ARC DCA refusing agreement

SaLoGo

Just had a call from ARC regarding a debt that has been passed onto them.
I offered to pay an amount each month which initally they weren't happy with but eventually agreed to.
He then asked for my debit card details to set up a recurring card payment which I refused. I told him I would be happy to either pay by standing order/direct debit or I could call them direct to make payments.
He then got quite shirty saying that I am refusing to comply with the agreement and would not set it up if I didn't pay by the method he suggested. He also said that the debt has now risen and will go to court!
I didn't refuse to pay, I just don't want them having that kind of access to my details so they can take what they want when they want!
Can they refuse to let me pay by other means? Was I within my rights to refuse the recurring card payment?
I know it sounds like I'm being petty and stubborn but I've only heard bad things about recurring payments.

Tixy

You are within your rights to not set up a card payment, and a very good idea as well - and I wouldn't do it by DD either. Insist on standing order or offer to send the payment each month.
Have you had anything other than this call from them yet? any letter? any proof of which debt they are collecting and that it is your debt?

If they call again just ask them to write to you. I wouldn't speak or try to negotiate on the phone again but keep everything in writing instead.
If you have already had a letter from them then i would write - set out how much you can afford to pay and ask them to send you either standing order details or a paying in book - similar template here you can adapt to your circumstances-


Dear Sir/Madam

Re Account No/Reference No:- XXXXXXXXXX

Since making that above agreement with you, our circumstances have changed. We cannot now afford to agreed monthly payments because ... [your paragraph added here]

The offers we have made to our creditors have worked out on a pro-rata basis, and we have written to all our creditors asking them to accept reduced payments.

In view of our circumstances, please would you agree to accept a reduced offer of £_____ per month. If interest or other charges are being added to the account we would be grateful if you would freeze these so that all payments made will reduce what I owe you.

Should our circumstances improve we will contact you again.

We would be grateful if you would send a [paying-in book] [standing order form] to make it easier to pay you.

Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully

Mr A N Other

superwoman247

Hi there
Never ever allow the access to your account. They will clean you out. I would keep telling them same thing, ie I will send you a check or postal order every month until they agree. Keep calling them until you get to speak to a reasonable person.

chuckley

i emailed them when i was in difficulty and they responded with 'thats fine'. never sent me an official letter or nuffin. I used the payment details on the giro slip they send with all letters. I refused to answer phone to them.