Debt Collectors phoning neighbours.

Feux_Verts

I_was_a_fool wrote: »

Just to chuck in my 2 cents worth, if we all stopped being ashamed of ourselves regarding our debts, this would kill a lot of the power of dcas. This doesnt mean we havnt made mistakes, but let's sort them out, not endlessly apologise!

Im doing the best I can, why dont they try & help me to do it!
(& I love my children!)

Well said IWAF - be proud and not ashamed. But the fact is that it is YOUR business and not that of anyone else in your street, the DCA's are morally wrong in even trying to involve people not in any way connected to you or your debt.

I_was_a_fool

Feux_Verts wrote: »

Well said IWAF - be proud and not ashamed. But the fact is that it is YOUR business and not that of anyone else in your street, the DCA's are morally wrong in even trying to involve people not in any way connected to you or your debt.

I agree, especially since some of my neighbours are old & frail.

Quite apart from that, these tactics are despicable! & surely counter productive, they would not encourage me to pay any more to that DCA, quite the opposite!

smashedbooboo

Please FV. Do not rise or even reply to trolls. Lts not have this thread closed down. You know as well as i do we are not here to judge folk. Neither are we here for debt avoidence. We are to deal with whatever has gone on in our lives rightly or wrongly. Dont get drawn in hun. xxx

smashedbooboo

So what colour is it and what sort. Go on you know you want to tell me. You know you want to. Well actually i am curious more than anything.

Tootsie_Roll

Feux_Verts wrote: »

If you know Toostie of old you will find he/she has been banned from several Debt forums. It's a bit like the Banks trying to justify the unlawful charges that we are all claiming back - this is a Debt Collector trying to justify the underhand tactics that his/her "industry" use in order to gain his/her commission, fair play to him/her for trying I suppose.

Actually banned from 2 debt avoidance websites where posters do all they can to avoid paying back their debts - I'm proud to have been the only moral poster on there. Saw a very interesting post on there from one individual who pretends to be a laywer and dishes out lots of advice when he has limited knowledge of the law. In the post he agrees that it would be really good if their were more posters on there from the dca world so they could respond to various points. The reality is that anyone claiming to be from a dca on that webiste gets ridiculued from day 1 and banned in very short order - so much for wanting an open debate ! :rolleyes: Hypocrites all of them.

Anyway back to the point - a reality check is needed here - ask yourself why the dca's are contacting neighbours. They only undertake this sort of exercise when trying to trace absconding debtors. It really makes me laugh to see people try and take the moral high ground on this issue when it is most likely their actions trying to avoid repaying that have caused it.

GingerSte

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think any of the posts has mentioned the huge elephant in the room...

If the DCAs are using harrassing tactics then REPORT THEM! Don't just wind them up on the phone. Record any phone calls (remembering to tell them that you're recording) so you have proof. Yes these sites are good for bringing bad practice but I'm sure even Martin himself (we're not worthy!!!) would agree that they're no substitute for actually reporting them.

Again, sorry if someone else has mentioned this and I've missed it.

newlywed

Tootsie_Roll wrote: »

Anyway back to the point - a reality check is needed here - ask yourself why the dca's are contacting neighbours. They only undertake this sort of exercise when trying to trace absconding debtors. It really makes me laugh to see people try and take the moral high ground on this issue when it is most likely their actions trying to avoid repaying that have caused it.

So are you saying that DCA's will only use this tactic if the person has not contacted them at all, is not on a DMP and hasn't made any attempt to make an affordable payment?

Or do they do it when the debtor's payment offer is the most they can afford but the DCA is asking for more?

Kevicho

GingerSte wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think any of the posts has mentioned the huge elephant in the room...

If the DCAs are using harrassing tactics then REPORT THEM! Don't just wind them up on the phone. Record any phone calls (remembering to tell them that you're recording) so you have proof. Yes these sites are good for bringing bad practice but I'm sure even Martin himself (we're not worthy!!!) would agree that they're no substitute for actually reporting them.

Again, sorry if someone else has mentioned this and I've missed it.

All great points, but the point is getting this information out there.

Not everyone would think to do this, and people may not have the knowledge they need to use these tactics

Tootsie_Roll

newlywed wrote: »

So are you saying that DCA's will only use this tactic if the person has not contacted them at all, is not on a DMP and hasn't made any attempt to make an affordable payment?

Or do they do it when the debtor's payment offer is the most they can afford but the DCA is asking for more?

In the main it will be to locate absconding debtors. I can see it being used where they are trying to contact someone who is not responding as well - this could be to review a payment plan.

GingerSte

Kevicho wrote: »

All great points, but the point is getting this information out there.

Not everyone would think to do this, and people may not have the knowledge they need to use these tactics

Which is why I've mentioned it. By all means people post your experiences up here. But please make sure you report them (hopefully someone will now follow me with advice of who to report them to...). If 100 complaints are made about a DCA then with a bit of luck the authorities might cotton on to the fact that these jokers are acting unscrupulously.

I would also mention that it may be a good idea to report this to your MP. Again if enough people do this something might get done.