overpayment of debt, Studio renege on repayment

bookworm8657

Hi there

I wonder is anyone else has had a bad experience with Studio? I have not long put down the phone and my temper and Bp were both up to my ears!

In a nutshell, I placed my finances with the CCCS back in 2005 when longterm sickness and the transition to benefits meant I couldn't meet my commitments. Since then, all payments were made, Studio included, a number of accounts have been cleared, Studio included and the bigger ones reduced by approx 50% to date. However, Studio always used to ring me periodically pressing for small additional payments in order to keep freezing interest and because they said their accounts "run" happened at the beginning of the months and CCCS paid out latter half of the month so I was always further in arrears. I paid these small intermittent payments just to get them off my back and for peace and quiet as I have bad major health issues and prolonged hospital stays, I simply didn't have the stamina to take on yet another battle (don't know which is worse, financial battles or disability ones! ) Obviously CCCS were not aware of these additional payments and I ended up with a £15 credit on my Studio account. Last summer I took back the reins and am now managing my own finances and dealing the crditors myself, pleased to be meeting all payments every month and looking forward to being debt free too.

So, £15 credit.....I would have been happy to order just £15 of sale goods from Studio to use the money but no way! They will not do any business with me because of my past debt. Ok then, so please may I have the money refunded? Yes, they would refund it and cheque would arrive in due course. Now, fast forward several weeks to this morning. I get a letter from Studio telling me that I must contact CCCS to obtain proof of these overpayments and only then will they consider taking any action to refund me! :mad: I phoned and calmly, icily explained that as I had told them last summer, the CCCS were no longer involved and that the overpayments had happened due to the intermittent additonal payments they had requested and also because I had been too poorly to notice at the time that the balance was in credit. However, they will not budge, despite having all the evidence they need right there on their own screens, showing payments and balances. They tried to tell me that it was down to compliance with the law on financial matters etc, which is utter rubbish. I had the same circumstances arise with another creditor and they could not have been more helpful in refunding my money, so I know Studio are just being really unethical and unprofessional. I will be putting this in writing to Studio (in my professional tone of course) and giving them a week or so to respond before taking it further. I know £15 is not a vast sum, but it is my money and if they are not prepared to let me spend it then they should send it back without delay.

To anyone else who may be going through the same difficulties that I have been experiencing for the last 6 years or so, then all I can say, is be very careful where Studio are concerned if you are close to clearing any outstanding balance. They are quick enough to grab your money but they will make it as difficult as possible for you to get it back. Maybe they are hoping I will get fed up and forget it. Well, no, they have rattled my cage and now I am going to rattle theirs!!! I will not hesitate to go to the Ombudsman if I have to.

I need a good strong cuppa now I've got that lot off my chest!