Geoffrey Parker Bourne solicitors demanding more

candystripes

Hope someone can advise
I am in a repayment plan with GPB and I am currently paying £15 a month for a debt with Next, My balance is currently £127.21, just phoned this morning with this months payment and due to financial difficulties the payment was a week overdue.

The man i spoke to told me that as payment is late it is now going to court and the only way to stop this is to up payments to £18, i simply cannot afford this,. My payments started at £10 and over the months they have increased it to the £15 it is now

I am not trying to get out of paying, but just cant pay the increase they are demanding and told them how can i be expected to pay more when i am struggling to pay the £15

They took my payment but said it is still in default and will be taken to court and a letter was sent on 16th which as yet i have not received.
I have always paid every month and am now really worried about this court action as the balance will then increase to over £200 with court fees
I asked to speak to some one else but was told to ring after 12

I would appreciate any help/advise as to what to say, as i said i want to pay but need them to accept the £15
Thanks

tallyhoh

highly doubtful they will take you to court. I am pretty sure it is illegal to make such statements but someone will be along soon who knows for certain.

Neighboursfan

Surely they can't do that ? Sorry I'm not more in the know

bargainbetty

Firstly, stop talking to them on the phone. They are going to bully you into agreeing to what you cannot afford.... upping it from £10 to £15 is a perfect example.

Write to them. State that you will not deal with them by phone any more, and that they are only allowed to contact you in writing (letter or email, not by text). Advise them that increasing your repayment plan would be unsustainable, and that you will make no further increases in your repayment terms unless ordered to do so by a court. Advise them that the £15 repayments will continue from next month, and there is no possibility of increasing it because you do not have the funds to do so.

Explain that if court action is taken, you will present evidence to the judge that you are unable to pay more than the agreed sum, and have made every effort to do so in a timely manner. You will request that the court agree the repayment plan continue without additional charges that would adversely affect your ability to pay, particularly since the creditor was fully aware that no more money could be obtained.

(That last bit is basically warning them that the court fees might end up on their shoulders, not yours)

Then send them the next payment, stop taking calls, stop calling them. Writing only. If they write and ask for more, write back and say no. You can do this.

Send the letter by the 'signed for' (cheapest version service) and print your name rather than sign it.

Good luck

vax2002

What year does this debt stem from ?

candystripes

Thanks for the help and advise. The debt is 2/3 years old and i have been paying regularly for over a year maybe 2, quite a lot of it is charges and fees, my own fault i know
I was unable to ring them back as i was called into work
I will write to them and post tomorrow, I have paid this months payment and the next one is due on the 10th of June
I normally have to ring them to make payment as there is no option for maestro payment on their website, even though there is a maestro option on the drop down list when it clicks through it only shows visa or mastercard so i still have to ring them to make the payment. When i queried this i was told rather rudely that if i have a problem on their website then to write and made to feel as if i was lying lol

lindann_2

l would send them a postal order, as you will get a record of the postal order, l know its extra payment postage fees, if you can send it about week before its due day if its possible.. then do the same every month, until paid.. that if you are able too do so.. or ask them for a payment book.. just advice, good luck

sistafromanothermista

candystripes wrote: »

Thanks for the help and advise. The debt is 2/3 years old and i have been paying regularly for over a year maybe 2, quite a lot of it is charges and fees, my own fault i know
I was unable to ring them back as i was called into work
I will write to them and post tomorrow, I have paid this months payment and the next one is due on the 10th of June
I normally have to ring them to make payment as there is no option for maestro payment on their website, even though there is a maestro option on the drop down list when it clicks through it only shows visa or mastercard so i still have to ring them to make the payment. When i queried this i was told rather rudely that if i have a problem on their website then to write and made to feel as if i was lying lol

Can you not set up a direct debit so you don't miss the payment again? I did this a they'd email me, i'd flick through my mail and forget about it

DS4215

sistafromanothermista wrote: »

Can you not set up a direct debit so you don't miss the payment again? I did this a they'd email me, i'd flick through my mail and forget about it

Don't set up a direct debit as they can then increase the amount - a standing order is better as you are in control of it. They should allow you to do this and then it is all automated and you will not need to speak to them.