FLM Quick are destroying us.

swifthorn

A few months ago I took out a small £300 loan from FLM, At the time I was in full time work and my partner agreed to be my guarantor, at the time he was a student but had his own online business. The monthly payments were interest only at £29 a month, which at the time I didn't worry about because I was in full time work and would be able to pay the loan off within a month or two. Then things went bad, my partner got really ill and is now disabled and unable to work, I lost my job and am now his carer. being on benefits I've been unable some months after paying for hospital visits and having to buy in extra food due to my partner sufffering from a blood sugar problem which means he needs to eat more than average to keep his sugar levels from dropping. They keep on adding a 20 charge every week of being late and 7 for letters being sent out.

Not only that but they regularly empty my partners account of any money we have left. One day they took 84 pounds out of my partners crisis loan. Which left my partner in hospital due to low sugar levels after not having any money for food. The amounts they take out is irregular both in size and frequency. Once taking out £5.04 at 4am one morning, us not knowing till we tried to buy food with the last of our money at iceland and his card rejecting. He's missed MRI scans because they empty his account of anything thats left. I can't drive and he can't walk far because of his disability means he's in constant pain. He's phoned his bank, Barclays, and they've sent a letter to FLM saying that they are no longer authorising them to take money out of his account. He's changing banks.

They keep on phoning us, somehow even though I'm ex-directory and never gave it to anyone but family and friends. They text me none stop, email every couple of hours. Whenever we tell them the situation they get pushy and aggressive. Telling me to borrow off family. Which I would never do ever. It's taking the mick. I've phoned a debt advisor from my bank and they told me to tell FLM that I can't afford that amount and I told them I could pay them only a certain amount. They won't accept it.

This is really getting to me emotionally now, a few times my partner collapsing and being rushed into hospital because they take my food money. Missed MRI scans stops the doctors finding out what's wrong with my partner meaning he's getting more ill. It's impossible.

Although I have the last laugh. My partner phoned the Community Legal Advice people yesterday and the debt management guy told him that FLM don't have a leg to stand on should it go to court. They aren't a member of some loan/financial group that all loan companies had to be registered with. That what they are doing with my partners bank account is fraud/theft and should it go to court they would be forced to either refund or the amounts they take took of my loan. The fact they are stealing his benefit whilst we are classed as in Financial Hardship is not allowed and the interest rates are wrong too. But this is just what he passed onto me.
I'mglad I own nothing that they can repossess, unless they want my £10 mobile phone. Cause that's all I have.

I am really worried incase we cant change banks by the time my next benefit is due and they take out the money they say we now owe for the last month (49 plus 20 plus 3 letters at 7 pound each), if my partner collapses any more I am scared for his life as he is getting alot worse as time goes by, he has lost 2.5 stone in weight and often breaks down in pain, he constantly forces himself to eat but if they take out the money he will have no food to eat, and will also not make it to his next hospital appointment. I have explained this many times to FLM and all they reply with is that its not their concern and they just take what is owed to them.

I don't understand how they can take money from people in need and how they can steal crisis loans given to people who are desperate and fighting for their lives every other day (how do they know when we get paid because they take it out minutes later), especially when his bank has cancelled all transactions to the company months ago.

sophiasmummy

I'm afraid I have no experience of this and no real advice other tham what you are already doing which is to change banks so they can't take any more funds out. I just wanted to say I wish you well and I really hope your partner gets well soon and thay you can get things sorted out. Maybe also speak to Citizens Advice.
Best wishes
SM x

jonesMUFCforever

How were they to know your partner was in need as he ''guaranteed'' the loan you failed to repay.
No sympathy here I'm sorry to say.

Hax

swifthorn wrote: »

The monthly payments were interest only at £29 a month, which at the time I didn't worry about because I was in full time work and would be able to pay the loan off within a month or two.

You have some sympathy here for your partner being ill.

However, you said that you'd easily be able to pay back the £300 loan in a month or two. Yet, within these two months, both of you have lost your sources of income.

It's like there's a piece of the story missing somewhere. Myself, I don't see why FLM are to blame - you've failed to maintain your side of the agreement so they turn to the guarantor who has (as the name suggested) guaranteed to repay the loan should you be unable to.

Do you have any family you can ask to help you out? The amount isn't, after all, massive by any standards (yes, I appreciate that when you don't have it, it's a lot of money). What about items to sell?

Other than that, you need to seek help from the likes of CCCS or CAB and set up a DMP. Sounds like you've already made the first move by opening a new account to receive your money in to.

Still thinking there's more to this story than we're being told. What happened to your OH's online business? Doesn't he have any money in that?

If your partner suffers from blood sugar problems (sounds like diabetes to me) can't they get medication to help deal with it? I believe that diabetics are entitled to free prescriptions.

Tixy

You need to set up new bank accounts as soon as possible.
If you cannot get them sorted for your partner's next benefit payment then you need to send the bank a 'first right of appropriation' letter which states what benefits are going in and what priority costs you need them for - this should be done before the benefits go in and then you should be able to go in to the bank on that day and withdraw all the cash you require for essential items (basically all of it). Should be able to find a template by searching for 'first right of appropriation'.

That should help in the short term, then you need to come to an agreement with FLM to repay the loan. Work out what you can afford each month (every month) and write them a letter to offer that amount explaining the change in circumstances to them.
Hopefully they may accept your offer, if you are still having issues then suggest you contact one of tghe debt charities for advice.

revolu

you messed up, although I thought that was why they charge these usury rates to cover this kind of thing, scum the lot of em.

1. Cancel the direct debit, either online banking or go down your branch

2. Ring your bank and tell them your card is stolen. they will send you another the flm donthave access to

3.send flm a letter offering £5 a week and insist on no charges and cancel all other charges.

4.if they refuse you will go to court and they will freeze all charges and make you pay what you can afford, (dont miss these payments)

5. sorted sleep tight

chuckley

u need to tell them in writing (recorded delivery). u seem to have no backup just random phone calls which they will say never happened. get the money paid into a new different account with another bank. theyre only taking the funds coz u allow them to, once they realise uve blocked them, they'l have no choice but to listen to ur letters.

ignore all calls/texts and tell them ull only deal with them in writing. if need be send them an income and expenditure form with ur weekly/monthly offer plan.

I must say according to other MSE'ers FLM seem to be very heavy handed in their collections process, all of which sound like harassment.

Daisy4567

:mad::mad:Companies like these are vultures who feed off Debtors.:mad::mad:

First off, ring the bank and tell them the card has been stolen. Not lost, stolen!

I assume they take the payments from a card rather than a set up Direct Debit?

I had to do this when we were entering our IVA to stop Wonga.com helping themselves to what they wanted when they wanted.

Get in touch with CAB/PayPlan or your local council's money adviser to find a permanent way forward so you don't have to continue to struggle in this manner. We went to our local council money adviser when we though we were weeks away from being homeless and they were fantastic!! We are now in an IVA thanks to his help.:T

Most importantly, get your money somewhere they cannot get their hands on it until you have a new bank account sorted or at least a new card with your current provider. To be honest I'd be changing bank accounts ASAP to cut them off at source as these companies are known for finding a way around and getting money.

Your's and your partners health are first and foremost so get that money out of the bank so you can buy food:)

I'm sure PayPlan will tell you the same as they told me, and that's that you must look after yourself first - so if your Income is less than your Expenditure, send them a form detailing this and offer a £1.00 token payment.

Hope this helps - good luck

revolu

What has this country become !

Scum like this taking advantage.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I blame the previous goverment, clock is ticking for condem to sort this mess out

Hax

revolu wrote: »

What has this country become !

Scum like this taking advantage.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I blame the previous goverment, clock is ticking for condem to sort this mess out

So you don't think the OP should be given a free choice and the opportunity to borrow money?

revolu

Hax wrote: »

So you don't think the OP should be given a free choice and the opportunity to borrow money?

I don't know all the answers, but the above situation is morally wrong and should be illegal.

No one should be given a fsa license to lend, if interest is over 20% and have rip off charges when things go wrong.