Advantis won't accept repayment offer of £10 per week

michelle_stt

Hi everyone.

We had a bill from United utilities from charges from our old house.
We were paying direct to them but when my husband was made redundant at the end of September they wouldn't help us out with a lower payment plan and advised us that it would be passed onto a debt collection agency.

They passed the debt on to Advantis.
We owe £286. We have offered £10 per week.
After we have budgeted for bills (we cancelled everything non essential we can live without) £10 is the most we can afford and even that is pushing it.

We have received a letter today (only dealt with them in writing even though they keep pestering us to ring) they have declined our payment offer of £10 per week and want £47 a month to have the debt paid off in 6 months.

I know it's only £7 extra but on top of everything else we are paying out we just can't do it.

Any advice on what to do?
Thank you.

thewhiteavenger

Pay it anyway at £10 per week.

Gone in 29 weeks.

It's equivalent to £43.33 per month which is pretty much what the muppets were asking for anyway.

happy_bunny_2

Yeah, pay it anyway.

If you want to annoy them, send them a formal complaint about trying to make you pay more than you can reasonable afford. In writing.

This means they will have to respond and if they fob you off, you can refer to Ombudsman which comes with a hefty fee for them.

They should see sense and just take your money, its not like you are paying it off at £1 per month, muppets.

Are you sure you can actually afford the £10 per week? If things are so tight, might be worth paying less than that.

harveybobbles

Ask them to put their refusal in black and white.

ValHaller

£10/week is £43.25/month. Just pay the £10/week and drop them a line apologising for your inability to meet £47/month. And just let the thing roll on. By the tiem any argument is concluded, you will have paid it off anyway.

dancingfairy

Its not like you are refusing to pay and no doubt you want shot of this debt as soon as possible as well.
Just pay them what you can and ignore them , they are hardly going to refuse money are they? Let them waste their money taking you to court if they feel like it.
df

michelle_stt

I made a payment via their online system at weekend (£10) kept all reference numbers and keeping a log of the dates I make payments.

I wrote them another letter at and posted it this morning stating we can only afford the £10 per week and have started paying it.

We received the decline letter on the 9th.
After I got back from the post office I had another letter off them.

A red one stating that we must make the payment in full or
a debt collector may be instructed to visit the property.
Or
They may instruct solicitors to commence legal action!

I've offered a payment plan, made a payment. It's them who have declined.

Should I just wait for them to receive my letter and continue with the payments?

ValHaller

michelle_stt wrote: »

I've offered a payment plan, made a payment. It's them who have declined.

Should I just wait for them to receive my letter and continue with the payments?

Just carry on paying the £10/week. If nothing else, it makes you a moving target.

Sending a debt collector is a waste of their time, but if they want to send one, then let them. You don't have to speak to him

Sharon87

They will not take any legal action as it costs a lot of money and for such a little amount it's not worth it. Even if it does go to court they wont enforce it more as you've shown you're paying what you can afford.

Just continue to pay what you can afford, don't let any debt collectors in the house and prepare to be firm with them.

harveybobbles

Thier pathetic, empty threats are comical.

They won't go near a court.

I'd write back and say:

"As you declined my offer of £10 per week, I decided to use this money to repay other debts and have now agreed a payment plan. As a result, I must now reduce my offer to £10 per month until further notice.

Love and Hugs"

Oh, and what comes out of your neighbours cats backside has more right to be on your door step than some pathetic two bit DCA.