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Owing on Store Card from Overseas - help!
possom1
Posts: 1 Newbie
Hi, I hope this is in the right forum...
Last October I moved to New Zealand with my family, and I THOUGHT all the loose ends had been tied up before I left.
I used to use an online catalogue/store card when living in the UK, but paid it off in full when we sold our house. However, just before we left the UK, when temporarily staying with friends, I used it again to buy a few clothes to be delivered to their address, which I then honestly thought I had paid the full amount off... :undecided
We had our mail from our old house set up to forward to our friends for three months, and in that time had nothing at all through from the catalogue company. However, it's now 8 months later and they have suddenly had a letter through from a debt collectors saying I am £400 in arrears on my account and must pay at least £120 right away to avoid further charges and doorstop collectors, and that they have tried to get in touch on many occasions!
I have looked at my account online (it only lets me see the last 6 months), and this seems to be a HUGE amount of charges over such a short period of time - none over £12 but an awful lot of them! There was also a phone number for the debt collectors, but as it is an 0844 number I cannot call it from NZ. (although there is an email contact form on the website I could use)
I have no problem in paying off what I originally owed, and have already now paid the £120 'minimum' online to try and hold off further charges, plus I do NOT want debt collectors knocking on my friends door!
I really want to avoid paying the other 'administration/service' charges if possible, as I know it would be nigh on impossible claiming anything back from the other side of the world! Can anyone suggest my best move?
Here's hoping.... :undecided:sad:
Last October I moved to New Zealand with my family, and I THOUGHT all the loose ends had been tied up before I left.
I used to use an online catalogue/store card when living in the UK, but paid it off in full when we sold our house. However, just before we left the UK, when temporarily staying with friends, I used it again to buy a few clothes to be delivered to their address, which I then honestly thought I had paid the full amount off... :undecided
We had our mail from our old house set up to forward to our friends for three months, and in that time had nothing at all through from the catalogue company. However, it's now 8 months later and they have suddenly had a letter through from a debt collectors saying I am £400 in arrears on my account and must pay at least £120 right away to avoid further charges and doorstop collectors, and that they have tried to get in touch on many occasions!
I have looked at my account online (it only lets me see the last 6 months), and this seems to be a HUGE amount of charges over such a short period of time - none over £12 but an awful lot of them! There was also a phone number for the debt collectors, but as it is an 0844 number I cannot call it from NZ. (although there is an email contact form on the website I could use)
I have no problem in paying off what I originally owed, and have already now paid the £120 'minimum' online to try and hold off further charges, plus I do NOT want debt collectors knocking on my friends door!
I really want to avoid paying the other 'administration/service' charges if possible, as I know it would be nigh on impossible claiming anything back from the other side of the world! Can anyone suggest my best move?
Here's hoping.... :undecided:sad:
0
Comments
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Mail forwarding is not that reliable.
They would almost certainly have tried to contact you (even if you haven't received it) before they instructed debt collectors.
How would a debt collector know your friends address? You only forwarded you mail there - you didn't give the creditor that address.
It may be possible to reclaim the charges, but are you prepared to come back to the UK to go to court if necessary?
It should be possible to dial 0844 nyumbers from NZ. You need to dial dial +44 844 xxx xxxx"Now to trolling as a concept. .... Personally, I've always found it a little sad that people choose to spend such a large proportion of their lives in this way but they do, and we have to deal with it." - MSE Forum Manager 6th July 20100
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