Pipex Homecall rant

LilDevil

Sorry everyone, but here goes:

Back in August I had a letter from them saying despite previous correspondence, you have failed to contact us... blah blah blah, if I didn't contact them within XX days they'd send someone round to collect my outstanding balance (£41ish).

I called them explaining I hadn't received any correspondence from them, or a bill showing I owed them that much. The basic reply was, well we sent it. I refused to pay purely based on a threatening letter and said I would only pay on receipt of my statement.

About a week later, another letter along the same lines, I again called as above.

Anyway, this went on for about a month and I eventually said, enough is enough, I want to cancel my account, please send me a final statement so I could pay - followed this up with a long winded letter of complaint also pointing out my wish to close my account with them.

I had a statement at the beginning of September, but this was just a normal monthly bill for £74ish. I called again asking if this was my final statement and they said no and were not aware of my request to cancel my account. I wrote another letter again stating I wanted a final bill before making any payment.

October comes and my account still isn't closed and I've had a statement for £90ish outstanding. More phone calls and letters ensued, they threatening me with credit collection agencies, court, people coming to my door.

I get a letter from a collection agent (Commercial Credit Services) by which time I'd lost my job. I called an explained all the above, I also sent them copies of all correspondence. Again more faffing about and letters with differing amounts to what Pipex said I owed. I refused to pay anything as I was disputing the amounts.

Another letter from CCS banging on about possible court proceedings, so I called again saying the amount was in dispute and it turns out they hadn't bothered to chase Pipex on the amount.

Anyway, a few more of these letters/phonecalls later and I eventually wrote a letter saying Pipex said I owe this much and this is all I will pay at £5 per month until the amount is settled, any further amounts will have to be sorted out between the 2 companies. Copies of said letters were sent to both companies and trading standards.

Anyway, last week I get another letter from another different credit collection agency (Scotcall or something to that effect) saying Pipex had referred my account to them, I said no, I was paying CCS and I sent copies of everything to them. So far not heard back from them.

Last week, I get a letter from yet another collection agent (TCE or whatever they're called) saying the account was with them, I said no, I was regularly paying CCS and I did not have an account with them and would not be paying - again I sent copies of all correspondence (recorded delivery on 3 April which still hasn't been signed for).

I had a letter again this week saying I had ignored previous correspondence and they would call me to arrange someone to come and talk to me about this either at home or work. Yet another phone call saying I'd sent documents - they gave me til Friday to receive the letters.

I am now worried that these documents have not been delivered and am seriously considering looking into whether I can sue Pipex for harrassment - I'm paying my bill regularly and don't understand why after all this time I'm getting letters again.

The long and short of it - don't touch them with a bargepole, I only went with them coz they had a special offer of £9.99 for six months, as soon as this was up all the trouble started!

LilDevil

Oh dear, didn't realise how long that was, sorry :embarasse