Blockbuster passing to debt recovery agency

museum_gal

Not sure if this is the right place to post this....

A few weeks ago l took 2 DVD's out from my local blockbuster and returned them both the next night into the drop in box.
A few days later l recieved a call from the shop saying l hadn't returned one of them, l confirmed to him that l had returned it and even told him the time that l put them in the box. I phoned back a few hours later to see if he had found it and was told by the member of staff not to worry about it and that "it had probably got lost in the shop" he told me that his manager would look into it on the Monday and l requested that the manager phone me if they couldn't find it. I heard nothing more, no phone call no letter no nothing, and assumed that it had been found. .

This morning l recieved a cold call which hung up when l answered, l goggled the number and discovered it was a debt recovery agency used by blockbuster. I phoned my local store to be told that there was an outstanding balance of £15 on my account, the guy told me that before it gets passed to a debt recovery agency a letter is sent by blockbuster asking for the balance to be paid, l did not recieve any letter but yet it has still been passed to a recovery agency. I assume this will now appear on my credit report (l have applied for a copy)

I want to know can they pass it to a recovery agency without even notifying me? I am so furious l am shaking right now, because l did return the DVD and l am now being chased for this! The guy in the shop gave me the number for head office and told me it was opened today, it wasnt, l called him back to tell him this and he then wiped the £15 from my account l think just to get rid of me however this will not remove it from my credit file.

Has anyone else recieved this appaling service from blockbuster? Sorry for the long post l am just so angry right now! :mad:

crazyguy

No I have never had this happen, no doubt they will say that hey had sent you a letter asking for a payment within a set period of time before passing it to a debt collector, I would just write a letter in to the head office and explain that you dropped them off and therefore feel that sending you debt collection letters is inappropriate.

museum_gal

Well l definitely did not recieve a letter or even a phone call from the manager (which l asked for if they could not find it) the guy in the shop said they couldn't even find the dvd box so it was not like l had returned it without the dvd in it (l didn't as l checked the dvd was in it before putting it in the drop in box) so l can only assume they have lost it and are looking for someone to blame :mad:

crazyguy

Probably a light fingered member of staff then,

museum_gal

Thanks what makes it even worse is that the DVD was rubbish so wouldnt even have been worth stealing

CapJ

Re: The credit file. There are only two ways for it to show on your credit file:

CCJ or other court judgement (Such as bankruptcy) - doesn't apply in your case as you would have heard if they had taken you to court

You sign an agreement that gives blockbuster the right to update your credit file. This is often included as part of an another agreement and refers to sharing data with third parties etc. Do you have a copy of the agreement you signed?

vax2002

Just write back stating the item was returned to the drop box provided by them and you are willing to testify on oath in court to that effect, that if any detrimental action is taken by blockbuster you reserve your right to sue for defamation of charter.

museum_gal

CapJ
Yes l have just had a look at membership agrrement l signed http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/help/1399_bb_new_app._form.pdf (not sure if i have posted the link thingy properly)
And interestingly it says l will be contacted twice by blockbuster to say the item needs to be returned (i wasn't) and then they will go ahead and take the money from my account. It says that if the account details l have provided are invalid or expired (l gave the correct details and my card is valid) only then will they pass it to a recovery agency. So they have neglected to contact me or even just take the money fom my account using the details l gave them and went straight for the debt recovery agency. Surely this means they have broken their own terms and conditions?

CapJ

museum_gal wrote: »

CapJ
Yes l have just had a look at membership agrrement l signed http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/help/1399_bb_new_app._form.pdf (not sure if i have posted the link thingy properly)
And interestingly it says l will be contacted twice by blockbuster to say the item needs to be returned (i wasn't) and then they will go ahead and take the money from my account. It says that if the account details l have provided are invalid or expired (l gave the correct details and my card is valid) only then will they pass it to a recovery agency. So they have neglected to contact me or even just take the money fom my account using the details l gave them and went straight for the debt recovery agency. Surely this means they have broken their own terms and conditions?

Re breaking their terms and conditions - I can't see there is a problem as they have wiped the 15 GBP so no loss to you?

Re: credit file. Don't worry about this. The document isn't a credit agreement nor does it give them permission to update your credit file (at least according to data protection part). Therefore this won't affect your credit file. You can check if you like free online (google Experian - just remember to cancel before then end of the free trial).

So from my point of view (unless I have misunderstood), you now don't have any problems, i.e. blockbuster won't chase you any more and credit file not affected? If that is the case, no need to be angry (at least any more). They screwed up to begin with but have fixed everything now.

CapJ

vax2002 wrote: »

Just write back stating the item was returned to the drop box provided by them and you are willing to testify on oath in court to that effect, that if any detrimental action is taken by blockbuster you reserve your right to sue for defamation of charter.

Why would the OP do that? She isn't being chased any more as they have wiped the 15 GBP (According to original post) and defamation of character would only apply if Blockbuster started telling everyone the OP hadn't dropped off the video and owed 15 GBP at which point they would face far more serious (possible criminal) penalties, even if what they said was true!

texranger

i never use the drop down box for this reason, the one at my local blockbuster is badly designed, so that you can actually place your arms in and remove DVDs