I wish I could stop the telephone calls!

babyrosie101

So I wrote to all my creditors 2 1/2 weeks ago, explaining I was no longer employed, not able to meet my financial commitments and seeking help from the National Debtline. I asked (politely!) if they would refrain from contacting me by phone and instead write to me.
Since then I have sent them another letter to tell them that National debtline are completing a dro application for me but that it's taking approx 8 weeks to complete, and again asking them to please contact me by post. I also enclosed a token payment as a gesture of goodwill as advised. Most of my creditors do SEEM (!) to have stopped phoning - BUT Lloyds TSB are driving me up the wall - they contact me several times a day between 7.30am and 8.30pm, every day, requesting that I make an immediate payment of several hundred pounds. It doesnt matter how many times you say the same thing they still call. They now say that they will instruct solicitors to my case - what is the point ?!! I'm declaring myself insolvent for gods sake. Will have gone completely insane by the time 8 weeks is up! So if anyone from Lloyds TSB is cruising this board - Please leave me the hell (in replace of stronger word ) alone!!

McKneff

Get an answerphone and ignore it.

Freshstart2012

Buy a Truecall unit, it will be the best £80/90 you will ever spend.

cheesedoffwithdebt

HI- its too early for the calls to stop-sorry. When I did a debt management plan prior to deciding on an IVA I felt very much the same- I'd done the "right" thing, I had written to all my creditors, told them my situation, sent token payments, and it continued. Lloyds will not instruct solicitors its way too early at their end as well- what I do know now, is that all of these companies pay very aggressive people whose earnings depend on their success on getting payments by calling and harrassing people. The advice above is absolutely the best for now- trust us all, we have been there- no company will instruct solicitors which they have to pay for, for several months. You have started the DRO process and in a few months time this really will all be over- but in the short term yes, answerphone, or truecall, for your peace of mind. It's the hardest time and I do feel for you so close to Christmas- but seriously- they are bluffing- you're just getting the first line they use at the moment which is their debt chasing centre- by the time they are ready to yank it up a notch you will have your DRO if all goes to plan. Keep posting if you are worried thats what I did and it really helped when I got replies.

National_Debtline

Hello there. Glad to See that you have started the DRO process. Sorry, though, to see that Lloyds are putting pressure on you. In the interim you are able to write a letter to Lloyds stating that you no longer give your permission to for them to use the telephone to contact you - and that they can ONLY communicate in writing. They are under an obligation to adhere to that request and hopefully will do so quickly for you.

We've a fact sheet on harassment which you may find useful, here it is:

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=03_harassment

If there are any further developments do let us know, either via this forum or by giving us a ring!

Best wishes,

David @ NDL.

jamie00353

I can sympathise, I was in your position 6 months ago.

I contacted the CCSA who helped me find a way out. They gave me a reference number which I was told I could pass onto my creditors.

When I told my creditors this, and they took this number, EVERY creditor froze my account immediately for a month. I was never called after. All my creditors were quite good about it.

If you tell your creditors you are getting help - and give them a reference - they will hold your account.

All creditors want is to know you are dealing with your debt. Dodging calls is NOT the answer! It just makes your creditors call more. My creditors even sent someone to my house

Get yourself a bit of breathing space

Good luck!

cheesedoffwithdebt

jamie00353 wrote: »

I can sympathise, I was in your position 6 months ago.

I contacted the CCSA who helped me find a way out. They gave me a reference number which I was told I could pass onto my creditors.

When I told my creditors this, and they took this number, EVERY creditor froze my account immediately for a month. I was never called after. All my creditors were quite good about it.

If you tell your creditors you are getting help - and give them a reference - they will hold your account.

All creditors want is to know you are dealing with your debt. Dodging calls is NOT the answer! It just makes your creditors call more. My creditors even sent someone to my house

Get yourself a bit of breathing space

Good luck!

I disagree- sorry- this person has done the right thing- creditors when calling don't actually take much notice of what someone says on the phone they just want money. Given that the right thing has been done- it won't be long before the DRO is through -if you try and speak to people who phone they will exert more and more pressure to make payments- so whilst in a normal situation its best to write and speak to people, in this situation the advice from Debtline as above to write and ask for all communications on the phone to stop is actually the best. It's not ignoring the callers- it's just if they have been told once then subsequent calls might be classed as harrassment.

jamie00353

I wrote to my creditors requesting a stop on calls - not one of them listened.

When I called (after I plucked up the courage!) they put a hold on the account and all calls stopped.