dlc - repeated phonecalls

jacquelinehardie

Hi, quick query. I missed two payments on my Egg card when I got paid off last year. I contacted them and explained what happened but they didn't offer any alternatives, simply passed the debt (balance £1700) to 'DLC' who I believe are a debt collection agency.

I immediately submitted a breakdown of my finances to DLC who accepted an offer of £25/month. That was around August last year. I've since moved house and wrote to DLC with my new address but they've never sent any correspondence, statements etc. to my new address - however for the past 3 weeks they've repeatedly called my home number during the day leaving messages asking me to call them urgently.

I assume they're after more money which I can't afford and I don't see why I should call them, at my expense, but I also don't want to end up in court. Can they take me to court even though I'm paying every month or are they just trying to lay it heavy to get more money out of me?

I wanted to know where I stood before I bite the bullet and phone them back, which I am loathe to do.

Any comments welcome!! Cheers.

Snaggles

I would write to them again confirming your new address - it's probably cheaper than ringing them - you could tell them you only want to communicate in writing too, which should stop them harrassing you by phone.

jacquelinehardie

Snaggles wrote:

I would write to them again confirming your new address - it's probably cheaper than ringing them - you could tell them you only want to communicate in writing too, which should stop them harrassing you by phone.

Can they still take me to court though if I don't give them what they think is an adequate amount each month?

thanks

interpol

Hi there, i'm in a similar situation with DLC, they have actually stopped sending me the statements to pay as they wanted more than the £30 a month i was paying! I'm a 3rd yr student and am finding it really hard to live on the little money i do have. I have sent them a SOA and they never replied, but they continually phone while i'm out, and on the occasions i have talked to them, they are very unhelpful. I don't know what to do now either. Sorry not to be of much help, but i thought i'd let you know that many of us are in the same pickle! Good luck with things.

P.S. Does anybody know anything about final settlements and what percentage of the debt the Collections Agency will settle for? A relative has offered to help me with a small contribution to partially pay off my debt, i'm just wondering will they accept 50% payment or is that too little?

Thanks for taking the time to read and help.

pigpen

interpol wrote: »

P.S. Does anybody know anything about final settlements and what percentage of the debt the Collections Agency will settle for? A relative has offered to help me with a small contribution to partially pay off my debt, i'm just wondering will they accept 50% payment or is that too little?

Thanks for taking the time to read and help.

Can't hurt to ask!!

We had a house repossessed in 1999 and the negative equity the bank wanted from us from the sale of the property was £14k.. we ended up paying £4000 .. so half is definitely a good amount. I would start by offering 1/3rd.. if they refuse this say you are willing to offer half in full and final settlement given your current financial status ie non-working. After the first offer they usually come back with an amount they will accept.
Good luck.

OP.. so long as you are paying £5 a month or more (it may even be £3.50 IIRC) there is nothing they can do!!! If it goes to court they have to prove you can afford more.. and it is really easy to prove you can't!! I would threaten to start harrassment proceedings against them.. that often works!

interpol

Thanks Pigpen thats very helpful! I'm beginning to worry too much about all of this, so if i can move some of the way to sorting it out i can fully concentrate on my last few weeks at uni. Thanks again.:)

Interpol

Bakeybadoo

Just wanted to answer and say that I'm dealing with DLC for Egg and have spoken to right so and so's from there but am lucky enough that I'm now dealing with one lady who is negotiating a full and final settlement figure with me.

My thread, if interested: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=397647

fatbelly

As part of some court correspondence on a bank charges reclaim, it was revealed by a lender that they sold the debt to Hillesden (DLC) for 31% of its value.

I don't know how typical that is but suggest that could be a starting point for 'full and final' deals.

interpol

Thanks Fatbelly, I've received a postcard from Hillesden last week, i had no idea what it was about, they want me to arrange to talk to one of their people. So i think DLC must have passed on my debt to them. I'm not a good negotiator, but if i could get a full and final deal with them, i'll be able to give them 35% of the debt, any more and i'm in trouble. Thanks for that, now i know why i'm dealing with Hillesden!

Interpol:)

interpol

Thanks for the info Bakeybadoo,

But it looks like my debt has been passed to Hillesden! You seem to know quite a lot about the wheelings and dealings of the DCA's and yes, i had a hard time on the phone with DLC too! Do you think i should wait for DCA to contact me, or should i write to them to try to iron out a full and final deal? I really don't know what to do at the moment, and i'm dreading the knock at the door!

Interpol:)

Bakeybadoo

Well if I were you, I'd write to them. Keep everything in writing.

You can get a template letter here, full and final settlement for any debt:

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/debt_advice.php#6

Start off by offering 35% and then they will negotiate. Don't let them push you into more than you want to pay. As my OP showed, they are currently offering me a great deal (if it happens, I won't hold my breath until I get it in writing!) and so it's worth being open and working with them.