I hate Westcot!!

Natty68

I've literally just had a very distressing phone call with some horrible person from Westcot. She was getting very irate with me and I was getting more and more upset.

This is to do with another debt that they have taken over..not the one that I mentioned in another post yesterday.

Basically they won't accept my late payment, I did explain it was an oversight on my part and that I was willing to make the payment to clear my arrears.. And keep to the monthly payments, but I had to reduce them to x amount of pounds due to being on benefits for a mental health illness. She told me she wasn't bothered about my financial and health issues, she just wanted to know if I was going to pay the outstanding balance, and why not? Doh!! Did she not hear me when I told her about the benefits etc..

I'll tell you I was in tears at the end of the phone call and was physically sick due to her berrating me to pay up. I kept telling her I couldn't pay, and that she couldn't get any more money out of me than I could pay. She then went on to say that I should have thought of that before I got the debt.. I explained that this was part of my illness, she didn't want to know.

The next thing she said was then get my husband to pay, otherwise she would ring him at work.. I flipped and told her in no uncertain terms this was my debt, I was offering to pay and if she contacted my husband she was in breach of the data protection. I have no idea how she got my husbands number, if she has the number at all. I certainly didn't give it to her.

Oh I have a letter to say that I acknowledged liability for this debt,, which I did, if that has any bearing on things. So I suppose a CCA is really out of the question as I can't say I dispute the debt..

She didn't seem to care, she said I had sat on this debt for 10 weeks with no payment and was only just starting to pay - it wasn't good enough. Bloody hell it is only a debt of £80.00 for a break of a phone contract (my fault I know, am dealing with it), they must have bigger debts than that from people.

The final thing she said was that she was going to hand it over to her solicitors who would take legal action, so I said fine - do that I don't care now. They are blooming vultures..

Who are there solicitors, and are they as pitbullish as Westcot, and will they accept a payment of £10.00 a month to clear it..if I explain on benefits and have a mental health illness and can prove it..

This is making me ill just thinking about it..

Sorry just had to get that off my chest.. I still feel like being sick again..

hippyadam

Natty68 wrote: »

I've literally just had a very distressing phone call with some horrible person from Westcot. She was getting very irate with me and I was getting more and more upset.

This is to do with another debt that they have taken over..not the one that I mentioned in another post yesterday.

Basically they won't accept my late payment, I did explain it was an oversight on my part and that I was willing to make the payment to clear my arrears.. And keep to the monthly payments, but I had to reduce them to x amount of pounds due to being on benefits for a mental health illness. She told me she wasn't bothered about my financial and health issues, she just wanted to know if I was going to pay the outstanding balance, and why not? Doh!! Did she not hear me when I told her about the benefits etc..

I'll tell you I was in tears at the end of the phone call and was physically sick due to her berrating me to pay up. I kept telling her I couldn't pay, and that she couldn't get any more money out of me than I could pay. She then went on to say that I should have thought of that before I got the debt.. I explained that this was part of my illness, she didn't want to know.

The next thing she said was then get my husband to pay, otherwise she would ring him at work.. I flipped and told her in no uncertain terms this was my debt, I was offering to pay and if she contacted my husband she was in breach of the data protection. I have no idea how she got my husbands number, if she has the number at all. I certainly didn't give it to her.

Oh I have a letter to say that I acknowledged liability for this debt,, which I did, if that has any bearing on things. So I suppose a CCA is really out of the question as I can't say I dispute the debt..

She didn't seem to care, she said I had sat on this debt for 10 weeks with no payment and was only just starting to pay - it wasn't good enough. Bloody hell it is only a debt of £80.00 for a break of a phone contract (my fault I know, am dealing with it), they must have bigger debts than that from people.

The final thing she said was that she was going to hand it over to her solicitors who would take legal action, so I said fine - do that I don't care now. They are blooming vultures..

Who are there solicitors, and are they as pitbullish as Westcot, and will they accept a payment of £10.00 a month to clear it..if I explain on benefits and have a mental health illness and can prove it..

This is making me ill just thinking about it..

Sorry just had to get that off my chest.. I still feel like being sick again..

So much is wrong with how that call went i'm not even sure I know where to start!!!

First of all, don't upset yourself. They are not worth it.

Secondly threatening to speak to a third party is a complete breach of the OFT rules on collecting overdue accounts, as is pressuring you to pay the full amount now.

I would seriously consider writing to the OFT to complain about that!

Third, if they are stressing you out, next time they call ensure you only confirm your details and then request they write to you and make no further calls (there is a template on here somewhere i'm sure someone will put up a link shortly).

All over 80 sheets as well... Winner...

TheEngineeress

Natty68, I know how you feel, I've had people like this on the phone who behave atrociously. I'm so sorry this has been making you feel so bad.

I'm sure there are people on this board who are far more well informed than I am, but from reading other posts and my own experience, I have some advice:

- DON'T contact them by telephone. Request for contact ONLY through letter. Then they cannot bully you over the phone. There's a template for such a letter on one of the stickys at the top of the forum
- Send off a CCA request, recorded delivery - again, template is on this forum. If they don't produce it within a certain period of time (which is their legal obligation) the account is in dispute and they cannot chase you
- Keep a log of every phone call, text, letter, email etc. and note down anything threatening or anything you think might be incorrect (i.e. if they claim they can make you bankrupt for such a small amount, or that they can send the bailiffs around without a court order.) You may have grounds to complain.

In your situation they would be unwise to take 'further action' or 'pass on to a solicitor', as they would get nowhere in court. The judge would laugh them out the door and award them £1 per month.

Anyway, my soapbox over, there'll be more knowledgeable people along to help you too

bargainbetty

If the debt is enforceable, and you have acknowledged it (can you remember how you did that?) then just do it all in writing and tell them that calls or visits will be considered harassment and the necessary steps will be taken to report them. Any attempt to contact a third party regarding the debt (including your husband) will be met with a complaint to the OFT and also the Information Commissioners Office - they deal with breaches of the DPA too.

If and when you inform them of the amount you are able to pay monthly, do it in writing, and ask for their bank details to set up a standing order. Do not, under any circumstances, agree to giving them a direct debit mandate. Do not give your details to them at any point! They have been known to just take the money regardless of the agreement.

Good luck

rhcp

If you get calls from them, remember that you can put the phone down anytime you like. You are in control of this situation.

eyeopener2

If you got the persons name at Wescott I would seriously consider making a complaint to trading standards.

If they ring again, either put the phone down or, even better, leave it off the hook and go and make a cup of tea.

£80! It beggers belief sometimes. She must be really short on her commission targets this month.

bottleofred

Hi Natty68,

Send them the letter below, don't let them wind you up and continue to make the token payments on a regular basis. If they are thick enough to call again then don't go through the security check with them, explain you only wish to be contacted in writing and hang up the phone.
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

FTW

TheEngineeress wrote: »

Natty68, I know how you feel, I've had people like this on the phone who behave atrociously. I'm so sorry this has been making you feel so bad.

I'm sure there are people on this board who are far more well informed than I am, but from reading other posts and my own experience, I have some advice:

- DON'T contact them by telephone. Request for contact ONLY through letter. Then they cannot bully you over the phone. There's a template for such a letter on one of the stickys at the top of the forum
- Send off a CCA request, recorded delivery - again, template is on this forum. If they don't produce it within a certain period of time (which is their legal obligation) the account is in dispute and they cannot chase you
- Keep a log of every phone call, text, letter, email etc. and note down anything threatening or anything you think might be incorrect (i.e. if they claim they can make you bankrupt for such a small amount, or that they can send the bailiffs around without a court order.) You may have grounds to complain.

In your situation they would be unwise to take 'further action' or 'pass on to a solicitor', as they would get nowhere in court. The judge would laugh them out the door and award them £1 per month.

Anyway, my soapbox over, there'll be more knowledgeable people along to help you too

If the debt is a mobile phone contract, then a CCA would not be applicable - all that would happen is Wescot would send a letter back saying that a mobile debt isn't covered under the CCA, which would be technically correct.

A 'prove it' letter might be more suited for this purpose, which should be sent recorded delivery, and do NOT sign the letter.

Yes, complain to the OFT, but also to Trading Standards and the FOS as well (if the FOS takes up your case and investigates, it'll cost Wescot £500 for the privilege!).

Even if you feel you have no other option but to pay Wescot, then as a last resort offer them £1 per month - and they can like it or lump it.

But they don't tell you what rate you pay it back - you tell them.

Natty68

Thank you for the helpful replies, I will sort out what I am going to do tomorrow and as suggested I might just offer a token payment of £1.00 and if they don't like it well they can lump it.. At least they are getting something..so a judge/court can't do anything as I am paying them something. And I certainly won't be answering anymore phone calls from them..

thechippy

Nat,

As per FTW - send them £1 per month and tell them to get stuffed - trust us on this..........;)

FTW

thechippy wrote: »

Nat,

As per FTW - send them £1 per month and tell them to get stuffed - trust us on this..........;)

Do it by letter - don't bother phoning them.