Littlewoods

Summer1984

I have had an account with littlewoods for a number of years and never had a problem paying off the monthly amount.

Unfortunately my circumstances recently changed alongside some 'buy now pay later' purchases running out of the interest free period and I am unable to meet the minimum payments littlewoods have requested.

I have been making a £20 token payment on my littlewoods account online and informed them that this was all I could afford. My account has now been passed to NDR which I thought would be a good thing as they may accept a lower monthly payment. It turns out they are the same company and will not accept a payment of £20 a month. They advised me to speak to step change, however the difficulty in doing a financial statement with stepchange is that I am currently on maternity leave and so my incomings are decreasing on a weekly basis in line with my maternity pay. Littlewoods have refused to freeze any interest and have refused to accept my minimum payment.

So, my question is, do I continue to make £20 monthly payments on the littlewoods website? Or would it be better to stop all payments and let them sell the debt on to an actual debt collection company who may accept the £20 until my circumstances change next year? I really don't want a default on my credit file but worry that if the debt is sold on that this is unavoidable. NDR have already threatened with a default.

Brightspark87

Hi!

in my experience with Littlewoods, NDR do not accept lower payments. However, one of my accounts with Shopdirect was sold on to Lowell, where I paid £75 off a month until it cleared 6 months later. They asked for a full income/outgoings breakdown which I refused and just said I only had £250 spare including food and travel therefore this was the maximum I could afford. It was defaulted however, it seems as though this might happen with you anyhow.

Please dont spend what you cant afford on this debt however, as it is not a priority debt.

good luck!

Summer1984

Thank you for your help. Maybe I need to just accept that I will get a default then - do you think I'm best to stop paying the £20 token payment then to get the debt sold on quickly?

Brightspark87

In my case (I have 8 shop direct accounts!) it doesn't matter if you are making payments or not. 6 months to the day when the payment is received but not enough or not payment they will default you and sell it on.

I really would try ( I have no idea of your monthly income / outgoing) to pay as much as possible as it will still go off the debt, but they will add charges and interest and the chances are that your £20 a month is not reducing the debt but simply £12 admin fee and £8+ interest ( tends to be 3.9.9% interest).

therefore its in the long term debt repayment interests to sort this before you get a default. Getting a default is painful on your credit record but avoidable if you can make the repayments.

Please keep in touch and stay happy x

sourcrates

I would stop paying NDR.
It usually takes them 3/4 months before they sell the account on, usually to Lowell, who will accept your payment offer, however, you will get a default, but at least they will accept the payments.

missnb

Hi, I have two accounts with shopdirect. One is managed by NCO and one is passed to Lowell but from the letter I have received, NCO are still dealing with it on their behalf. I haven't been defaulted (as far as I'm aware) on either account and have been making reduced payments for about 18months. Could I have been defaulted without knowing?

sourcrates

missnb wrote: »

Hi, I have two accounts with shopdirect. One is managed by NCO and one is passed to Lowell but from the letter I have received, NCO are still dealing with it on their behalf. I haven't been defaulted (as far as I'm aware) on either account and have been making reduced payments for about 18months. Could I have been defaulted without knowing?

Yes you could, check your credit file with all three CRA`s. Any default will be clearly visible.

happy_bunny_2

Summer1984 wrote: »

I have had an account with littlewoods for a number of years and never had a problem paying off the monthly amount.

Unfortunately my circumstances recently changed alongside some 'buy now pay later' purchases running out of the interest free period and I am unable to meet the minimum payments littlewoods have requested.

I have been making a £20 token payment on my littlewoods account online and informed them that this was all I could afford. My account has now been passed to NDR which I thought would be a good thing as they may accept a lower monthly payment. It turns out they are the same company and will not accept a payment of £20 a month. They advised me to speak to step change, however the difficulty in doing a financial statement with stepchange is that I am currently on maternity leave and so my incomings are decreasing on a weekly basis in line with my maternity pay. Littlewoods have refused to freeze any interest and have refused to accept my minimum payment.

So, my question is, do I continue to make £20 monthly payments on the littlewoods website? Or would it be better to stop all payments and let them sell the debt on to an actual debt collection company who may accept the £20 until my circumstances change next year? I really don't want a default on my credit file but worry that if the debt is sold on that this is unavoidable. NDR have already threatened with a default.

Maybe send them a CCA request,especially if taken out before April 2007.

Also send NDR a written complaint about being unreasonable regarding accepting reduced payments.

Both the above will likely result in the account being sold sooner. Did for me.