What was your experience with debt collectors?

freshstart11

I was talking to someone at work today and was wondering if I have been very lucky which the agents I speak to there. I email them all so everything is kept incase of problems. They are always friendly, happy to answer my questions etc. Told them all to not contact me any other way and they dont.

even when I had to tell them all I wouldnt pay £50 a month but would pay £5 they were great. I was very upfront, offering I&E etc and now getting emails (friendly) from them.

I am on a self managed DMP, I dont know if this has any reflection on it?

Dont judge for the number, but I have dealt with motormile, wescot, Gothia, Lowell, CARS, Clarity, Carter Forbes, Cap Quest and Mac Hall.

and yes all are debt i owe, not statute barred etc i am honestly just interested in others experience xxx

1step-at-a-time

I also has a self-arranged DMP prior to my bankruptcy and they were on the whole very easy to deal with. I also insisted on keeping everything in writing and most of them did this with Lowell, Capquest, Shoosmiths and Link Financial just checking on I&E every 12 months. Triton however were a nightmare! Ignored letters, phoned 12 times a day on one occasion, demanded a far higher percentage of income than other DCAs (which they never got) and generally made the DMP rather unpleasant.

freshstart11

I dont know if part of it can be peoples attitudes towards them or just that they are idiots the onces who argue and harass.

FireWyrm

Some can be quite nasty but others who you would think would be, arnt.

For instance, I dont actually owe any money being collected by debt collectors, but I had an unwelcome late night knock at the door once by DC's who were looking for a previous tenant at my address. They were, from the start, quite intimidating, argumentative and frankly quite obnoxious even when told that I wasnt the 'person' they were looking for. They accused me of lying, threatened to come back with the police and one even put his foot in the door to stop it being closed. I sweetly pointed out that the phone was right behind me and if they didnt remove themselves, I could dial 999 if they preferred. They went away, but it left me shaken even though I wasnt even the debtor.

In contrast, my family owed a substantial amount to the Inland Revenue. We went along to a meeting with an inspector who couldnt have been nicer or more helpful. He essentially 'wrote' off the debt, ceased collection activities and accepted 10% of the outstanding balance as full and final settlement.

freshstart11

Its bizarre how different they can be all doing the same job!

eyeopener2

I haven't come a cross a nice "agent" yet. They are all scumbags as far as i'm concerned.

Bullies and liars.

You try to speak to them as human beings, they lie. If you show them you are worried or soft, they bully you.

How many people on here have been made to cry by a DCA? Lots and lots.

We have had years of this and its only now, that we know how to deal with them (and the fact they have little power - and they know we know it) that they are beginning to act reasonably, or so it would seem from the above post.

Having said that I did have a pleasant exchange with Mc Hall a few months ago.
E2

Lensman_2

In my direct experience they can get greedy.

DLC caught me out when I was ill and managed to get me to agree an increase of £42 a month that I could not afford.

As a direct result of their greed and unfairness, I educated myself.

They are now getting £1 a month.

Lesson number 1. NEVER speak to a DCA on the phone.
Lesson number 2. DCAs that have so far been entirely reasonable will possibly get greedy. Don't take the "Gentleman's Agreement" for granted - there is no such thing with DCAs.

harveybobbles

freshstart11 wrote: »

even when I had to tell them all I wouldnt pay £50 a month but would pay £5 they were great.

They were probably great as they bought your debt for pennies, so even then £5 payment you make it lining their pockets.

DCA's usually pay a penny per pound when they buy debts.

shedhead55

My experience when dealing with them on behalf of my partner is that they are all absolute scum, and that includes some of those mentioned by OP.

I learnt very early on to never contact them by phone, to never trust them and to never give away any information beyond that necessary to make the point, and that is the advice I give to others.

freshstart11

harveybobbles wrote: »

They were probably great as they bought your debt for pennies, so even then £5 payment you make it lining their pockets.

DCA's usually pay a penny per pound when they buy debts.

I understand that, but that doesn't bother me. I owe the money!

VitaK

Our creditors have all been reasonable. There have been a few messages left on the phone over the years but thats about it.

We had a nice call from a creditor earlier this year informing us that we only had 3 payments lefts, to avoid any confussion.