Westminster Solicitors

littlebiscuit

Hello

I just got a letter from Westminsters Solicitors saying that I have 14 days to contact them or they have been instructed to take out a County Court Judgement on me.

I tried contacting them, and the person I spoke to wasn't helpful at all. He just kept insisting I make a payment. Right now I have NO money in the bank at all. I told him this, and said that I'm currently in the process or making a payment plan with Step Change, and tried to give him my reference number for them, but he just kept going on about payment. In the end my anxiety got too much and I had to hang up because he started telling me off for my tone (My anxiety can sometimes present as aggression, even though it's actually panic and not me being angry)

They're contacting me for Orange, which means that NCO have passed my account on, I think. I did try to contact NCO to tell them that I'm making a payment plan with Step Change and leave my reference but I could never get through, so could only leave it on an answer phone. Of course there's no record of that call, and therefore in their eyes I didn't make it.

I am hoping to get a DRO with the help of Step Change, will this CCJ (If it happens) affect that?

michael1983l

There is little more that you can do other than what you have already tried.

Have you had a "Letter Before Action" yet?

If not you have a little more time to get it all set up. Otherwise, if the CCJ comes through, it is not too much to worry about, you get to respond and you can mention that you are in financial difficulties and are organising through Step Change to manage your debts. The worst they can do is get a CCJ (which won't make any difference to your credit file if you get a DRO or debt management) and then you can only pay what you can afford, which to be honest will be no different to the current situation aside from you will be paying a seperate payment.

It is not too much to worry about, just keep communicating and be honest with them.

happy_bunny_2

I would write to them, complaining how unhelpful they gave been when you called, not caring you are in financial difficulty etc.

Send signed for if you can.

If they take you to court, you will be able to tell the judge you tried to talk to them but they were not interested in helping you. Won't look good on them.

ValHaller

michael1983l wrote: »

There is little more that you can do other than what you have already tried.

Have you had a "Letter Before Action" yet?

If not you have a little more time to get it all set up. Otherwise, if the CCJ comes through, it is not too much to worry about, you get to respond and you can mention that you are in financial difficulties and are organising through Step Change to manage your debts. The worst they can do is get a CCJ (which won't make any difference to your credit file if you get a DRO or debt management) and then you can only pay what you can afford, which to be honest will be no different to the current situation aside from you will be paying a seperate payment.

It is not too much to worry about, just keep communicating and be honest with them.

Letter which caused OP to post here is effectively LBA

michael1983l

ValHaller wrote: »

Letter which caused OP to post here is effectively LBA

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I thought a "Letter Before Action" was only that if it had it clearly stated on the letter in the Reference section, bold and underlined. Anything else cannot be considered as a letter before action?

harveybobbles

littlebiscuit wrote: »

I just got a letter from Westminsters Solicitors saying that I have 14 days to contact them or they have been instructed to take out a County Court Judgement on me.

The clue here is the word in bold.

Instructed, may, might, could, concider - thes are all words that these scumbag DCA's (and Solicitors for rent) use to scare people.

Does it actually say that they WILL go to court? Probably not.