Debt Collector (Wescot Credit) Help!

alien9211

Dear Friends

Here is a story of my next door neighbour who is an elderly gentleman. His story in his own words. Any useful information or advice will be appreciated;

'I am in a situation where I don’t see any way out. Today received a letter from Debt Collection Company demanding for £57.76 plus £80.00 legal costs if I don’t clear my account with them. What it is last year I received a leaflet by The Antique Club offering different products on nominal prices. I ordered on a small decoration piece worth £5.49 on the leaflet. After few days I received what I ordered accompanied with an invoice of £9.48 (inc. £3.99 postage and packing). Though the amount was not the same which I expected when placing the order. I paid £9.48 by sending them my debit card details and thought everything would be fine.

After 4-5 weeks I received letter from a book club 'The Reading Choice' saying that by paying £9.48 they can confirm my membership with the club. Initially I couldn’t understand why this book club sent me this letter. Following that letter I received another letter asking me to buy books from accompanied book catalogue, they aslo mentioned that The Antique Club is a part of Reading Choice. Certainly at that time I ignored that letter as I didn’t want to buy any book.

Now for the last 4 months a debt collection company is sending me letters to pay £57.76 within 14 days otherwise they will take me in court. When I called debt collection company and simply they refused to give any information about my account and kept on saying that I have breached the membership contract. Now I am receiving red coloured letters with the final warning to pay within 7 days. I am an OAP and can’t afford to pay this amount. I am very upset and feel frightened that they will take me to court or make me to pay what they are asking.'

Please Help.

kitekat

These book clubs are notorious for this.I would write to them stating you do not owe them any money and want your account cleared within 7days,and failing that you will seek legal advice.Keep a copy of any letters you send them and also all letters they have previously sent.I would also contact consumer direct on 08454040506 or pop into local citizens advice centre.

kitekat

spudgun wrote:

Appears from googling this company are a nightmare.

My wife received a demand for £144.38 apparently for a vodafone account in 2001. She has never had a vodafone contract. I think the company does blanket mail drops to all people with the same name as the original debtor.

We sent council tax book info showing our previous address. Now they want marriage certificate and more proof of address from 2001.

Is there a quick and easy way to tell this company to !!!! off and leave us alone?

I have been trying to get electoral roll info but you need to pay for the info(192.com). Why can't they just search themselves and score us off the list?

I could understand it if we had an old debt but we are nothing to do with this debt. It seems almost criminal that they can hassle totally innocent people.
I am tempted to get legal advice but don't want to pay to sort this out.

Help appreciated. :mad:

I think the first 20mins of legal advice is free and i know that some citizens advice centres have a free legal clinic.

changkra

charlotte664 wrote:

And mark it without prejudice and the first line should read something about I Do not acknowledge any debt.

(And it must read that it comes from your wife - as mentioned!!)

I have read somewhere on the consumer action group web site that the words without prejudice should not be there

dmg24

Anybody have any updates on their dealings with Wescot?

I have now been trying to deal with them since the beginning of January, and am no further on than when I started.

Today I have tried to apply for a credit card, and got declined. Upon checking my credit file, it turns out that Wescot/ Kays have registered a default against me.

This is so unfair, but I just don't know where to go to get it sorted?

inmypocketnottheirs

I would not put 'without prejudice' as this means the letter can not be shown in course if it should (unlikely) get to that stage. If I were you (or your wife as the letter must come from her) I would write 'With Prejudice' on the letter, meaning that you will rely on it in court.

Good luck in getting rid of this chancers.

spudgun

I have sorted my problem with Wescot now. I wrote an email to the person at Wescot who deals with CSA complaints. I then received an email apologising from their solicitor.

See my thread in Hotukdeals.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45951

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

Phone Calls , Letters To This Lot Wll Not Work There Chancers If Its Not You Ignore If T Went To Court T Will Not Affect You As Its Not You , Credit File Will Not Be Affected As Its Not You Write One Letter Send It Recorded Bin Every Other Letter They Write .

mightyreds

I had these chasing for a phone bill which I had paid and bank statements to prove, even after sending all this to them they still chased me.