Buy as you view claim I am £770 in arrears!

scottay2hottay

I have been with buy as you view for around 5 years. I have never missed a payment and for the last four years I have been paying by direct debit. My direct debit has been £9.80 for the last couple of years.

An agent for BAYV came to my home today and told my girlfriend that I was £770 in arrears. He said that he needed to put my direct debit up £18 because the payments of £9.80 "wasn't doing anything for my balance".

Because I wasn't home at the time, the BAYV agent said that he need to speak to me personally because I was the account holder. The agent left my house and then returned 5 minutes later to tell my girlfriend that there was no need to speak to me now and that the direct debit would increase automatically.

I decided to ring BAYV myself when I got home and I was told that the direct debit should have gone up 2 years ago because I had an item on buy now, pay next year but there must have been a system error.
I told the agent that it wasn't my mistake that the payment didn't automatically increase and she agreed with me. I am now waiting for a manger to contact me to offer me an explanation of what went wrong.

I feel like canceling my direct debit and sending them a subject access request form as I am really confused about all of this and I am worried that I have been paying interest for someone elses mistake.

Can anyone offer me advice?
Thanks for listening.

Gaz83

I'm guessing BAYV are a Brighthouse-style company?

Did you 'buy' something new from them two years ago?

scottay2hottay

Yes, a brighthouse style company.
I had a 3ds around Christmas time and I think it was a buy now pay next year kind of deal. But it appears as if they forgot to adjust the direct debit but it has only taken 2 years plus to realise this and inform me of the mistake.

Gaz83

scottay2hottay wrote: »

Yes, a brighthouse style company.
I had a 3ds around Christmas time and I think it was a buy now pay next year kind of deal. But it appears as if they forgot to adjust the direct debit but it has only taken 2 years plus to realise this and inform me of the mistake.

You 'think' it was a buy now pay next year kind of deal? Didn't you wonder how you were paying for it, if the direct debit didn't rise?

DevCoder

But they have 6 years under the limitations act.

If they can prove that you owe the monies then they can adjust the direct debit after giving you notice, although they should not put you in any worse position (i.e. compound interest or late fees) then as if they adjusted it when it should have been.

scottay2hottay

Gaz83 wrote: »

You 'think' it was a buy now pay next year kind of deal? Didn't you wonder how you were paying for it, if the direct debit didn't rise?

I remember having a letter which told me that one of the items that I had was paid up in full, but it didn't tell me what the item was on the letter. Only some kind of reference number.
So I assumed that was why the direct debit didn't increase. Perhaps that was ignorant of me, but I think it was also ignorant for them to leave it two years without mentioning that I was getting further and further in arrears.
Since paying by direct debit, I don't get any visits from collection agents (except for yesterday) and I very rarely get any paperwork or comunication from them other than " thank you for being a valued customer, have a look at our catalog to see if anything else interests you".

marcarm

I'd be more peed off with the agent discussing my account with my girlfriend.

Surely some breach of the DPA there?

Whiner

scottay2hottay wrote: »

Perhaps that was ignorant of me

It was certainly hopeful...

happy_bunny_2

I would be sending them a complaint letter.

You want that it's their fault in writing along with their will be no interest or charges added. Not sure if there would be, but they might just stick them on without telling you. Also insist on a statement of account.

They can't just change your DD without telling you in writing with 10 days notice.

You will need to pay it though.

brendon

I've just had a look at an Apple iPod Touch on their website. I can buy it off Amazon for £196, or from BAYV over 52 weeks at a cost of £435. That's more than twice as much.

If you're happy paying double for your little luxuries, then it's no surprise you've run up a small debt like this. Next time, get a savings account and put a little away each month.

bsms1147

Just saw a Finlux TV on there, should retail in the ~£180 price range. Total payable: £867.36.

And from just an extra £1.99 a week (an extra £310.44 over the course of payments) you can extend the guarantee. Enough to buy the same TV nearly twice over.

Wow.