1st Credit - ignoring DMP

notenoughcash

Hi, I'm in the midst of a battle with 1st credit too, so glad to see I'm not on my own with them. Slightly different circumstances with me but still the same bully tactics from 1st credit.

To cut a long story short I narrowly escaped repossession two years ago by selling my house at last minute and I repaid most loans c/cards etc at same time, wipe the slate clean so to speak, with the exception of my overdraft. However, I received a letter approx 6 weeks ago from barclaycard (the first in two years might I add) re a c/card balance of nearly £600 sold to 1st credit. It is a c/card I had 2 yrs ago but with drama and stress of house sale, nowhere to live etc etc I must have overlooked it. I sent 1st cred a copy of budget and offer of repayments, they wrote back asking for me to call to put ball in motion. I spoke to the most arrogant call centre rep I have ever spoken to in my life, preaching to me about how I shouldn't take out c/cards if I don't have the means to repay blah blah blah, payment in full immediately or they would take me to court.

The way I see it whether they accept payment or take me to court for it I can't give them what I don't have so luckily not really lost much sleep over their threats but they have really upset me once on the phone so I just hung up. They only have my mobile number so I now don't answer the call unless I'm sure it's not them calling.

I have sent them two payments now by cheque which they have cashed but I received a letter from their solicitors today re starting legal proceedings. I suspect if a judge has to decide how much I should pay it will be much less than I have offered but time will tell.

I have also written to barclaycard for c/card charges in hope that will mean I can repay before court date but I won't let them bully me in to borrowing from elsewhere or cutting back on my monthly essentials.

This may be a bit nasty but I sometimes hope maybe one day they find themselves in a similar situation and people are even less understanding with them.

Deep_In_Debt

I often wonder about the type of people that work in these places and whether they are nice people really. They probably get paid a pittance of a basic salary but get massive commission for payments received so I should imagine that's why they bully so much. I wonder if any of these bullying staff are or have ever been in debt?

I always take the greatest of pleasure in winding these people up when I can be bothered to speak to them which is usually when I'm bored. They've stopped calling me now as they know they can't scare me into paying more than I can afford and they have to put up with me spouting OFT and debt collection guidelines at them and I remind them they are breaking every rule in the book. They seem to have accepted my DMP payments now after a few months of me winding them up and their call centre staff putting the phone down on me!!!

notenoughcash

Apparantly they do push for debit card payment on phone cos they get commission. I was pretty bit**y with them last time I spoke to them, some young girl who sounded like she should still be in school saying 'so you're refusing to pay and you want us to take you to court?' Knowing the calls are recorded I kept responding with no, the last thing I want is to go to court, that's why I'm making repayments, for them to say then we need payment in full today or we'll take you to court, and round and round we went in circles. Also taken names and written exact time and date of call just incase I get chance to use their phonecalls as evidence against them!

Deep_In_Debt

They are just little squirts with attitude. I probably know more about the law than they do and I tell them I work in the credit and finance industry and I know they are breaking the rules.They don't get commission from DMP's but yes they do with debit card payments and once they have access to your bank account they will take more.

I don't want to go to court either but I'm sure that the courts will see that I am attempting to pay my debts and they are not accepting it and I have a list of recorded telephone calls from them to my work (I work in a call centre but a nice one and all calls are recorded!) then they will have just dug their graves with the things they have threatened to me at work so I have enough evidence against them but they don't know that. For the moment, they are accepting my DMP and I'll wait until they rear their ugly heads again and use my ammunition.

devonsdreamer

Have been dealing with 1st credit all this year - they are a bunch of cowboys! We have offered token payments but they wont accept them - and wont send me details to pay them. We have offered a f&f settlement figure which has been ignored twice - have had two threats of CCJ action and still they do nothing- I write them nice letters they reply with "please call us to discuss" yeh right I am going to spend my money to be harassed - i dont think so

skibadee

I've had constant trouble with the infamous 1st credit....refused to accept my DMP payment.. then after numerous phonecalls from them where they threatened to BR me etc., they accepted the payment.....UNTIL...I had to reduce my DMP payments last month due to increased cost of livin and reduced wages...hence the letters start again...default notice etc.,....am not answering my phone at moment unless I know the number [ caller display ]....as I am currently talking to CCCS about an IVA.

This is how ridiculas 1st Credit can be....my daughter has a debt with them and they wrote to her recently saying ....'' We have done investigations and discovered you own your property ''......she doesn't she rents the property from her father and step-mother neither of whom have the same initials as her!!

Deep_In_Debt

devonsdreamer, I've read your posts about them and do sympathise with you and every one else. 1st Crudit are a total shower of !!!! If you look at their website, not only do they have extremely flash offices (from money they make from us??) but they are just pond life. I just enjoy winding them up now as I have enough evidence from recordings at work and colleagues to give them a seriously hard time and I will do if I have to.

I've had all the usual "please call us" when I've written to say all contact in writing, so I ignore their calls to home and let them ring me at work when they are digging a massive hole for themselves. I've had all sorts of threats from them. Apparently, they are selling my house for me (didn't even know it was on the market) and taking stuff from my parents house as they know where they live. Well if they want to fly to the States to do that, then that's up to them. They can pay for the air fare and shipping costs to bring the stuff back from my parent's place in New York!