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Very catalogue - professional procedure

Hello, I have a query regarding very.

My mum has a very large Very debt and she is struggling to pay it off. She tried to contact them to see if she would be able to be put on a payment plan, like she successfully did with Studio, and was given the runaround and basically pressurized into paying the full monthly payment, which was approx £150.

Two months ago, my mum had a severe stroke and was in hospital for a while. I contacted Very about trying to get her on a payment plan again because I don't want her to have to worry about a silly catalogue debt.
I sent several emails, which were all conveniently ignored. I also sent an email complaining of this and I had a phone call that day.
The woman was very friendly and understood the situation - I wanted to pay £10 a month. It's sad but that really is all my mum can afford at the moment. I was told by the woman that she would have an income form for me to fill in and that she would also put on the files that I would be doing this for 3 months. She also asked for me to send proof that my mother had a stroke - a hospital or doctor's note.
When I told my mum of this, she was disgusted that Very, a catalogue, would ask for something so personal and that it was none of their business and she is refusing to send this.

Is this right? Should I really have to send a letter to a catalogue company proving my mother had a stroke? Is it unprofessional?

Comments

  • kazwookie
    kazwookie Posts: 14,125 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I think thst is a reasonable request fron them.

    1. Can you pay it off for your mother?
    2. Has your mother anything you can sell to cover the debt?
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  • Sadly, I agree that it seems perfectly reasonable for them to ask for proof.

    Think of it this way, you need a doctor's note as proof for your work if you're off more than a week. You're asking them to accept less than 10% of the required monthly payment it seems understandable that they'd want evidence of your mum's circumstances before agreeing to that.

    I hope she's on the mend, the best to you both.
  • Hi,

    Unlike others I don't feel it appropriate, there needs to be a degree of trust between creditor and debtor especially as it's only a short term agreement - they should be more willing to help when a credit customer expresses that they are having financial difficulties.

    Obviously that's just my opinion though...

    My advice would be to look at your Mums overall income & expenditure to see whether the level of debt is actually manageable and suggest you broach the subject of debt management.

    If your Mum is in poor health, a part of this could be attributed to money worries and could exasperate matters.

    You might want to check out a couple of debt charities before talking to her about it though to get a bit more clued up - I can't recommend Stepchange highly enough but there are numerous other *FREE* service providers such as Payplan and Christians Against Poverty.

    Whatever you do, DO NOT accept any offers of help from anyone who charges for their services whether you find them online, get a letter through the post, email or phone call.

    Good luck and all the best for your Mum.

    MB
  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Posts: 22,188 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Cashback Cashier
    I think it reasonable that they should have a declaration of income and expenditure, showing how they are getting a fair share of disposable income.

    I do not think medical evidence is appropriate unless they are offering a write-off.

    Have they agreed to freeze interest and charges?

    This sounds like a substantial debt. If Studio is similar, and if there are others, then I would be thinking about using a fee-free source of debt advice to look at the whole picture. Stepchange or National Debtline may be appropriate if she can use the phone.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,685 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You have already told them she has a stroke so it isn't a secret - however, I think that they don't need to know the medical details. It is however reasonable of them to want a doctors/hospital note in order to be more accommodating. But surely the doctors can write one without anything too personal? Something like 'we confirm mum bikkushii has been in our care and will be medically vulnerable and unable to earn for x months'.
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • chanz4
    chanz4 Posts: 11,051 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    Its to weed out the scammers, nothing personal and they don't care about the contents just that its genuine. You will find them a lot more helpful, those that are not genuine fight it type of thing
    Don't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.
  • sourcrates
    sourcrates Posts: 30,658 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    Sorry to hear about your situation, you are under no obligation to share ANY personal details with anyone, however, if you do supply the information requested, you may fine the creditor will be more willing to agree a payment plan.


    But I can tell you now, shop direct group (who own very) will not accept £10 a month on such a large debt, it will pass to there collections team, then to there in-house collectors, NDR payments, all will insist on more than you are offering (I know this from bitter experience).


    Its likely the debt will be sold on to a 3rd party DCA, which, in the long run, may be of more benefit to you, as they will probably accept your offer.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter
  • I also agree that it isn't unreasonable for them to ask for proof, I'm sure they get lots of people telling stories which aren't true in an attempt to not pay properly (I'm not saying this is the case for your mum obviously) Personally I would be glad to provide the proof if it were me if I knew it would mean they would accomodate an arrangement to take the pressure off in the short term.
  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Posts: 22,188 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Cashback Cashier
    sourcrates wrote: »

    But I can tell you now, shop direct group (who own very) will not accept £10 a month on such a large debt, it will pass to there collections team, then to there in-house collectors, NDR payments, all will insist on more than you are offering (I know this from bitter experience).


    Its likely the debt will be sold on to a 3rd party DCA, which, in the long run, may be of more benefit to you, as they will probably accept your offer.

    I agree with this. They are also very slow in freezing interest, which is why I asked the question earlier.. No point paying them £10 per month if interest is more than this. In the long run it may be best to give them no information or payment and wait for them to sell it to Lowell or similar.
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