Moorcroft just knocked on my door

LJayDow

Afternoon all,

I posted here a little while ago about DRO's - I am now filling in the paperwork to go ahead with this, as I am due to have my baby in 5 days time and with the little maternity money I am getting and my partners debts, there is little hope of me paying my debts off.

I was sitting here filling out the paperwork, and a car pulled up outside and someone got out and started looking at my car. Ive never had anyone visit me before about debts, but he looked dodgy so I didnt answer the door.

He was from Moorcroft, and has posted a little card through the door saying they need a minimum payment to stop my account being referred for legal procedings. I have phoned them multiple times and offered them what I can afford, but they want a minimum of over £100 on each of my 3 accounts, and say that they wont accept anything else and my accounts have now gone to "Home Collections Division". The card says he will be calling again sometime.

I am absolutely petrified and am physically really upset. I dont know what I am meant to do? I cant not go out or ask my partner not to answer the door.

Please someone advise me on what to do, im trying my hardest with what little maternity allowance im getting (£124 every 2 weeks) to offer them something but it is not enough for them, and another debt recovery place has notified me that even with the letter from National Debtline about the impending DRO, they cannot stop what is happening with the account until official paperwork comes though

Im so scared and to be honest a little naieve with everything that is happening. Im 23 and my mind has been somewhat preoccupied with trying to fathom out motherhood without someone harassing me on my own doorstep

Tixy

Hi

How far along are you with your DRO? how long do you think it will be until this goes ahead?

You could write to moorcroft and send them the letter telling them not to visit you - template here - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=23635529&postcount=59

Even if you or your husband do answer the door to them they are just doorstop debt collectors - they are not bailiffs and have no right to enter your property or take your goods - tell them firmly to leave and if they refused you could call the police (they won't refuse though).

Who is advising you on your DRO? usually its advised to make just a token payment to your creditors of say £1 even if they say they won't accept it. Could you write to moorcroft and enclose such a token payment against your debt in the meantime - instead of trying to call them.

How much are your debts currently? are you getting close to the £15k mark (I'm wondering if there is a danger your debt will go over that mark with charges or if they added court fees etc - if any did actually take court action).

Jesthar

Hey Jay,

*hugs* Nasty people! :mad:

You did the right thing - you should never answer the door to these muppets. Please, please bear in mind that they have NO legal rights whatsoever, and if they do not leave your property when asked (through the letterbox!) you are perfectly entitled to call the Police to move them on.

There is also a template letter you can send them to permanently deny them the right to knock on your door - don't have it to hand right at this moment, but someone around here will - ah, Tixy has already arrived

Now, you also need to stop dealing with these imbeciles by phone. As you have discovered, they are horrible bullies who delight in extorting money out of people like you. So, it's time to start only dealing with them in writing - yes, you ARE allowed to insist on this by law!

First step is to never call them again - that will save your phone bill, too

Second step is the next time the call, just say "Thank you for your call, I am now only prepared to deal with you in writing, so please to not call me again. Goodbye." Then just put the phone down. If they call back (and they probably will) just repeat the above and hang up again.

Third step, if they keep on calling, is to send them the 'Stop calling me!' template letter (again, it's around here somewhere! I really must bookmark that thread ) AND report them to the Office of Fair Trading for harassment.

Finally, remember - you don't have to pay them what they demand; they will will always demand more! Instead, if you are going to pay them, pay them only what you can afford (even if that is only £1 a month) and let them be grateful for it! It'd more than they deserve...

~Jes

LJayDow

Tixy,

I have only just got the paperwork through from National Debtline to apply for it, so I am assuming that I have quite a way to go yet, but they have given me letters to send to creditors advising them of the situation etc.

I am glad to hear that they are not really anything bailiffy, as I was wondering that! This is why I didnt answer the door. Very annoyed at him for deciding to write my little note on the boot of his car and for being a shady creature in general, has certainly gotten a couple of neighbours tongues wagging now

National Debtline are advising me on the DRO. I did try and contact the CAB, but they are always engaged or not open, and other organisations wanted to charge me a fortune for the honour. I certainly wont be calling them again, but will write to them as suggested. I thought that if I made them an offer of payment, no matter how small, that they couldnt refuse? I would have thought something is better than nothing!

My debts total around £6000, so nowhere near the mark. I would love to be able to pay them off myself, but with an impending newborn, and my partner saving to file for bankruptcy it is just not an option. I have been told I have a lot of defaults on my credit report too, so I am better off going down this road rather than continuing to struggle with them.

Thank you so much for your reply, it has put my mind at rest for a while, and if this man knocks again I will feel ok to answer to him

sazzledazzle

I actually had a pleasant experience with my Moorcroft Collector. I answered the door not realising who he was. He wasnt pushy and didnt try to come in at all. Just said that he needed to set up a payment plan. I said that they were asking for £50 a month and I couldnt afford it, so he asked what i could afford. I said £25 and he said that was fine. he then set up the direct debit and it was all done. He said not to call the office as they are useless but to call him directly if any problems. One my direct debits didnt come through so have arranged for him to pick up the cash from the house and he will sign my payment book, so they are not all nasty.

Tixy

National debtline I'm sure will help you through all your DRO. Its not a 5min job but it can happen fairly quickly once you have all the info together (and the fee of course).

Forgot to say in my earlier post - congratulations on your very soon to arrive baby. I hope it all goes well for you and you can focus on that and try not to worry too much about your debts.

Edit - also I'm not sure if you have seen this thread Debt Relief Orders - Information & help but if not it might be useful. Its a long thread but there are people who post on it who have been through the DRO process who might be able to answer any specific queries you have on the process.

terahurts

I've had similar dealings with the OP regarding Moorcroft. We were paying off a CC debt back in 2006 via one of Moorcrofts doorstep agents (who to be fair was always polite, accepted that some weeks we could just not afford to pay). We then moved out of his collection area, and ended up with the rudest, nastiest piece of work I've ever met. He turned up around 9:30pm a few days after we had moved, knocking very loudly on the door waking up my children. I answered the door and politely and calmly explained that my partner was a) asleep, and b)unable to come to the door since she was disabled, and I would not be letting him into the property, but if he could confirm the debt was for the CC I would happily make arrangements to make a payment or fill in a DD form the following week, at a more sensible time of day.

He then (loudly enough so my new neighbours could hear) told me that he was going to speak (not "would like to") to my partner, and threatened us with court action if she didn't come to the door. I again refused and told him to return at a more reasonable hour and he tried to tell me it would cost me £60 for him to come back again, and even tried to get me to step back allowing him entry by continually stepping to within a couple of inches of me. By this point I was getting a little cross, and my dogs were doing their best to wake the entire street, so told him if he didn't leave my property straight away I would be calling the police to report a trespasser and if he didn't get out of my face and step away from the door I would assume he was trying to enter without my permission and would add threat of burglary to the police report. Needless to say he left, shouting that he'd see me in court all the way to his car.

I called Moorcroft straight away complained that he had discussed my debts at a volume that my neighbours could hear, had been physically intimidating and would not accept that he could not speak to my partner and also explained to their agent that as they could see we had been paying the debt, and that we intended to continue to do so, but if they sent that agent out to us again I would refuse to answer the door and consider it harassment. I sent a recorded letter the next day saying the same thing, and have heard nothing from them since, not even a payment card or direct debit form.

It's my understanding that the agents are paid on a commission basis, and are not directly employed by Moorcroft and that some of them will go out of their way to be as threatening as possible whilst still remaining just inside the law in order to frighten people into paying. My advice is to stay calm when dealing with them, be polite, ask to see their IDs (and make a note of their name), don't be cowed in paying them more than you can afford and complain like hell if you feel threatened.

Hannah_10

The first thing is please please don't let them scare you. They look scary, it's part of the selection process for even getting the job, but the truth is that they have the same rights in law as the milkman, the Avon lady or the paper boy. They prey on the public's unfamilliarity with the law and they act like they're baliffs. That's what he was doing looking at your car, trying to give you the subtle impression he can take it. He's got as much power to take your car as I have. If I were you I'd be more worried about me than him, because I wont get fired and my employers wont be struck off if I do go in for a bit of vehicle theft, (am a full time Mum y'see)... You getting the idea? He's toothless. He just LOOKS like a Lion.

He cannot hurt you. He can not take anything of yours. He is not a baliff. He has no rights under law except those afforded to any other passer by. He has got to leave if you tell him to. He has got to not come back if you tell him to. If he doesn't then the police will happily take him away from you, just like they would take me away if I came round scaring you.

I always say never, ever call a DCA (especially not Moorcrap). There are sometimes exceptions to this rule. This is not an exception. They will lie to you, intimidate you, be nasty to you and get you really wound up. You are precious and your baby is precious. Stress causes high blood pressure. You can not be doing that. Do not think you can safely phone them, you can't, you and that baby are by far and away the number one priority. Ignore Moorcrap or let hubby deal with them if he fancies (a nice protective husband is worth his weight in gold in late pregnancy). What you need to do is rest, take it easy, do nothing you don't feel like doing. That prat out on the drive was effectively an Avon lady in a suit/polo shirt. In fact, that's a nice thought... Do you reckon he's got a string of pearls on? Frilly knickers maybe? Bit of Soft Musk on his wiffy bits?

It'll be alright, I promise. You need to put yourself first, above everything. It's not optional. The baby and you are all that matters. Moorcrap will wait.

mandyl

hugs, i hate moroncroft! x

Culex

LJayDow wrote: »

I am due to have my baby in 5 days time
... I am absolutely petrified and am physically really upset.

I am not a lawyer but I believe it may be a criminal offence to attempt to cause a miscarriage.

Seriously, send those onanists a letter by Recorded Delivery stating:

Dear Sirs,

Account No: XXXXXXXX

Please be advised that I will only communicate with you in writing. I have noted your repeated attempts to contact me over the past few weeks and these have been duly logged by time and date. Should it be your intention to arrange a doorstep visit, please be advised that under OFT rules, you can only visit me at my home if you make an appointment and I have no wish to make such an appointment with you.

There is an implied license under English Common Law for people to be able to visit me on my property without express permission; the postman and people asking for directions etc (Armstrong v Sheppard & Short Ltd [1959] 2 QB 384. per Lord Evershed M.R.). Therefore take note that I revoke license under Common Law for you, or your representatives to visit me at my property and, if you do so, you will be liable to damages for a tort of trespass and action may be taken, including but not limited to, police attendance.

Yours faithfully
Sign digitally

I found the original on here and saved it to a file.

That should reduce or stop their harassment.

Culex

LJayDow wrote: »

I am glad to hear that they are not really anything bailiffy, as I was wondering that! This is why I didnt answer the door. Very annoyed at him for deciding to write my little note on the boot of his car and for being a shady creature in general, has certainly gotten a couple of neighbours tongues wagging now

It's a pity you cannot tell the plods you think he's an over-eager kiddy-fiddler.

Thank you so much for your reply, it has put my mind at rest for a while, and if this man knocks again I will feel ok to answer to him

It would probably be better if you didn't.