OMG help!!!!

mojojojo25

Hello,

I have recently been trying to sort out a repayment plan for all of my debts. I am making very good progress and will be under a management programme soon which I feel really positive about.

Yesterday I had a phonecall from one of the payday loan companies whose debt I am trying to sort out. Everyone else has asked for minimum repayments at the moment and I have run out of money to give out so they will have to wait until I get paid and I have informed them of this (I get paid 22nd Nov). The company called me at work yesterday and wanted to discuss it over the phone. I said it is not appropriate for me to speak to them at work and they could call during my lunch hour, bearing in mind that in my job I go on lunch as and when I can - customers come in and I get stuck on the phone often.

I missed their call and when I tried to ring the number back it went to a voicemail and the line wasn't working.

Today they have called me at work again. The man I spoke to was extremely angry and asked me why I didnt answer the phone yesterday. I explained but told him I cannot talk about personal matters at work, we are not allowed to take personal calls here.

He continued to shout at me down the phone, he threatened that he would just ring the general work number all day long if he had to. I advised him that if he continued to shout at me I would hang the phone up and I did as he did not stop. (this is all in front of my manager and colleagues all very embarrassing!!!!) He then range the phone again, someone else answered and he told her that I had hung up on him and can he speak to to me. He started shouting again so I put the phone down. He called again 3 times, each time I put ther phone down due to his agressive behaviour!! He then rang and rather than asking for me asked to be put through to my supervisor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I advised him it was nothing to do with my manager and that he cannot discuss my finances with someone else to which he replied "well I'll just have to make it their business then". And basically he keeps calling here and I keep putting the phone down - he keeps asking for my manager and threateneing court over the phone.

I can answer the phone when I see the number coming up but I am so scared that when I am caught on the phone or at lunch he will speak to my manager about this loan!

I don't know what to do I'm practically in tears!!!!!!

Tjrw1985

What he is doing is illegal.

What is the name of the company?

tishywish

I didn't want to read and run, I normally just lurk these days as I'm getting on with my DMP slowly but surely and haven't had internet access for a while anyway.

The first thing that springs to mind is, have you written to this company telling them not to phone you and to remove any phone numbers they have for you? There are template letters on this forum somewhere, I'm afraid I don't have links but someone will be along soon who does, I'm sure. Tell them you will only communicate with them in writing, and if they carry on phoning you tell them that then put the phone down.

I'm sure they're not allowed to bully you over the phone - see the sticky post that gives OFT guidelines as this constitutes unfair practise as far as I know.

I know how hard it is to deal with this, one of my debts recently got passed to a different DCA who tried the constant phoning at work and at home trick but they've finally given up. I think I wrote them at least 10 letters telling them to stop phoning, but they did get the message eventually.

Tixy

Hi

How understanding is your manager? would it be possible to have a word with them just to forewarn them in case they do speak to them. Ask your manager to let you know if they do phone and divulge any information? at least then you will know and can report them for a breach of the data protection act.

If you pick up the phone to him today I would try to get into the conversation that his calls are harrasment and against the OFT guidelines and that if they continue you will report him. Also if he threatens again anything about speaking to anyone else then make it very clear that if he does you will report them to the ICO for a breach of the data protection act.
You might also want to start the call by telling him you are recording the call (even if you aren't) - you should find that he is a lot more civil to you.

Longer term you can send them a letter stopping all phone calls - but obviously that won't help in the sort term. So I'd suggest the more you sound like you know about the rules / regulations etc the less likely he is to be so rude and harrasing.

freshair_2

firstly don't panic.....

then find the template letter on one of the stickies at the top to send a letter asking them not to contact you by phone, then I would prepare my SOA, also on sticky at top, and post on here for advice from the wonderful people on how you can maximise your income to pay your debt of quicker, and then if needed call CCCS also on sticky at top of forum, if you call them armed with your SOA you will be one step ahead of the game.

But the one thing I have learnt so far is that although debt is scary it CAN be dealt with.

Good luck on your journey, and you have done the hardest bit already which is admitting to yourself that you have a problem

mojojojo25

The company is Convers money. I appreciate this situation is entirely my fault but I am now doing my best to get out of it. I have informed them that I cannot make a minimum payment until next week, I will write to them and ask them to remove the telephone number, I have sent them an email asking them to do this but obviously this hasn't worked. I suppose whats bothering me is the way in which they are speaking to my colleagues if one of them answers the phone. One of them called last week and pretty much accused my colleague of not passing on their message / putting them through in a very rude way, to which she explained I am not allowed personal calls.

As for my manager, not understanding at all and I think it would really complicate matters here for me. Its a very small company (11 staff total) and the thought of everyone knowing my financial mess is making me feel physically sick.

It seems he has stopped calling for the moment but its very hard to sit here and not feel physically sick with worry.

The really stupid thing about this whole mess is that the loan itself was for £80 - just enough to get some food shopping and pay petrol one month I was short. Its cost me nearly £20 phoning their premium rate number already as I don't have a landline!

They make life difficult. Its very hard not to get upset about these things when you are doing everything you can already. Although I have no one but myself to blame I suppose.

mojojojo25

Oh I forgot to say - thank you very much for the replies. xx

Boris_Allen

You need to start recording these calls. Rather than pay off the loan to him, I'd invest in software to do this if ou can. You should bear in mind that it is a legal requirement for you to inform him that you intend to record the conversation, but just do this whilst he is shouting and he probably won't be listening anyway.

When you have enough "evidence" of this harassment, I suggest you take this matter to the civil courts and sue for a MASSIVE amount of compensation for the large amont of distress he has cased.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Do not make calls to any premium rate 08 or 09 numbers. Never encourage these parasites to keep using these numbers. They are making money from you just by answering the phone, and they will keep you using the phone for as long as they can - the more you call them and talk to them, the more money they make and the more money you lose.

Especially, don't ring these numbers from a mobile phone.

JustinCredibleGillespie

!!!!!!! (forgive my language)

How on earth do these companies get away with doing such a thing? I'm sure that guy on the phone also is has debt howeverwhat gives him the right to treat you like that! If the shoe was on the other foot, how would he like it! I'd have his balls for breakfast!! Grrrrr! Makes me so angry!

Charityworker

I think you could call the police now and report them for harrassment. Any more than 3 unwanted telephone calls from the same company is classed as harrassment when you have requested they contact you by letter. Write to them and send it by recorded delivery telling them that you cannot receive personal calls whilst at work, that it is illegal to speak to anyone but you about your personal finances and that if you continue to receive these threatening calls you will be contacting the police. I can't believe what some people get away with because people let them. You owe £80 not 8 million. Even if it were 8 million he wouldnt be allowed to do it.