Debt, Debt Collection Company and Book Club

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. 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 asking 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.

lewt

could you say that they wereunsolicted goods?

sorry i think some1 else will know more than me.. good luck with it though. it was'nt mango was it? i had funny letters like that, free book then demands for 99p, but the first letter that came with the free book said pay for it and you will be confirming to join our club...... fasshist's.

newmum1

can you not contact the company direct to find out what you are supposed to be paying for???

alien9211

newmum1 wrote:

can you not contact the company direct to find out what you are supposed to be paying for???

I did try to speak to company's customer service CS which is based in India. They never even bothered to listen to me and kept on saying that I have to pay the money because I went against the Ts & Cs of the membership. God I never knew how they trap people.

MoonRose77

Someone I know was having similar problems with readers digest - she told her daughter who said to say that it was unsolicited mail and as she had not requested it she was not liable to pay anything. She did this and the demands stopped - so it can be done by saying this.

Other alternative is to speak to CAB - taking whatever information you have and see what they think is your best course of action.

Best of luck with it.

Bossyboots

I strongly suspect that this gentleman has entered into a binding contract to buy a certain amount of items from this book club when he ordered the first piece or when he paid for it.

I doubt he can claim unsolicited goods. He has willingly paid the company money. They can therefore establish a contract has been formed if this is what the t&cs state and he has had a copy of those. This would have been printed on the first paperwork he received I am sure.

I can't see anyway out of this to be honest. I sincerely wish I could. Although I have been teaching my mum to be independent since my dad died, she has adhered to my request that she doesn't sign a single thing without my approval. Sadly this seems to be the only way I can make sure she is protected from these predatory companies who prey on the vulnerable and less able of society to make their money, for it is those people most likely to be caught by these schemes.

I don't suppose the neighbour has kept a copy of the leaflet and paperwork to make sure he was given a copy of the terms.

alien9211

Bossyboots wrote:

I strongly suspect that this gentleman has entered into a binding contract to buy a certain amount of items from this book club when he ordered the first piece or when he paid for it.

I doubt he can claim unsolicited goods. He has willingly paid the company money. They can therefore establish a contract has been formed if this is what the t&cs state and he has had a copy of those. This would have been printed on the first paperwork he received I am sure.

I can't see anyway out of this to be honest. I sincerely wish I could. Although I have been teaching my mum to be independent since my dad died, she has adhered to my request that she doesn't sign a single thing without my approval. Sadly this seems to be the only way I can make sure she is protected from these predatory companies who prey on the vulnerable and less able of society to make their money, for it is those people most likely to be caught by these schemes.

I don't suppose the neighbour has kept a copy of the leaflet and paperwork to make sure he was given a copy of the terms.

Thanks for your reply dear BossyBoots, according to the gentleman he has neither received any T&C nor he signed anything. He just paid through providing his solo card number. Initially the only paper he received was the invoice of £9.48.

Bossyboots

alien9211 wrote:

Thanks for your reply dear BossyBoots, according to the gentleman he has neither received any T&C nor he signed anything. He just paid through providing his solo card number. Initially the only paper he received was the invoice of £9.48.

I have been trying to track down this Antique Club to no avail. You don't happen to know the name of the book club do you?

alien9211

BossyBoots please check private message.
Thanks

Bossyboots

alien9211 wrote:

BossyBoots please check private message.
Thanks

I've replied.

chevalier

Does this gentleman have any younger relatives that can speak on his behalf. I say this only because if they are related, then the company may be more accomodating about cancelling it.

I would suggest that he write to the orignal company saying that he did not know he had to buy anything else, and could they please cancel his account.
Also say his age etc. Might work. There again I have enough trouble keeping my club on the straight and narrow and I am half his age!
chev