Worried and confused...

LittleBird8

Hello, I'm new here, and some of you might think me a berk, but I am worried about a little 'mess' I've got myself into.

Almost 4 years ago I had a catalogue...(I can hear the groans from here), out of which I had a small order, part of which was for a customer...I made payments until my friend left the area (and I don't have any forwarding address) and then I stopped making payments and wrote to the catalogue, as my 'customer' was responsible (I thought) for the remaining balance on the account. As she had moonlighted, I informed the catalogue...They ignored me! And kept demanding payments from me and added more charges.

Here's the stupid bit: I ignored them. Thinking they would realise eventually that I wasn't going to pay for someone elses order anymore. I foolishly thought they would leave me alone.

It all went quiet for a long time. Then I started getting DCA letters. I again disputed the debt, as the goods received were not for me. I was ignored by them. They threatened me. I ignored them. Again all went 'quiet'.

Now, Scotcall Ltd DCA have sent a man to my house who hammered on the door so loudly (we have a doorbell, he didn't think to press) it scared my son. I didn't open the door, only because I had just stepped out of the shower!, but when I went down to the door shortly after, I found a card from this Scotcall rep informing me he would visit me again... I phoned the number he left. No reply. So rang Scotcall in Glasgow directly...

What an awful experience!...The man I spoke with at first refused to even tell me what the visit was in relation to...I had to keep stating: "What is this alleged debt I owe? And to whom do I apparently owe it too?"...After a bit of a fuss, he eventually told me I owed over £300 to Shop Direct (catalogue's parent company) for boots/goods purchased, and that the debt had been passed on and sold on to them for collection...I did not admit liability at all, in fact, I asked him why Scotcall were assuming it was me who owed the money at all...He would not answer...Just kept repeating that I owed the money.

I also complained to him about the rep hammering on my door in that way and scaring us, and told him (and bear in mind I was cross by this stage, due to him being argumentative with me and not listening to me) "If you send your thug to my home again, I will call the police...I have not made any official appointment to meet with your company. You do not have the right to pursue me about a debt you claim I owe, when I find it incorrect, and have not invited you to my home"...He told me they could do that, and would do that, and said: "Go ahead and call the police"...He finished by telling me this: "If you want us to go away then you will HAVE to deal with us and pay the debt."

I told him I will speak with Shop Direct, but not Scotcall DCA, and that I will not talk with any doorstep collectors. he then informed me I had no choice in the matter now, and that Shop Direct will not deal with me.

I know that I should not have been so stupid as to think that just informing the catalogue of my defaulting customer, and then ignoring them, was all that was needed - but at the time, I did!
The debt was actually less than £100 originally, and wasn't goods for me...I thought the catalogue would 'go away' and I swore I'd never have another catalogue again (and I haven't)...But I am shocked by this DCA's attitude towards me AND the alleged debt owed.

Can I stop Scotcall from pursuing me? Can I deal with Shop Direct myself, even after they have sold this old debt to this horrible Scotcall company? Don't I have any say in anything? Does it really not matter that I just refused to pay my then customer's bill, at the time?... I think it so unfair that I should have to pay such an inflated bill for goods received by someone else. Plus I feel threatened by these people, too.

I'm now on edge whenever the door knocks.

I live on a low income. I don't smoke, drink, etc - I'm not judging anyone who does, by the way, just pointing out that I don't have luxuries I can cut back on - and we struggle to meet the rent each month at the moment, so this is now a worry for me.

I'm so sorry if I come across as petty, or foolish...I know I should never have ignored the earlier threats, but I did, and now I'm having to deal with my own stupidity...I just want some sound advice and guidance from people who may have been in similar straits, or who know what they're talking about. I do want to get it sorted out. But I don't want to be bullied by this DCA.

Thank you for reading my post.

Good health and good wishes to all.
LittleBird8

WantToBeSE

Hi LB8.

First of all, take a deep breath. These situations are very scary, and i can remember having the visit from the bailiffs before i dealt with my debt.

The good news- this is sortable. You CAN and WILL sort this out if you choose to. You have posted on here, and therefore taken the 1st step in the right direction.

I dont have a load of advice, as i am not sure about how to deal with bailiffs/debt collectors. I know that there are many many informative people who can come and help you with that, but i just wanted to come and offer support, and a pat on the back.

McKneff

Did you buy these thing for the customer and just give them to them ordid they have a seperate account with your catalogue.

Did they have this customers name and address and have her listed as a customer.

If there was only one name on the catalogue account, yours, I would think that they would pursue you for the balance. As far as they would know, you bought the goods, so you have to pay for them.

I think the only way to go now is to ask them to sort a payment plan to pay this off.

Boris_Allen

Think of it from their (Shop Direct's) point of view. Customer makes an order, then doesn't pay. When customer is contacted they say "not my problem as I gave the goods to someone else so they owe the money".

Well no, the contract was between Shop Direct and you, so technically speaking you owe them the money for the order, and your friend owes you.

It would be pretty harsh if a lender makes the necessary credit checks on a potential borrower and lends them money, only for the borrower to lend to someone with an appalling credit rating, if the original lender then had to absorb the loss from the inevitable default that arises further down the line.

Are you able to track down this person who has screwed you over so badly?

Better_Off_1983

This is the reason why you should never lend to family or 'friends'

I have catalogues and ex-colleagues wanted me to order goods out of the catalogue for them. I said "pay me in full first and I will order the item for you" they didnt speak to me again.

I think you will have no option but to deal with Scotcall now because the debt has been forwarded to them.

Macca83_2

This is one that definitely needs to be chalked down to experience. Get on the phone, organise a payment plan and get it paid off.

Delree

This is ridiculous, pay them their money and as Macca83 says chalk it down to experience. Next.