(even more) Phone call(s) from Halifax

looby75

I've just had my first phonecall from Halifax re my payment (made a token payment last month) since I started my DMP.

It was a stupid automated call, went through the system and finally managed to speak to a lady who was really polite and nice. Explained the situation and she took notice of my cccs ref no.

She then also told me that there was a backlog in their post room which is why they didn't have a note on my file saying about the DMP, and until they actually find the letter I will keep on getting the calls, and I have to keep answering them and repeating what I just told her.

Do I really have to keep on going through all that, I've written to them, informed them over the phone once, is it really necessary for me to do it time and time again until they get their post room sorted. It just really seems like a big waste of everyones time

looby75

I suppose what I'm really asking is if when I get one of these automated calls I simply hang up will it go against me/make Halifax refuse my DMP?

Broken_hearted

I would hang up.

csarina

Hang up,or leave your phone off the hook for half an hour, then go back and replace the reciever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its their money they are wasting.....

looby75

Thanks I'm just a bit scared about rocking the boat too much before they have accepted my dmp.

I don't want to spend the next few weeks making myself feel smaller and smaller by having to explain myself to complete strangers every day. I feel bad enough already

CLAPTON

why not get 'call display' i.e. the ability to see who's calling and just don't answer the phone if you don't recognise the calling number...assuming your phone is suitable, most modern ones with a screen are, you can sign up the the BT service for free via their 'privacy at home service

http://www2.bt.com/static/i/btretail/consumer/home/home_phone/privacy_at_home.html

looby75

I do have caller display, both on my home phone and my mobile (they phoned my mobile first but the signal in my sitting room is poor and the call got cut off so they phoned the house phone immediately after) and it simply comes up as unknown, which is a bit of a problem because some of my friends and family also have their numbers withheld so I can't just ignore all unknown numbers.

thanks for the suggestion though.

I wouldn't have so much of a problem if it wasn't for the fact the Halifax now know I'm on a DMP and it's because of an issue at their end that I'm going to keep getting all these calls.

looby75

:mad: I've had 8 calls from them today. 4 on my mobile and 4 on my house phone. The first time I went through the automated part until it got to the bit asking you how you want to pay and then put the phone down, within seconds my house phone started ringing with a withheld no, which I ignored.

about half an hour later my mobile rang again, which I ignored, and again seconds later the house phone rang. I had to go out and my dd was left at home I told her not to answer the phone if it rang, but she forgot and answered once, as soon as she heard the automated voice she put it down and she said half an hour later the house phone rang again but she ignored it.

I've just checked my mobile which was in my handbag so I didn't hear it ringing and I've got 3 missed calls on there too, both around the times my dd says the house phone rang.

The lady I spoke to yesterday wasn't kidding when she said they would keep calling me lol

On the plus side egg have told me they have accepted my DMP and will look into stopping interest in the next 28 days, but they have already issued a default. I've also been told to expect a "rather harsh and nasty letter" in the next couple of days detailing exactly what they have done and why. I knew it was going to happen, but it's a bit of a kicker when it does.

Broken_hearted

Are you going to be on a long term plan, if so it might be better for you to go their DCA.

looby75

Broken_hearted wrote:

Are you going to be on a long term plan, if so it might be better for you to go their DCA.

The DMP I've arranged is going to last about 9 years as things stand at the moment, so it's definitely going to be a long term thing. I've never missed a payment to them (or any of my creditors) before last month, which cccs has said might actually go against me a bit as it might make creditors reluctant to freeze interest or sell off my debt as they will hang on to the hope I will start paying minimum payments again. If I had already defaulted a couple of times before going on a DMP they would prob just pass me straight over.

So it looks like I've shot myself in the foot by trying to get things sorted before I got too deeply in the carp

Broken_hearted

I found halifax to be a total nightmare and to get it passed I stopped paying altogether. Not something I would recomend but honestly they pushed me to a point I couldn't take it anymore. At the same time as phoning constantly they decided to reinstate interest on the account despite us always paying the agreed DMP amount on time. The balance was rocketing up and all they would be saying is give us more money, find the money, pay the money. If I don't have the money at 8.30am, I won't have it at 11am, 12.30,1pm, 3.15 or any other time that day.
The DCA don't phone, they accepted a much smaller monthly payment and if we ever come into money in the future are willing to knock a third off the debt in settlement.