Thriftkitten by name NOT by nature....

tiggerbodhi

I found it easier to keep in contact with unsecured creditors, not by phone (refuse the security check, tell them they have a wrong number etc) but by letter, there is a standard letter on step changes site where you can say that you are experiencing difficulties and offer a token payment, invariably they will write back asking for your SOA, fill it in or loose it, you can string them out for ages (over two years in my case) without any further action, they really don't want to go legal on you as it ties them into a repayment schedule fixed by the court, not one they can keep lumping charges on and bully you into more.


As it was said the things to remember; they cannot have what you have not got, they cannot jail you, harass you on your doorstep, come in your home and seize goods, they will threaten all sorts but it will rotate around the same hollow BS from them.


IMHO The one thing that will phase them if you do speak to them on the phone is be polite, maybe try to interact in a conversation with them, the person calling you is more than likely on minimum wage in sweaty call centre, hating every minute of their job.


It really doesn't matter how much extra interest, charges and collection fee's are added on, they will all go into your BR, probably best to fill in the form nearer the time when you have closer figures, but they do not have to be exact, the OR will get these from your creditors when he/she tells them to !!!!!! off, sorry inform them you are BR!

Thriftkitten

Grrrr fuming, oh the embarassment.
So an old friend that I used to work for cleaning holiday cottages and is still on my F*cebook leaves me a not so nice message this morning saying that one of my creditors (IK*A) has rang her asking for me, she told them they have the wrong number, but they continue to ring and have been a good few times now... She can't understand why they are calling her.
I was so embarrassed and said that all I can think of is that I had put her company down as employment details when opening the account years back
I have sent the IK*A a hold action letter last week, are they allowed to continue to do this, it's embarrassing enough that I got that message from an ex employer without having to explain to her why they could be chasing me?
If someone could give me any advice on my next plan of action I'd really appreciate it.... Feeling down:(

fermi

Is that an original creditor or a debt collector? And did their name or what they said let her know they were chasing a debt?

For a credit licensed firm or a collector, they must not reveal they are chasing a debt or act in a way that would be embarrassing to you to a 3rd party.

Thriftkitten

fermi wrote: »

Is that an original creditor or a debt collector? And did their name or what they said let her know they were chasing a debt?

For a credit licensed firm or a collector, they must not reveal they are chasing a debt or act in a way that would be embarrassing to you to a 3rd party.

she didn't say what if they mentioned what they wanted she just said they asked for me, not sure if she was being nice trying not to embarass me or if they just only asked for me. Are they allowed to go through my application details from years ago and take employers details?? I guess so I do owe them money I suppose!!! But I think it was wrong considerring I set the hold action as I was experiencing financial difficulty.
it was IK*a themselves not a debt collector as I am only 2 months behind, it was all up-to-date before this.

tiggerbodhi

unfortunately they are allowed to phone and ask for you, but not disclose why, often they just say "a personal matter"


Most companies are not that bright when it comes to numbers and data held, would be worth phoning them up and letting them know you have changed employers and give new contact details, just pick a random company from the internet and give them those details, my favourite was to give the details of another creditor or DCA.


The calls do stop, after a couple of months they normally realise they are not going to get you on the phone or bully you into higher payments so only deal with them by letter, each time they get to successfully speak to you it keeps them phoning, change your phone numbers if you can and if you do call them withhold your phone number (they will capture this as a contact number for you if you don't)

SomebodyToldMe

Try to keep your head up....you are about to go BR- once that happens, all your debts are included there is nothing these creditors can do

In the meantime- what I did in the run up to my BR with phone calls- was this:
' Is Mr Tubbs at home?'...'yes. I'll just get him for you'..cue opening the conservatory door- placing phone inside- then closing the door.
Retrieve phone after 5 mins....

Thriftkitten

SomebodyToldMe wrote: »

Try to keep your head up....you are about to go BR- once that happens, all your debts are included there is nothing these creditors can do

In the meantime- what I did in the run up to my BR with phone calls- was this:
' Is Mr Tubbs at home?'...'yes. I'll just get him for you'..cue opening the conservatory door- placing phone inside- then closing the door.
Retrieve phone after 5 mins....

Hahaha, good one, I don't have a conservatory but I do have a rather randy rooster, maybe I could walk the phone up to the chicken coup!!!!

Thriftkitten

Hi, I am after some quick advice today plz before my CAB meeting.
There is a chance that I would qualify for a debt relief order rather than trying to save for Bankruptcy, the only thing tipping the scales is a housing benefit overpayment to the tune of 6.5K. It is going through an independant appeal and I have asked for a SAR so not heard anything for a while. Would I be able to omit the benefit overpayment which would qualify me for DRO or would that have to be included, in which case I would owe too much for a DRO?
Any advice before my CAB meeting this morning would be great.

egrescrimp

It's advised that you put all debts into your DRO, any missed cannot be included at later date though so if you are unsuccessful in your appeal then you would have to pay the debt if it wasn't included in your DRO.

I know someone who's getting a DRO sorted through StepChange. they go pretty in-depth in finding debts that should go in the DRO.

Thriftkitten

Ok update.... I cannot do a DRO as they HAVE to include the benefit overpayment, also once the car has gone I would have an extra £170 per month on top of the £40 available income, aparently you are only allowed up to £50 excess income for DRO.
So it's back to the drawing board and saving for the BR, and saving for a scabby motor for around £600. It looks as though I will be paying my excess income to the OR for 3 yrs as I think I am only allowed an excess of £20.
I was advised to STOP paying for the HP car as its going anyway, so that will help me to save quicker and if I hear from British Gas Energy Trust re- help with insolvency fee, then thats a bonus.;)