We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
Buchanan Clark and Wells / UMS HELP :-(
ginger.ninja
Posts: 3 Newbie
Hi guys, sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place but I really could do with some advice. Sorry in advance for the length of this.
I've received several letters to my home address whilst at uni from Buchanan Clark and Wells, so I've only recently managed to open them. The final one (dated some time in January) states that I will be receiving a property visit from UMS regarding the debt they have been trying to collect. I have no idea how they have this address as its my mothers, and I have only been staying here on a temporary basis between work. Now that would all be fine and well, if I thought I actually had a debt.
Basically, while at university I took out a phone contract with Orange in about 2010, ending in 2012. Yes, I did miss some bills and I did get into quite a bit of trouble, but managed to pay it all off. On the date my contract ended, I was paid up to date and phoned to cancel my account. Whilst on the phone, I confirmed that my bill was paid up to date and that only one more bill would come out before the end of the contract. Success! Or so I thought... fast forward four months later and I had a bill from Orange, stating that I owed them £60 (keep in mind this was 2012). I phoned to argue this, but (I'm sorry if this sounds offensive, I really don't mean it to be!) due to my Northern Irish accent and a foreign call center, we could barely understand one another. An hour later it was confirmed that I didnt owe them anything, I received an apology and was told the system would be updated. I didnt hear from anyone for a whole year and didnt think anything was amiss, and so the bills and bank statements were thrown out.
fast forward to now, and I have BCW telling me I owe Orange £166.41. A LOT more than the bill that was mistakenly sent to me the first time. I would phone them, but after hearing BCW horror stories I've been advised not to. I would phone Orange, but after trying to understand the foreign accent on the end of the line (and vice versa) I would get nowhere. I have tried to log on to my old orange account, but have found it closed. Surely they wouldn't have closed it if I did indeed owe them money?
I apologise for any spelling mistakes, I'm currently without a laptop and trying to type on a very small screen. Any bit of advice (or even letter templates!) would be greatly appreciated!
TL;DR: BCW telling me I owe money I'm fairly certain I dont, have said they will be visiting my property, should I be worried?
I've received several letters to my home address whilst at uni from Buchanan Clark and Wells, so I've only recently managed to open them. The final one (dated some time in January) states that I will be receiving a property visit from UMS regarding the debt they have been trying to collect. I have no idea how they have this address as its my mothers, and I have only been staying here on a temporary basis between work. Now that would all be fine and well, if I thought I actually had a debt.
Basically, while at university I took out a phone contract with Orange in about 2010, ending in 2012. Yes, I did miss some bills and I did get into quite a bit of trouble, but managed to pay it all off. On the date my contract ended, I was paid up to date and phoned to cancel my account. Whilst on the phone, I confirmed that my bill was paid up to date and that only one more bill would come out before the end of the contract. Success! Or so I thought... fast forward four months later and I had a bill from Orange, stating that I owed them £60 (keep in mind this was 2012). I phoned to argue this, but (I'm sorry if this sounds offensive, I really don't mean it to be!) due to my Northern Irish accent and a foreign call center, we could barely understand one another. An hour later it was confirmed that I didnt owe them anything, I received an apology and was told the system would be updated. I didnt hear from anyone for a whole year and didnt think anything was amiss, and so the bills and bank statements were thrown out.
fast forward to now, and I have BCW telling me I owe Orange £166.41. A LOT more than the bill that was mistakenly sent to me the first time. I would phone them, but after hearing BCW horror stories I've been advised not to. I would phone Orange, but after trying to understand the foreign accent on the end of the line (and vice versa) I would get nowhere. I have tried to log on to my old orange account, but have found it closed. Surely they wouldn't have closed it if I did indeed owe them money?
I apologise for any spelling mistakes, I'm currently without a laptop and trying to type on a very small screen. Any bit of advice (or even letter templates!) would be greatly appreciated!
TL;DR: BCW telling me I owe money I'm fairly certain I dont, have said they will be visiting my property, should I be worried?
0
Comments
-
ginger.ninja wrote: »Hi guys, sorry if I'm posting this in the wrong place but I really could do with some advice. Sorry in advance for the length of this.
No problem.ginger.ninja wrote: »The final one (dated some time in January) states that I will be receiving a property visit from UMS regarding the debt they have been trying to collect.
Yes, treat them like any other doorstep salesman and ignore them. They are not bailiffs, they do not have any powers of entry to your property and even if they did, it would come from a court, not some two bit collection agent. Dont be shy, slam the door.ginger.ninja wrote: »I have no idea how they have this address as its my mothers, and I have only been staying here on a temporary basis between work. Now that would all be fine and well, if I thought I actually had a debt.
Ah.ginger.ninja wrote: »Basically, while at university I took out a phone contract with Orange in about 2010, ending in 2012. Yes, I did miss some bills and I did get into quite a bit of trouble, but managed to pay it all off. On the date my contract ended, I was paid up to date and phoned to cancel my account. Whilst on the phone, I confirmed that my bill was paid up to date and that only one more bill would come out before the end of the contract. Success! Or so I thought... fast forward four months later and I had a bill from Orange, stating that I owed them £60 (keep in mind this was 2012).
Do you have any correspondence stating that you are paid and up to date?ginger.ninja wrote: »I phoned to argue this, but (I'm sorry if this sounds offensive, I really don't mean it to be!) due to my Northern Irish accent and a foreign call center, we could barely understand one another.
It isnt offensive, its true. I have a pure home counties accent, clean and crisp over the phone but I still cant understand an Indian call centre. It's a bugbear.ginger.ninja wrote: »An hour later it was confirmed that I didnt owe them anything, I received an apology and was told the system would be updated.
Did you get that in writing?ginger.ninja wrote: »I didnt hear from anyone for a whole year and didnt think anything was amiss, and so the bills and bank statements were thrown out.
Sigh. This is why you keep paperwork for at least 6 years. Sorry to be blunt, but take this as a lesson for future.ginger.ninja wrote: »fast forward to now, and I have BCW telling me I owe Orange £166.41. A LOT more than the bill that was mistakenly sent to me the first time. I would phone them, but after hearing BCW horror stories I've been advised not to.
No and you are under no obligation to either.ginger.ninja wrote: »I would phone Orange, but after trying to understand the foreign accent on the end of the line (and vice versa) I would get nowhere.
Fine. Lets go old school then. You need to get the address for their customer services and you need to WRITE to them to explain the problem. You want written proof that the account was paid off in good order and closed.ginger.ninja wrote: »I have tried to log on to my old orange account, but have found it closed. Surely they wouldn't have closed it if I did indeed owe them money?
Yes it might well be - they sell debts on to bottom feeders like BCW.ginger.ninja wrote: »I apologise for any spelling mistakes, I'm currently without a laptop and trying to type on a very small screen. Any bit of advice (or even letter templates!) would be greatly appreciated!
As above. Ignore BCW, your debt (if it existed at all) was with Orange. Write to them and demand written confirmation that all is well. Ignore BCW - zero contact. Or, if you are feeling militant, a 'prove it' letter will do the trick and keep them off you. You can even couple it with a 'not my debt' and 'disputed' argument at the same time.
Not in the least. Tell them to jog on and close the door.ginger.ninja wrote: »TL;DR: BCW telling me I owe money I'm fairly certain I dont, have said they will be visiting my property, should I be worried?Debt Free! Long road, but we did it
Meet my best friend : YNAB (you need a budget)
My other best friend is a filofax.
Do or do not, there is no try....Yoda.
[/COLOR]0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 347.7K Banking & Borrowing
- 251.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 452.1K Spending & Discounts
- 240K Work, Benefits & Business
- 616.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 175.3K Life & Family
- 253.4K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards