We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Feel like im being conned.

I bought a matress from Dreams may 2011. I took out a 3 year 0% finance deal and everything went through fine the matress was delivered a week later and that was the end of it so i thought.

Febuary this year i got an answer phone message from dreams asking me to visit the store i bought the matress from to discuss my dreams account. When i got home i checked my bank statements and none of the planned payments had gone out.

I rang dreams and they said something had gone wrong with the finance agreement but couldnt tell me what. Also i havn't recieved anything in writing from dreams explaining the situation.

Now the finance company has contacted me by Email saying i need to contact them but the are also very none commital as to what has happend. They attached a PDF in the Email which just had my name at the top of it.

Anyway today i actually recieved a letter from the finance company saying they want the full amount of balance paid or the next appropriate notices will be served whatever that means.

They also say that dreams have tried to settle this amicably but this is the first letter we have had.

I just feel like something has gone wrong on thier end and are trying to blame us for the mistake. They have given us no explanation as to what has happend and everything has been so none commital.

Why do people think they are acting in this way?
«13

Comments

  • visidigi
    visidigi Posts: 6,622 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Knowing the cause or reason won't change the obligation I am afraid.

    Unfortunately you owe the money - you need to pay it, offer a payment plan if you are not able to settle the payments - you need to come to an agreement with them.
  • unholyangel
    unholyangel Posts: 16,866 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    So in Feb when you found out none of the payments had been taken, I assume you contacted them to arrange a) for the payments due until that date to be taken and/or b) a direct debit or standing order so that you would not fall behind any further in payments?
    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
  • pendulum
    pendulum Posts: 2,302 Forumite
    If you don't check your accounts as well as you should and didn't notice the payments weren't coming out, never mind. You're not under any obligation to notice their error.

    You still owe the money, but you're entitled to pay in installments - you do not have to give in to their demands for immediate payment. A court wouldn't expect you to pay up in a lump sum either.
  • arcon5
    arcon5 Posts: 14,099 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Can you afford to make payment for all the missing installments?
  • DVardysShadow
    DVardysShadow Posts: 18,949 Forumite
    Bikecrazy wrote: »
    ... Why do people think they are acting in this way?
    Because you are acting the way you are.

    You knew in February that the DD was not being paid. At that point you should have ensured that ongoing payments were being made and started negotiating a plan to settle the outstanding payments. Never mind whether you got a full and proer explanation of how this came about.

    As you appear to have done nothing to give them their money, they seem to have taken against you.
    Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam
  • Techhead_2
    Techhead_2 Posts: 1,769 Forumite
    What did the store say when you visited them, as requested?
  • arcon5
    arcon5 Posts: 14,099 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If they noticed in Febuary, the fact it is now mid-April and still not sorted says it all really. From their perspective, they've been trying to sort it out for 2 months without success so now considering you in breach of contract.

    If you can afford the back payments to date then i'm betting they would agree to the original payment scheme. But the longer you leave it the more they will look to adding late payment fees and affect your credit report.
  • Hello thankyou for the replies.

    I have got the money to pay the balance.

    Ive just been through the paper work again and the finance i signed for is for a different company. The company that sent me a snotty letter yesterday ive had nothing to do with.

    What im annoyed at is that i bought the matress from dreams and ive had no letters off them explaining the situation. None off this is my fault. I went into the store paid and had the matress delivered if any of it was my fault i wouldnt have got it.

    If i dont want the finace should i offer them a settlement or have i got grounds to take it further. IE i had an agreement with the first finance company and dreams. Dreams havnt let us know any info now the first letter i get is from the new finance company talking about court orders.
  • Valli
    Valli Posts: 25,598 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 14 April 2012 at 12:43PM
    You just said this...
    Bikecrazy wrote: »
    What im annoyed at is that i bought the matress from dreams and ive had no letters off them explaining the situation. None off this is my fault. I went into the store paid and had the matress delivered if any of it was my fault i wouldnt have got it.

    But in your opening post you said this
    Bikecrazy wrote: »
    Febuary this year i got an answer phone message from dreams asking me to visit the store i bought the matress from to discuss my dreams account. When i got home i checked my bank statements and none of the planned payments had gone out.

    I rang dreams and they said something had gone wrong with the finance agreement but couldnt tell me what. Also i havn't recieved anything in writing from dreams explaining the situation.
    So, in February you became aware that there was a problem; you chose NOT to go into the store to ascertain what it was, have apparently made no efforts to start (or restart) the DD and you wonder why they are getting shirty? You are not being conned BUT you chose to ignore the fact that you weren't making the payments. Chances are they have now referred this to a debt collection agency. That'll be the company you are NOW hearing from.
    I suggest you get down to Dreams sharpish. It may, however, be too late. Because it will be court and bailiffs next.

    Although you bought the items from Dreams they will have arranged finance through another company. And the other company (the finance provider) hasn't been getting what they're owed. Dreams won't be THAT bothered because the finance company will have paid them their cut!
    Don't put it DOWN; put it AWAY
    "I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily Dickinson
    :heart:Janice 1964-2016:heart:

    Thank you Honey Bear
  • Ok ive tried to get to the bottom of this again. Ive just rung dreams and they have said what Valli just said. Dreams are saying that they now have nothing to do with it and my credit agreement is with a company called creation with which ive got the details for. The letter i got yesterday was from a company called Paladin finance which dreams havnt heard of.

    I rang creation and they say my account is still pending because they didnt recieve my signed documents from dreams and they have no idea who Paladin finance is.

    So Paladin finance is demanding this money but ive had no agreement with Paladin.

    What now?
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 601.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.6K Life & Family
  • 259.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.