Fresh Start Financial UK (aka Harrington Brooks) - Thoughts? :(

matttye

Maymay14 wrote: »

Oh my goodness! I have just signed up with these cowboys!! Will defo be sending a cancellation letter in the morning, what should I include I'm this letter to ensure they cancel my plan and take no money from my account?

Any help would be much appreciated...gutted they're not the real deal knew it sounded to good to be true

Write to your bank recorded delivery asking them not to let Harrington brooks set up any direct debits or continuous payment authorities, and write to HB recorded delivery asking them not to take any money and that you no longer wish to engage their services.

ukdiva

I am no expert but I do know a bit about the debt management industry. Sometimes certain debt solutions work for persons who feel overwhelmed. It is imperative that you do your research and if you chose to opt for a solution, you should ALWAYS listen keenly to the sales adviser and ensure that you fully understand what is being SOLD to you and NOT WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO HEAR. You need to ask the relevant questions pertaining to when your creditors will begin to receive payments and also how much you will pay in fees i.e. set-up and monthly management charges. Do not be quick to handover payment details especially your DEBIT CARD number, because if you have a change of mind it will be quite difficult to get a refund and also they could be taking a RECURRING CARD PAYMENT.

Where Harrington Brooks is concerned, I have several friends who have used the service and I was coerced into seeking help from them and the most common complaint is that they are quick to make a sale and tend to suggest things which are hardly ever actioned. If there any problems and you want to cancel it is quite difficult to get a refund because they will always try to keep you on-board as a customer. Do not get angry...be vigilant and stick to your guns and make sure you take names down and make your own notes. Cancel any Direct Debits or standing orders or any CPA (CONTINUOUS PAYMENT AUTHORITY) directly at your bank so that they will not be able to have further access to your bank account. If needs be report your card as lost so that the bank can issue a card with a new number.

In the case of getting interest and charges frozen...the debt management company can request the creditor to stop this however this is at the TOTAL DISCRETION of the CREDITOR as the initial arrangement with the DEBTOR was broken in the first place. No one is perfect and at times we hang our baskets where we cannot reach them, however DO NOT BE AFRAID TO APPROACH THE CREDITOR YOURSELF AND TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY. Often times they will come to some payment arrangement but you have to stick to that and not allow Christmas, holidays and birthday spending get in the way of making your payments....you have to be equally responsible because the debt will go nowhere if you don't pay it. A debt management plan is not legally binding so the creditor DOES NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT that you are on a DMP and they can and often WILL continue to chase you to recover the outstanding balance.

The long and short of it is that with the current financial climate the debt management business is booming and where it can provide peace of mind to some, for others it might be a nightmare experience. BE CAREFUL OF YOUR SPENDING AND ALSO LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS. If you choose to go down the debt solution route please bear in mind that most companies charge for the service that they provide. The money that you will spend to set up and manage the account could be directly paid to your creditors. Please also bear in mind that any debt solution, whether DMP, IVA, INSOLVENCY, it will impact on your credit file. If you find yourself struggling financially always endeavor to speak to the creditor first and make sure that you make your MINIMUM PAYMENT....that way no default charges will be made against your name. If you struggle with Council Tax, Utility debts, etc...there is always special arrangements that can be made to accommodate your circumstances. Questions are made to be asked so do not be AFRAID to ask them. You should also seek help from the CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU, forums like these, your community centre, job centre or even your local library. AIM TO BE DEBT FREE. I hope this helps out a bit.

Barnsley_red

I am so glad that I read these reviews before signing up. Please anyone be aware that it is a scam. The agent stated to me that Fresh Start was a member of an ombudsman called Densa. Please Google this as it is actually a derogatory term meant to stand for the opposite to Mensa. Says it all about this joke of a company really. Heartless scum who will gladly prey on people who are already in a desperate situation. I have spoken to my bank and changed my account details so these people cannot access my account. I also gladly haven't signed any agreement(even though I must get 5 emails a day and numerous phone calls asking me to). Please stay away from this company. If you feel you are struggling please contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau who will help you. Stay away from these horrid companies. Glad it wasn't too late for me

ukdiva

@Barnsley red... It's DEMSA...Debt Managers Standard Association...you clearly misheard. Anyway FreshStart is an affiliate of Harrington Brooks because they don't have the financial power...hence Harrington Brooks work on their behalf. It is good that you seek help elsewhere and be mindful that the best persons to speak to is actually your creditors.

Ashleigh-Jade

I was called yesterday by a man named [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] from a company called harrington brooks aka fresh start. I was advised 2 get an iva that I no longer need or needed in the 1at place as I found a less drastic way of dealing wiv ma debts! During the call I explained to him that I wasn't 100% sure but he some how twisted my arm in2 getting one as he made it sound like the best thing ever, saying his here to help me every step of the way. So I agreed to set up a payment plan an paid £50. He told me he would send out a 1st class courier to collect my paper work an get me I sign the agreement. At this moment I had 3 pay day Loan I planed to pay at the end of the month myself. He told me to just cancels card or let it go on2 default. When I asked what would happen if I didn't get apprved for the iva as ma debts didn't wen reach the amount needed to get approved 4 an iva he said it shouldn't be a problem. Anyway after sleeping on it I woke feelin a little unsettled. I called the courier and cancelled the collection, I've been calling this [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] or the last 5 hours with no response I've sent untold emails a asking him to cancel my agreement and refund ma money as I'm leas then 24 hours in2 my 14 day cooling period! I've called the company and they have old me he can only make calls not receive them. What more can I do 2 resolve this an get a full refund

FireWyrm

Ashleigh-Jade wrote: »

I was called yesterday by a man named [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] from a company called harrington brooks aka fresh start. I was advised 2 get an iva that I no longer need or needed in the 1at place as I found a less drastic way of dealing wiv ma debts! During the call I explained to him that I wasn't 100% sure but he some how twisted my arm in2 getting one as he made it sound like the best thing ever, saying his here to help me every step of the way. So I agreed to set up a payment plan an paid £50. He told me he would send out a 1st class courier to collect my paper work an get me I sign the agreement. At this moment I had 3 pay day Loan I planed to pay at the end of the month myself. He told me to just cancels card or let it go on2 default. When I asked what would happen if I didn't get apprved for the iva as ma debts didn't wen reach the amount needed to get approved 4 an iva he said it shouldn't be a problem. Anyway after sleeping on it I woke feelin a little unsettled. I called the courier and cancelled the collection, I've been calling this [TEXT REMOVED BY FORUM TEAM] or the last 5 hours with no response I've sent untold emails a asking him to cancel my agreement and refund ma money as I'm leas then 24 hours in2 my 14 day cooling period! I've called the company and they have old me he can only make calls not receive them. What more can I do 2 resolve this an get a full refund

Write to them recorded delivery and demand confirmation that the contract is cancelled. Cancel any payments that are pending. Do not under any circumstances allow yourself to be talked back into it. These companies are there to make money for themselves, not solve your problems.

Run away.

arie

Oh my God, please say this isn't all true.

I was persuaded to join up with Fresh Start (Harrington Brooks) on 2nd January. I'm usually somebody who runs away from these type of cold calls or, at the very least, checks up on the company prior to signing. However, Jordan McNally (who actually made the call) was extremely persuasive and came across as really caring and helpful.

To give this some background, I am in a never-ending cycle of taking out payday loans to pay off other such loans. Fresh Start persuaded me not to struggle trying to pay them all off and to join up with them instead. I agreed to sign up and have so far paid one instalment of £150 with the assurance that all my creditors have been contacted and updated.

However, it appears that 99% of the people's experience with this company is completely negative so, not surprisingly, I want to get out of this as soon as is possible. The main problem is that I joined up 36 days ago so have missed the 'cooling-off' period by miles. On the plus side (and totally unrelated to this), after giving Fresh Start my bank details, I downgraded my account meaning that I now have a new card number - I'm not sure what impact (if any) this will have here?

I would be really grateful if anyone here can advise as to what I can do next to escape these cowboys. I need to get out...and FAST!

dancingfairy

Have you got any agreements with them in writing? If so this should state how much notice you need to give. If not I'd just write to them and state that you wish to cancel the plan.
How did you pay them? DD? or by card? You need to get in touch with your bank and cancel any DD to them or any CPA(continuous payment authority) if it was by card.
To sort out your debts I recommend contacting StepChange or National Debtline or your local CAB who can offer a similar service free of charge.
Best of Luck
df

arie

dancingfairy wrote: »

Have you got any agreements with them in writing? If so this should state how much notice you need to give. If not I'd just write to them and state that you wish to cancel the plan.
How did you pay them? DD? or by card? You need to get in touch with your bank and cancel any DD to them or any CPA(continuous payment authority) if it was by card.
To sort out your debts I recommend contacting StepChange or National Debtline or your local CAB who can offer a similar service free of charge.
Best of Luck
df

Thanks heaps dancingfairy.

I have just cancelled my direct debit to them.

I called them yesterday before reading all the comments and I could not get through to who I wanted to speak with. All day today, they have been bombarding me with calls but I refused to answer. I am going to check the paperwork I signed for any notice period, as you advised, when I get home.

I am doing the right thing cancelling all of this, aren't I?

sirwiggum

Wouldn't recommend them whatsoever.

2007, I found myself with a lot of bank debt and a low salary.

The theme back then was 'consolidation'. I applied for a couple of loans over a long time period to cover the amount and bring the monthly outgoings down. I was declined.

One of the loan companies passed my details on to 'Allclear' aka Harrington Brooks.

As others have said, the sales patter was spot on. We bring down your monthly repayments, interest frozen, you'll be in good shape for getting a mortgage and it would appear that you're dealing with your debts!
I was drawn in.

They tell you to stop paying your creditors, to tell them yourself to deal with Allclear/Harrington Brooks.
As I was living at my mums again, her house phone was bombarded for months from creditors. Some, like Barclaycard, immediately took the repayments from Harrington Brooks, others (ahem Lloyds TSB) dragged it out for months, would never accept that I was with a 'debt management company'.
So I defaulted on most of my accounts (it wasn't really made clear that this would adversely impact my credit for 6 years, and I wasn't really clued in enough to look this up, though no excuses on my part I should've paid due diligence).
Interest was frozen on some accounts, not on others, then frozen interest would 'unfreeze'.
I paid on the start of the month, straight after payday. HB were taking a 30 quid cut from a 180 payment, 150 going towards debt repayment.
Some creditors would have a 'floating' payment due date, meaning that occasionally they would get 2 payments for one month and none for the other - again the phone calls and letters would start.

Harrington Brooks also seemed confused by the concept of bank holidays.
If my payment to them wasn't in at the start of the month, say if the 1st was a Saturday and a bank holiday Monday meant the payment didn't get made til Tuesday, they'd be straight on the phone demanding the payment.

Towards the end, they didn't really let me know that accounts were ending, I had to keep *them* updated.
Then, after debt was cleared, they phone me asking for the payment. I ask them what debt it is covering, they realise everything is paid off and stop phoning.

During my time with them, I got the occasional "Are you eligible for an IVA" / "Have you taken out PPI" sales call from them.