Advise about Phone Calls needed

mikeb222

I'm in big trouble with massive debts.
I have an account with Payplan but I keep getting phone calls from creditors. I'm talking up to 5 a day from two of them in particular.
Of course, my partner knows all about it, but my children dont and they are wondering whats going on.

problem is when they call, they want me to confirm my own details over the phone, such as Postcode, Date Of Birth, etc, but I've been told never to give those details to anyone as they could use them fraudently against me.

What do you guys think?
Shouldnt I just refuse to talk to them and refer them to Payplan?
Change my phone number, but then they would phone me at work?

Its not as though talking to them does any good anyway.

JoJo_Sparkly

Hi Mike

I know exactly how you feel - and have to say that I did change my telephone number in the end - I do still get the ocassional call on my mobile but I just tell them that all contact must be made in writing adn that seems to have stopped most of the aggravation.

I know others have just refused to confirm the security questions and eventually the CCs get fed up of trying - but that's not plesant as I think some are very thick skinned and persistent.

Jojo

bloomin_freezing

Hi Mike

It bugs me too when you get random phone calls from people wanting you to confirm your private details, I just ask them to prove who they are to me first (I'm very sarcastic with it too) and usually they hang up. It cheers me up to give them some grief for a change. If you're with some kind of payment plan then stick with that. I'd refuse to talk to the !!!!!!s who keep calling.

Hope the calls die down for you.:o

scotsgirl_3

Hi

I've worked on the other side of this - I've been the person making calls ( no throwing things please!) and the people who are calling have no choice but to confirm these details due to the data protection act - they're breaking the law if they don't! I would see that in general you are fairly safe if you are only confirming your add and date of birth.

Something I have seen people do who are concerned about this is to give creditors a password to add to the account that anyone phoning you has to quote before you disclose your security details.

hope this helps

rog2

Hi Mike - I really feel for EVERYONE who gets this constant harrassment. Creditors and DCA's are SUPPOSED to adhere to the strict guidelines which have been agreed, and laid down, by the Office of Fair Trading.
Unfortunately the majority of them do not. :mad: :mad: :mad:
There are many reccomendations, including your right to complain to the OFT and Trading Standards, but it doesn't stop these heartless vultures.
Even telling them to go forth and multiply only seems to encourage them to give you more grief. :eek: :eek:
Whilst it is almost impossible to actually stop them from calling - the best solution seems to be to change your phone number and go Ex-directory. Even then, they will find other ways to let you know that their sole purpose in life is to make your life more miserable than it actually is. :mad: :mad:
And most of them are doing this for a pittance.

scotsgirl_3

Hi

I also forgot to say, check out OFCOM - they have strict rules regardinng when they can call , how often etc ( especially for dialller systems) so check to see if they are abiding by these. If not, threaten to report them to offcom. Often helps!

AGB863

There are a couple things that you can do here.

Under the Debt Collection as set down by the Office of Fair Trading you can tell the DCA who are calling you frequently that they are harrasing you

2 UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES
Communication2.1 It is unfair to communicate, in whatever form, with consumers in an unclear,
inaccurate or misleading manner.
2.2 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:

f. contacting debtors at unreasonable times

g. ignoring or disregarding debtors' legitimate wishes in respect
of when and where to contact them, for example, shift workers
ask not to be telephoned during certain times of the day

You can also tell them that you will only accept contact from them in writing - we use this last section to tell DCA's this

You are within your rights to tell the DCA's to deal directly with Payplan and that you will not get involved in any discussions with them. If they refuse to accept this advise them that this is against the OFT's debt collection guidance under this section

Deceptive and/or unfair methods
2.7 Dealings with debtors are not to be deceitful and/or unfair.
2.8 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:

c. refusing to deal with appointed or authorised third parties, such
as Citizens Advice Bureaux, independent advice centres or money
advisers

d. contacting debtors directly and bypassing their appointed representatives

I work for a debt managment company and we are frequently having to quote the last bit of the guidance to a number of collectors when they make comments like " we do not deal with 3rd parties". They soon back down as they would be at risk of loosing their licence to trade.