Orange / Moorcroft Debt Recovery

scaredofdebt

What is it nowadays with companies and their shoddy customer service skills?

I had a mobile on contract with Orange, the contract ended August 2013 when I went onto a PAYG deal with Orange. I had a direct debit in force for the duration of the contract which I cancelled after speaking to Orange about ending the contract and going onto PAYG, I was told there was no balance to pay.

Unfortunately I didn't record the conversation.

Last month (dated 9th Jan) I received a letter out of the blue from Orange Collections asking me for £58.58 - no explanation of what it was for or any such niceties. This is an odd amount as my contract usually came to around £32 a month.

I replied to Orange's Collections Department asking for some proof of where this alleged debt came from, I am happy to pay it if I actually owe the money. I've had no bills from Orange since ending the contract, no reminders etc, this is around four months after the contract ended.

No reply to my letter to Orange to date, sent on 15th Jan.

I then got another letter from Moorcroft Debt Recovery dated 6th Feb, demanding payment plus another £5 for charges! They MAY commence litigation, send bailiffs, send a man to the moon etc.

This is rather sharp don't you think? As I say, happy to accept I was given duff info about cancelling the DD and if they can simply show me a bill that says I owe them I will pay it, but don't send spurious requests out of the blue with no explanation.

I've ignored Moorcroft and sent a snotty letter to Orange with a "prove the debt" section.

Just venting really, not worried as I know they can't do squat without a court order and they won't get that unless they can prove the debt - in which case I will pay anyway.

happy_bunny_2

Have you checked your credit file for a default?

You need to contact the orange complaints team, in writing.

Chances are they have defaulted your account, or added Late markers, so that may need removing too.

If they reject, you will need to go to the ombudsman.

HB

Powered_By_Pies

Orange are idiots. And not very nice ones, to boot. I used to be on a pay monthly plan which was supposed to be a set rate of £35 a month, but it was always at least £45 of over.

Didn't renew the contract and was told I had nothing to pay, lo and behold a month later got a letter from them stating I owed them about £200, which included a 'cancellation fee'. Did the usual prove-its etc, didn't hear anything back, went to ombudsman, 7 weeks into the 8 week waiting period Orange write back to say they didn't currently have 'substantial evidence' to support their claim - but they were searching their records for it.

Wrote back to ombudsman to say it wasn't a satisfactory answer and they trashed Orange who then 'reluctantly' scrapped charges 'as a gesture of goodwill'.

They're part of EE now, one quick search on Trust pilot shows they're screwing it all up nicely.

scaredofdebt

Sigh.

I wrote to Moorcroft asking them to prove the debt.

Their reply - "Further to your recent correspondence, I write to confirm we require a monthly repayment proposal you can afford and maintain, to enable to assist you further."

What? I can AFFORD TO PAY THE ALLEGED DEBT, I am merely asking for clarification where the debt comes from.

They've now referred this on to someone with a different letterhead, Midas Credit Services (their letter dated a day after Moorcroft's) threatening me with "possible litigation" and asking me to contact Moorcroft about it.

How monotonous.

fermi

You can see why people refer to them as Moroncroft.

scaredofdebt

If I go to the Ombudsman do I need some kind of reference from Orange?

They've not replied to my letter sent 15th Jan.

fermi

http://www.ombudsman-services.org/complain-now-communications.html