FPC Debt collection AKA Fredricksons

chanz4

Im dealing with a relations account at the moment, to whom defaulted a vodafone account. Fair enough he is paying it back, however FPC Debt collection AKA Fredricksons when setting up direct debits take 15% off everypayment. If you look at vodafones contracts this is not detailed within their terms and conditions and so is not allowed.

However FPC Debt collection AKA Fredricksons do not tell debtors they are taking it, my advice refuse to deal with them and tell Vodafone that you will only deal with them unless they can prove they no longer own the debt.

chanz4

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grumbler

chanz4 wrote: »

If you look at vodafones contracts this is not detailed within their terms and conditions and so is not allowed.

What does it have to say?

It says that you have to pay. By not paying you break the contract. If, after defaulting, you want to pay them directly, set a payment plan with them and stick to it. Otherwise they are free to sell your debt to any company that has rights to add extra charges.

chanz4

Vodafone dont have the clause in their contracts about when a 3rd party is acting on their behalf, that the 3rd party can add admin fees for direct debit.

grumbler

chanz4 wrote: »

Vodafone dont have the clause in their contracts about when a 3rd party is acting on their behalf, that the 3rd party can add admin fees for direct debit.

How do you know that they are acting on their behalf?
Even if so, they say in the T&C that they "may also charge you reasonable administration costs as a result of you paying your bill late or failing to pay it." Also, they "may transfer this agreement to anyone at any time."

And regardless, after the contract was broken by you, they can terminate it and sell the debt to anyone: "We may end this agreement ... if... you do not do something fundamental that you have to do under this agreement (for example, pay the charges when they are due)".

Then they can sell your debt to anyone.

chanz4

Even if they sold the debt on, the origional contract states there is no charge for dd. And the contract wasnt broken by me as its not myn read the post!

They can sell the debts on, never said they couldnt but when a company is acting onbehalf of the same rules apply.

grumbler

I know it was not you. In what I said 'you' was a generalisation.
You have not answered how you know that they are acting 'on behalf' but keep saying that it is the case.
And if the contract was broken and the debt sold, the old contract doesn't apply any more and the new company isn't formally acting on behalf of the old one.

chanz4

Vodafone have confirmed that they are getting payments back, and that the agency are just taking fees

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

Tell the agency that under your own terms of payment you charge 20% of the total for paying any bill and take it off the amount paid to them.

BT charge extra to pay by cheque so I send them 10 cheques in the mail per payment to make sure I get good value out of their non direct debit "processing" fee.

chanz4

Think voda need to get a grip of their underhand tactics people acting on their behalf use.

chanz4

I am sorry we have been unable to reach a resolution to this matter. Regrettably we have now exhausted our internal complaint review process and this letter constitutes Vodafone’s final position.

Further to our communication I would like to confirm that we have investigated your account I can see that you account was cancelled for non payment on 10/07/11, by investigating your account I can see that on 17/08/11 you agreed with our collections team you would call back by 28/08/11 to make arrangement to pay the account, as we did not receive any contact from you until 05/09/11 your account completed the collection process and went to agency on 30/08/11. We have spoken with our agency liaison team and they have confirmed that the agency will add there own fees to payments made to them in regards to the debt balance. This is usually around 15%, you would need to speak to the agency about these fees if you are not happy. The fees should have been explained to you when you set up the payment agreement. We will not be able to bring the balance back to Vodafone, as your account was referred to a debt collection agency you need to have a payment arrangement with them.

If you wish to pursue your complaint, you can refer to the Ombudsman Services: Communications, who may decide to review your case on an independent basis, if the decision is made that your case falls within their terms of reference.

Ombudsman Services can be contacted as follows:
Ombudsman Services: Communications
PO Box 730
Warrington
WA4 6WU

Telephone: 0330 440 1614 or 01925 430049 Website: https://www.ombudsman-services.org/communications.html

Yours sincerely

Customer Relations Specialist