A couple of debt help tips

Mr._OCaz

As a former insider (Now away from the darkside :-P as now a debt counsellor)

Creditors don't normally go for full and finals til it has been passed onto Collection agencies when you are a good few months in arrears. If you do this route make sure you get any settlement figures agreed in writing

jennifuffle

Please may I clarify whether it would still be worthwhile to contact my catologue companies for a copy of my credit agreement as another company now deals with the debts?

jason.lawrie

yes, if passed to a third party debt collection agency go for it. When I was working for one firm as soon as we had a letter requesting a copy of the CCA we returned the account to them immediately as we knew there wasnt one and we couldnt respond on their behalf or take further action. 10 times out of 10 you will get a copy of the CCA, one you havent signed so get ready to write back to ask for the original copy you signed (or not is the case...) I did that with GUS who wrote back to say with reluctance they agreed to make a commercial decision not to pursue (£600 worth). Its nots a case of getting out of it but showing these companies they have to be more responsible who they lend monies to. Many a times I saw debts with catalogue companies of £4-5000 when on income support and had been when first started.

jennifuffle

Many thanks Jason. I will be doing that tonight, ready to post tomorrow am.

72Melody

Where u say "end the harrassing calls" (by telling them to use the post only) does this apply to the credit card companies or collection agencies, or both. Thanks for your help and efforts. Mel.

tasha38

thanks for this info, i work with vulnerable people usually with tonnes of money problems.....the CCA info will be of real help

tasha 38

jennifuffle

Hi there...
Thanks to your advise on this thread, I have a letter in front of me from my two catologue companies saying: 'After reviewing the accounts we have decided not to pursue the debt and no further collections activity will be taken. We must however advise you that the details of the account will be registered with a credit agency.'
I am overjoyed at this news, but would like to know if anyone knows how these accounts look on your credit file, as my debts were the reason I failed for the police this year, and would hate to fail again whilst trying so actively to address the situation.

malaxim

I've a letter in front of me which doesn't. My wife ran p several debts 3 years ago while I was away working. She's suffered clinical depression ever since and we've been financially restricted ever since whilst trying to clear them.
She has 2 major catalogue debts, neither of which I can find any information about, so I've written to both collection agencies concerned, asking for a break down of the debt and a copy of the signed cca.
In reply Reliable Collections have informed me they don't according to the act have to supply me with a signed agreement, just a copy of the type of agreement she would have been sent.
They also tell me that she has paid 73 payments totalling £1959.67 but still owes a further £863, which I find unbelievable, especially as she has no memory of where the debt was incurred.
They say that they will hold the account in abeyance for 28 days and if no further payment is sent will record the debt on equifax etc, they already have, etc.
No mention of writing the debt off and no answer to my requestt o show where or how the debt was incurred. They suggest also I renegotiate a payment deal or make an offer to clear the account.

us,thecat&thedebt

jason.lawrie wrote:

##

Firstly on catalogue debts remember if you ever signed a copy of the Consumer Credit Act. Most catalogues fall down on this - when you open an account they send you a leaflet or form to fill in and sign to accept the credit agreements - their downfall is that many dont make checks to make sure they come back. I successfully cleared 2 of my debts with catalogues when I requested from them a copy of my signed CCA (I knew I hadnt signed one) - a letter from their legal team said with 'reluctance' they agreed to write off the debt.

hi
we have several debts totalling to 15k with many different lenders..
one being with empire cat £139 i dont think i signed anything apart from the leaflet asking for a catalouge... this is now with a debt company whom are allowing me to pay £10 a month
next being with tmobile for a contract i dint fullfill currently £619.42 was £640.. this ia now with a debt company whom i pay £15 a month i think i set this contract up over the phone and dont remeber signing anything...
next is an account with brittania music i did it online and they sent me free dvds and i didnt fllfill the membership so i now owe them £150 again i dont think i signed anything...
unfortunatly all my other debts are to banks ect so no chance there...
do you think any of these could stand a chance of being written off Jason?
if they do write them off do they stay on my credit file?

any help from anyone is appreciated cheers

ali82

Does anyone know if it reflect on your credit file if an account has been cleared due to asking for a copy of your signed credit agreement, as I waould like to know if it is worth it before writing to Littlewoods (£300), Freemans (£200), La Redoute (£300)?