential parasites. At the very least, your lawyer would need to keep appraised of when the hearing would be and when would be the earlier "return date" by which a defence must be entered, although it may be difficult to file a defence without having seen the claim.

Jings, those bastar[STRIKE]d[/STRIKE]s are even worse than English landlords.

Culex

pet_owner wrote: »

Dont know about their interest rate but when they contacted me by phone,and told me that they would accept £500 to clear the account. I told them I did not have that sort of money lying about the house,they said to contact them next day,which I did to be told the figure to pay off the account was now £750. The figure is now £881 plus court expenses of £250.

Even if they won, they'd not get £250.

Pages 33 and 34 of this PDF file tells one the maximum costs that may be awarded for a claim between £200 and £1500 would be £150.

pet_owner

Just an update regarding all the hastle I've from Cheque Centre. Today I received a visit from Sheriff Officers at my house. They came to serve the decree from the Court which has the time to pay direction attached to it. I was told I had till end of month to make my first payment to Cheque Centre. I informed them that I had made mt first payment last month and the second was due within a couple of days. I was informed as long as I keep to the agreed monthly payment,Cheque Centre can do nothing other than accept my payments,and to ensure that I do not miss any.

I know have this in writing regarding the payment Im supposed to make to them ,as Cheque Centre refused to give me this information.

So its seems common sense prevails at last, I know I have a decree against me but it now seems I have the better of Cheque Centre in as much they have to accept the ruling off the court.