BPO Collections - repayment plan not adhered to

aquarama

I set up a repayment plan with BPO Collections a few months ago to repay a Glasgow Council Tax debt. However, on the third payment they took around £37 more than had been agreed, leading to me going past my overdraft limit and being charged by my bank. When I had asked them a few months ago for a written confirmation of the repayment plan, they said they were unable to do this.

Today I get a text message saying next payment is due tomorrow, a full day before the agreed date (I am paid on the 15th of each month) so the money will not be in my account to pay them, but they have my debit card details on file in order to take recurring payments.

I gather the Financial Services Ombudsman cannot handle complaints relating to Council Tax debt colleciton agencies - just wondering if anyone has any advice they can share.

NB: I have not contacted BPO as yet about the aforementioned overpayment and the apparent non-adherence to the amount or date agreed, but I plan to do so later today - just thought I would see if anyone has had similar experiences.

Cheers
Andy

Time_to_face_the_music

Is your payment by direct debit? If so, cancel the direct debit and set up a standing order.

aquarama

No, it's a recurring Visa payment taken from my debit card.

shedhead55

As the payments are through a card then "lose" the card and get a replacement which will have a different number, then set up a standing order for the payments.

Also, it's always best to deal only in writing with DCA's. keep copies of everything, and report any problems to the regulators. As you have found out, they really cannot be trusted.

aquarama

I'm tempted to do just that if my phone call later is not dealt with satisfactorily. Although if I was to set up a standing order, I'd still need their bank details, which I would need to request from them.

Incidentally, BPO seem incapable of doing anything in writing other than sending out threatening letters - surely there ought to be someting in their code of practice which says they should provide written confirmation of repayment plans when requested to do so?

shedhead55

They will probably demand that you give card details or set up a direct debit, however you should state firmly in writing that SO is the only way you will pay. They can hardly take further action after you've offered to pay by a perfectly valid method.

This link to the OFT gives useful information on acceptable debt collection practices.
http://www.oft.gov.uk/about-the-oft/legal-powers/legal/cca/debt-collection

shedhead55

"I'm tempted to do just that if my phone call later is not dealt with satisfactorily". I wouldn't ring them, deal only in writing and then you have a record as evidence if needed. These scum are not like normal reputable businesses, they are likely to make all manner of false statements on the phone and then deny the call ever happened if pushed.

happy_bunny_2

Talk to your bank. They should let you cancel a continuous payment authority. Tell them it has been abused