Arrow Global/Moorcroft Debt Recovery Ltd

bluenose25

Hi, I could really use some help as I am totally new to this. I am acting on behalf of a friend of mine who due a lot of personal issues had to move around a lot for a few years. She has now received 2 letters, one from Arrow Global and one from Moorcroft Debt Recovery Ltd regarding an old Orange bill of £267.91 that she believes is around 4 years old. She is not currently working as she has only recently moved back and so can't afford to make more than minimal payments.


I have done a little bit of research on Arrow Global and from what I can tell, they seem as dodgy as they come!! Can anyone point me in the right direction for the correct templates or advice on how to handle these? The first thing I have advised her is to no longer deal with them via any medium other than in writing. Is this right?

bottleofred

Hi bluenose,

Dealing with debt collection agencies in writing is the only way really, as they can be abusive, bullying, harassers. Get your friend to send the letter below. Your freind should also send the prove it letter as well. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...93&postcount=2

Dear Sirs,

Account No: XXXXXXXX

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing. I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls and I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only. I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine. Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company may be recorded and used in evidence and I expect this harassment to cease immediately.

Yours faithfully

bluenose25

She hasn't spoken to them regarding the debt as they don't have an up to date contact number for her. The reason I said that was to ensure she didn't phone them and get pushed into acknowledging anything or making any agreements.

bluenose25

Is there any likelihood I can get the interest frozen on this whilst all options are considered or anything else I should be looking to get done?

bluenose25

bottleofred wrote: »

Hi bluenose,

Dealing with debt collection agencies in writing is the only way really, as they can be abusive, bullying, harassers. Get your friend to send the letter below. Your freind should also send the prove it letter as well.
Dear Sirs,

Account No: XXXXXXXX

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing. I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls and I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only. I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine. Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company may be recorded and used in evidence and I expect this harassment to cease immediately.

Yours faithfully

Should the letter requesting proof of the debt be sent to Arrow Global or Moorcroft Debt Recovery? The latest letter was from Moorcroft but this was only dated the day after the one from Global Arrow.

fermi

I presume that she did/does owe the debt to Orange? Is there any dispute over it, or the amount?

What do the letters actually say? At this stage the debt collectors may be just "fishing".

bluenose25

fermi wrote: »

I presume that she did/does owe the debt to Orange? Is there any dispute over it, or the amount?

What do the letters actually say? At this stage the debt collectors may be just "fishing".

She did, from around 4 years ago but she's really not in a position to pay this now. The letter from Global states that Orange have assigned the account to themselves and the one from Moorcroft states to make contact within 7 days to settle the accounts.

fermi

OK. If she accepts that the debt is valid, then she can either.

a) Ignore it. As said, it may just be "fishing" and they are not sure that the address they are sending letters to is even correct. That wouldn't be unusual, but without knowing more about the circumstances it's impossible to tell. Ignoring may mean that they go away, but it also might mean that they start legal action. Admittedly, legal action for that amount is unlikely, but not completely impossible.

b) Write to Arrow with an offer of token/minimum payments, backed up with an explanation why only that is possible and an I&E if she is comfortable providing that info.

bluenose25

Sorry for the ignorance, but what is an I&E?

fermi

Sorry. Income & Expenditure, budget sheet etc....

Basically something showing that her finances mean that any offer really is the most they can afford.

There is a common example one to fill in here: http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/pdf/personal-budget-sheet/pbs-monthly.pdf

fermi

Oh. As you've already worked out, Arrow are a scummy little outfit, so having a careful read of this may help.

OFT Debt Collection Guidance & letter guidance

If they put undue pressure on her to pay more than she can afford, then referring to a few of the points in that document may help.