Providing proof to credit agencies

georgina74

Hi everyone

My debt has been passed from pillar to post for the past 12 years. It has now been bought by Link Financial (Oct 2011), who are not only bullying me to increase payments but I dont have the money unless I deduct the monies from my priority debts (rent arrears, for instance), but they have also - in my opinion and I could be wrong - made some disproportionate requests with regard to proof of my income and outgoings. For example, my wage slips (when I was working), bank statements, rent statements, DWP letter.

I would like to know whether it is reasonable for them to ask for all these documents?

At present, I have made a complaint to them regarding their bully tactics but they have totally dismissed my points and have reiterated that they still require this documentation. Also, since October 2011 they have not agreed to any payments that I have made in writing but despite their lack of co-operation, I am still making these offers.

Please help...

Tixy

Its recommended not to send any of this information to debt collection agencies.

Have you offered them a set amount per month or week? have you been paying this? or did you stop payments in October?

It would probably be worth reading the OFT debt collection guidelines - as you will probably find they have broken some of these.
Then when you next write you could quote the specific guidelines that you think they are in breach of and reiterate that you can currently only afford x per month.

UPDATED OFT Guidance on Debt Collection - READ IF YOU ARE BEING HASSLED UNFAIRLY
eg look at section 3.7 - maybe things like 3.7 i (32)

georgina74

I've never missed my monthly payments and have always notified them of every single change of circumstances. They, as a company, have a minimum amount that needs to be paid and it is not being met - that was reiterated to me via the phone and which they still, up to this very day, have not put in writing.

Thank you, thank you, I've located the OFT guidelines and there's quite a lot I can quote back to them. I'll definitely include the appropriate texts and my affordable amounts in my correspondence to them. Thank you, once again.

georgina74

Once again, thank you, Tixy. Very much appreciated

pure_dead_dopey

Georgina, the guys who work in debt collection are on commission, the more they squeeze out of you, the more commission they get. Never ever discuss it on the phone, ever
if you have a change of circumstances that requires a payment change downwards a one line letter will suffice, i am changing my payment to from due to
end of

don't ever ever give them any personal papers, its none of their business and only a court can demand to see this.