Cheque Centre contacting friends?

anywayout

Hi

I have recently started a dmp with stepchange and most of the creditors are pay day loans (my own fault) I sent a letter to them all 2 months ago explaing about dmp and with a token payment.

I didn't have a ref number for cheque centre so emailed them 3 times asking for this and explaining about dmp - I finally got one and advised step change who have contacted them. I got a call from the legal department telling me there was a case against me - explained again about dmp he said nothing had been received so I called stepchange and they are resending stuff. I have today got a text message saying that they are contacting my friends who's details I had to give over last year in order to get another loan (I was desperate!) I only gave names and phone numbers - what do I do? Im mortified! I have emailed them again saying about dmp and to stop harassing me quoting dpa and the financial ombudsman but I think they will ignore it. It was all going so well and now im back to a nervous wreck again :-(

Tixy

On what basis did you give cheque centre your friend's details?
Presumably none ever agreed to act as a guarantor for you?
And presumably you don't mean you took out loans in others names?

I would follow up your email with a letter in the post quoting the OFT debt collection guidelines and the DPA. You might want to quote 3.7 q and p that they have breached and are threatening to breach. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3558031

I'd also include the text from the telephone harrasment letter to state that all future communication must be in writing. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4078283

heartbreak_star

They ask for the names and numbers of two people who you don't live with as a means of getting in contact with you if they can't contact you personally.

I believe they refer to the people involved as "References".

HBS x

anywayout

They said they wanted them for 'contacts' dont get me wrong my friends wont judge or say anything but im soo embarrassed I have got myself into this situation :-( I will try your advice thanks for replying x

sourcrates

Hi, I am experiencing problems similar to yours, if they do contact your friends and discuss your account with them, or if they contact your employer, as happened to me, ring the financial ombudsman service and make a formal complaint against them, its very simple, just a free phone call, numbers on there website, they will "reel them in for you" so to speak.

michael1983l

sourcrates wrote: »

Hi, I am experiencing problems similar to yours, if they do contact your friends and discuss your account with them, or if they contact your employer, as happened to me, ring the financial ombudsman service and make a formal complaint against them, its very simple, just a free phone call, numbers on there website, they will "reel them in for you" so to speak.

Remember to follow their official complaints procedure first and you can only make a complaint if your complaint isn't resolved within a certain time by them, I think they have 7 weeks ????? once you do make the complaint, they will be charged £500 for the priviledge.

happy_bunny_2

michael1983l wrote: »

Remember to follow their official complaints procedure first and you can only make a complaint if your complaint isn't resolved within a certain time by them, I think they have 7 weeks ????? once you do make the complaint, they will be charged £500 for the priviledge.

8 weeks. But in cases like this, 8 weeks is too long and they can help sooner by shouting down the phone at the muppets.

In fact, after 2 weeks they can help as you are supposed to receive confirmation of complaints in a timely fashion. 2weeks is plenty for that.

Give them a call, you lose nothing.