Really annoyed with a 'debt' I am supposed to owe - help please

Sallyford

:mad:

I had a perfect credit score until I started shopping with a major well-known online catalogue.

To cut a long story short, I bought some furniture off this said catalogue. Paid back the money on time every month for 11 months. In that time I had accumulated £48 in REWARD Money which I could either buy new goods with or pay off my instalments.

I decided to use my Reward Money to pay off my final instalment of £40 for the furniture, with a little bit of money left over. I was just about to do that when I looked at my catalogue Reward Balance and it said zero. I rang customer service who told me because I didn't spend the Reward Money within the 12 months they took it back off me.

I told them that can't be right, as I had EARNED that Reward Money being a good payer.

They said I would still have to pay the final instalment of £40. I refused, and told them I would never shop with them again.

Two years down the line, what I supposedly 'owed' them has now gone up to £129 and it has been passed onto a debt collector. I am furious. :mad::mad:

I have never had a black mark on my name ever, and worst still this is on my otherwise flawless credit report.

I was thinking of suing this catalogue but I don't know how far I would get.

What do others think? Advice please. Thanks.

sourcrates

Hi,

I don't think suing them would yield a result to be honest.

Your best bet is a written complaint to the catalogue, shop direct group i suspect ?, go through there complaints procedure, that's the only way to do it properly.

If you don't get anywhere, take it to the FOS to decide, they can adjudicate and decide if they treated you fairly, or not.

Remember, just by complaining to the FOS, will cost the company there £500 referral fee, so either way you will cost them money.

All you need to do to keep the DCA at bay, is send a letter telling them the account is in dispute with the original creditor, and to back off.

The ombudsman has the power to order them to compensate you, and remove any negative information on your credit file, if you win, so worth doing if the catalogue company wont play ball.

Sallyford

sourcrates wrote: »

Hi,

I don't think suing them would yield a result to be honest.

Your best bet is a written complaint to the catalogue, shop direct group i suspect ?, go through there complaints procedure, that's the only way to do it properly.

If you don't get anywhere, take it to the FOS to decide, they can adjudicate and decide if they treated you fairly, or not.

Remember, just by complaining to the FOS, will cost the company there £500 referral fee, so either way you will cost them money.

All you need to do to keep the DCA at bay, is send a letter telling them the account is in dispute with the original creditor, and to back off.

The ombudsman has the power to order them to compensate you, and remove any negative information on your credit file, if you win, so worth doing if the catalogue company wont play ball.

I wrote to the catalogue many times but got the same reply.

'It's our policy'.

Not good enough. :mad:

Thanks.

sourcrates

Sallyford wrote: »

I wrote to the catalogue many times but got the same reply.

'It's our policy'.

Not good enough. :mad:

Thanks.

Oh right, OK then, does the letter say its there final response ?

or have 8 weeks passed since they wrote to you ?

if yes, then its time to wheel out the big guns.

Go to the FOS website, link below, fill out there complaint form, sign it, post it off, allow them to investigate.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

This is the proper procedure you should now follow to get a resolution.

Sallyford

Hello again.

It's 18 months since I wrote to them but I do not have any copies of the letters. Nor do I have any proof of I was given the Reward Money but I was.

I guess in their 'defence' they will have to submit all details and Reward Money given to my account. If they change the information, then I have no proof they're lying. But I wouldn't put it passed them.

I'll contact the FOS like you say.

It's no good the catalogue saying it's their policy to remove Reward Money. In that case where would that stop?

Thanks.

tomtontom

You're out of time for a FOS complaint - that needs to be made within six months of the final response from the lender.

Which catalogue/ rewards scheme is it, Littlewoods?

Sallyford

tomtontom wrote: »

You're out of time for a FOS complaint - that needs to be made within six months of the final response from the lender.

Which catalogue/ rewards scheme is it, Littlewoods?

Littlewoods yes. I've read other complaints about the same thieving of the Reward Money from other people, so I am not alone. Any other ideas? Thanks.

tomtontom

Sallyford wrote: »

Littlewoods yes. I've read other complaints about the same thieving of the Reward Money from other people, so I am not alone. Any other ideas? Thanks.

Take them to small claims if you wish, but given that the terms and conditions are clear I doubt you'll get far.

Organisations tend to put time limits on things - complaints, gift cards, and so on.

Sallyford

tomtontom wrote: »

Take them to small claims if you wish, but given that the terms and conditions are clear I doubt you'll get far.

Organisations tend to put time limits on things - complaints, gift cards, and so on.

I'm still not paying it whatever happens. They gave me the Reward Money for being a good payer. It's an insult to turn around and say, 'right chum, you've not spent it - we're having the money back.'

If I was one week earlier I could have used the Reward Money. Now I am labelled as someone who doesn't pay her debts, when it's not true.

sourcrates

Sallyford wrote: »

Littlewoods yes. I've read other complaints about the same thieving of the Reward Money from other people, so I am not alone. Any other ideas? Thanks.

Put the complaint into them again, then go FOS route if not satisfied.

Only way to get your credit record rectified, and to get a mutually agreed resolution.

tomtontom

Sallyford wrote: »

I'm still not paying it whatever happens. They gave me the Reward Money for being a good payer. It's an insult to turn around and say, 'right chum, you've not spent it - we're having the money back.'

If I was one week earlier I could have used the Reward Money. Now I am labelled as someone who doesn't pay his debts, when it's not true.

Unfortunately it is true, you have not paid your debt. The longer you drag this out the longer your credit file will be screwed. Sorry, but unless you don't want credit for the next 6+ years you'll need to make a payment arrangement.