debt collectors send me emails saying I owe them nothing, but demand i it hand over

johndoe88

this is a rather strange one. But a debt collector by the name of EOS obviously have some glitch which has caused a massive strain on me, and has actually scared me quite a bit.

but they sent me an email about a month ago saying that I owe them 0. and I must transfer 0 to an account.

I thought this email was a scam, so I ignored it (i think most people would) they then sent me the same email several times.

I ignored all of them and transferred the email to my spam folder, and thought nothing of it, until about a week later the phone calls started everyday I was harassed several times a day with people telling me I need to transfer the money or else the matter will be escalated (they didnt go too much into detail). when I tell them theres no money so how can I transfer nothing? they hang up the phone. and then i get more phone calls where they call me, let the phone ring once and then hang up, or i answer and the person on the other end says nothing. and then hangs the phone up. I am really getting tired of this, I keep sending emails to them asking them to go back and over view it. but I fall on deaf ears. I just keep getting these automated emails saying I owe them no money and need to pay it by a certain date!

they use several different numbers to call me, so it would be difficult and could take my time to keep blocking all their numbers.
and this is a firm phone so I can not get a new number, as I can not afford to redistribute this number to everyone.

I am really scared that this will spiral out of control due to a computer glitch, and I will get penalised with extra payments due to the time. or that I will get some bailiff at my door trying to force his way in to take my goods. I have never borrowed money and I dont own a credit card.

what it seems has happened was, when i moved address. my old internet provider sent me an extra bill by post which I didnt know about. a month later they called me and explained, I said sorry I wasnt aware as I dont live there no more and asked them to email me the invoice and I will pay it. I paid that off and didnt think anything of it. now it seems there was a glitch and they sent this to a debt collector but because i paid the owed money off, its registering as 0.

I have reached out to everyone and it honestly seems no one wants to take responsibility of this. I have begged my internet provider to call of the wolves and yet I still get the constant phone calls.

I have emailed the debt collector and polity asked that they stop calling me and go back and review my case. but the calls keep happening.

I reached out to the complaints department and they ignored my emails. I call them and they tell me they will get someone from the relevant department to contact me back.

I am so lost! I honestly feel I am now being bullied and this is some big joke they are playing on me. when someone is at my door I am so scared to answer in case its a bailiff and they enter my property and seize my goods as I am sure they wont listen when I show them the emails.

so....

what I did. I spent maybe 1 hour researching into EOS solutions. Collected as many names of the firm as I could (CEO, MDs, finance managers) did some research into the firms email structure collected all their emails and I am now in the process of contacting the main people directly.

would you suggest this process?

what can I do?

surely a company of this size would be embarrassed by this and want to resolve this as quickly as possible.

as I took the correct procedure, should I contact newspapers as I am sure they would love to hear a story like this, given the amount of love people have for DCAs.

I am really tired of this company, and really I am scared to check my emails / phone and answer the door. I can not live like this any longer.

I know its harsh to say it, but I really do understand why someone would consider suicide when they have DCAs chasing them.

PLEASE HELP ME! I AM SO LOST & DESPERATE

bargainbetty

If you have an address for them, send a formal letter. Enclose a copy of the email stating there is a zero balance, and advise them formally that further emails, letters or calls with be deemed harasment and reported to the ombudsman, and also to the police. State that any further communciations will incur charges for your time dealing with them, and their acceptance of these charges will be inferred by any further attempt to collect money that is not owed. Each attempt will incur a £10 invoice. Send the letter to the MD and send copies to any other senior figures in the company. Send it recorded delivery.

Then invoice them and report them each time.

johndoe88

many thanks! I will try that! my friend told me to get a premium rate number so every time they call me they have to pay me. I suppose this is one way of seeing something positive from it.

Lips_and_Lashes

Also think about a making a formal complaint as you should not have to feel scared, worried or bullied by these companies. You can write a formal complaint and they have 8 weeks to send a final response. If they fail to do this or you are not satisfied then you can escalate your complaint to the financial ombudsman.

Try not to worry, really, you are not the one at fault and you shouldn't have to suffer the wrath.

johndoe88

i was thinking of reaching out to the CEO and CCing the Managing Director of the branch in question, and encouraging him to review the MDs position as he is obviously not doing a good job and allowed his staff to behave in such an embarrassing manor which is damaging the firms identity.

I researched into the company and they have share holders, I know how they operate if a newspaper prints bad press about them then share holders panic and sell there shares. the more people do it the less the share is worth. so the more newspapers that talk about it the more people will dump their shares and this will hit them where it hurts the most, in their pocket!

If I am honest I really dont like going down the road of going to the papers. but it seems it may be the only solution

Lips_and_Lashes

The Consumer Action Group have some great template letters that you could send/email to stop them from harassing you.

I'd recommend steering clear of talking to them on the phone, can you block their numbers? If you do answer then simply say 'In writing only'. Keep a paper trail, complain then don't be afraid to escalate. You really cannot go wrong, they cannot send bailiffs without a court order, which you have had to have broken. Your case has been no where near court and if it did then it would be laughed out by the judge.

Honestly, do not worry about it. Just deal with it, it's a joke.

johndoe88

thanks for your words of support and advice. I understand its a big joke and down to a PC error, which no one seems to care about from their side. I am really worried that this will damage my credit rating I am unable to block it as there is more than one number. I think so far theyve called from 3 or 4 different numbers.

I am logging everything. I work 3 jobs and really dont have time for these people to harrase me on a daily basis. its really embarrassing as some of my colleagues believe I am in debt and trying to hide it

johndoe88

it makes me question. how many people have been in this situation before? surely by me screaming to some media company about this, I will be doing everyone a favour?

Lips_and_Lashes

johndoe88 wrote: »

thanks for your words of support and advice. I understand its a big joke and down to a PC error, which no one seems to care about from their side. I am really worried that this will damage my credit rating I am unable to block it as there is more than one number. I think so far theyve called from 3 or 4 different numbers.

I am logging everything. I work 3 jobs and really dont have time for these people to harrase me on a daily basis. its really embarrassing as some of my colleagues believe I am in debt and trying to hide it

I totally understand you, you definitely should not have to feel embarrassed at work because of some companies negligence. Keep your head held high and don't let them grind you down!

As for going to the press then I'd say go for it, I've not had any experience of dealing with any papers/media about this sort of thing but if you feel it's something you want to do then don't let anyone stop you. Personally, I think everyone has a right to know what these companies are really like but whether the press would be interested in this, I don't know. Perhaps start local?

I think the most important thing for you to do is to deal with the matter in hand.

johndoe88

I dont usually agree with people going to the media about these things, unless its some kind of ultimate solution to a common problem that could be resolved.

I just feel that I have a moral obligation. I think they would listen to me as its embarrassing for the EOS company, and it will show the country that these people really dont care about anyone. they only care about money! it makes me laugh there slogan says

EOS. With head and heart in finance


well they have no head, other wise they would have saw the glitch.
they have no heart other wise they would have listened to my emails

Armorica

it's not going to hit the headlines. Just write/email the daily mail/financial mail or contact watchdog (on bbc).

Media aside, write a letter with appropriate references to legislation, harrassment and the ombudsman and they should get the idea.