HELP NEEDED!!! Roxburghe and Wonga... scam?

Mittens2317

Okay, I need urgent help. About a year ago, I stupidly used Wonga to get through Valentine's Day. Paid back on time, there was no biggie. Then I used it again in April 2010. Big mistake. Less than a week after taking out the loan, I got sacked. I was informed by my colleagues that a tax refund I was due would come through in my wages, so I thought I could pay Wonga off with that. The tax refund never came through (although I did get it via cheque about six months later)

I took the first job I could get after that so I could pay it back as soon as, but fell victim to one of those cult-like door-to-door jobs where you only earn commission, end up getting about £80/week for 72 hours of work and have to pay for your own travel. This made me slip further and further into debt.

I eventually set up a payment plan with Wonga after leaving the job and signing on. The agreement was for the first payment to be £100 and come out on the 18 August 2010, and subsequent payments to be taken out on the 23rd of every month at the sum of £72.99.

In October 2010, I received a letter from Roxburghe Debt Collectors stating that Wonga had contacted them to recover the debt on their behalf. I then set up a payment plan with Roxburghe for £85.72 to be paid back on the 6th of every month starting in November 2010. I didn't mind too much coz I had just recently got a telesales job earning about £900/month.

I then received a letter in November 2010 from Wonga saying that I only owed £209.11, whereas Roxburghe informed me that I owed around the £800-£900 mark. Following this, Wonga began taking out random amounts of money at will, which I had to contact Visa Debit Chargebacks to reverse, as they left me over £600 overdrawn on my bank account, which would have caused my account to default.

I was late with my previous payment to Roxburghe, as I had to cancel my current debit card and order a new one in order to prevent Wonga from taking out random amounts of money.

Since 16th December 2010, I have not paid any money to Roxburghe, as this whole situation has me utterly confused and in despair.

Today - 15th February 2011 - I have been contacted by Roxburghe asking me to set up another payment plan to avoid a court order. I asked where the huge amounts I owe have come from, and they informed me of the APR charges, and the added charges for being referred to Roxburghe for MISSING PAYMENTS.

I never missed a payment with Wonga since setting up the payment plan, so I am now reluctant to pay until this issue is resolved. Also, the guy on the phone was a bit of a bully and spoke in an aggressive tone, talked over me, and wouldn't let me get a word in edgeways, constantly threatening to hang up.

Now I'm scared, coz I lost my job recently, can't afford these payments, and I don't know how much I owe or if Roxburghe are just a con, because I've read a few things about them scamming people with parking ticket fines and debts with 3.

I really need some help and advice with this, because I'm living with my parents who are in bad enough debt as it is, and I can't be doing with baliffs coming round and heckling them and trying to take their stuff because of me.

Can anyone help me?

Mittens2317

I take that as a no then...

Tixy

Stop talking to these people on the phone as they will only bully and threaten you and you cannot prove anything they say to you on the phone.

I would suggest you write to Roxburge for proof of the debt and a full statement of the account showing all charges and interest applied and all repayments you have made. Send this letter royal mail signed for so you can prove they received it.

Once they have given you a statement then compare this to the payments you know you have made and see that all have been allocated to your debt and be able to work out how much they have applied in interest & charges.

Watalie

I'm not sure I can help much but it would probably be helpful for you to ask both Wonga and Roxburghe for a statement showing exactly what you owe and what you have paid. Make sure you do this in writing and try not to let Roxburghe bully you.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will be along to help.

Watalie

Sorry Tixy - we both posted at the same time

JoS1972

I can't offer much advice other than to say that I am also having problems with Roxburghe at the moment over my debt with Wonga. I have written to Roxburghe to ask for a right of subject access. It cost £10 but they have 40 days to supply you with the all the information they hold etc. My original debt with Wonga was on £400 but through Roxburghe its jumped to £1328.99. Ive tried writing to them for months to get them to give me a break down with no luck so I'm keeping my fingers crossed this works. If not I'm going to go back to Wonga and see if I can negotiate with them.

Good luck