If you have any catalogue debts and also current catalogue....

blue_monkey_2

Hi all,

I was not sure if this has been mentioned but wanted to let you all know what has happened to me today.

I have a debt with Littlewoods from about 10 years ago that I have been paying in instalments no problem at all - they have recently sold it on (they tell me as it was 6 years old) to another company.

Anyhow, I have had a Kays Catalogue for about 7 years (god knows how I got it but I did and I don't abuse it and it is paid up to date) I use it for sale stuff or if we have a major breakdown on appliance and can't afford another right away, stuff like that, mainly though I use it to buy bits and bobs to sell on for my business at sale time.

I was given a free £25 gift voucher from Kays as I am one of their 'VIP' customers to spend on anything, I placed an order a few days back - that never arrived. A few days back I ordered a new hoover and carpet washer so rather than sit here like an idiot I called them asking if I was going to get it. My statement states my credit limit is £3800, I have a Balance of £2,000.

Anyhow, the lady told me that the credit department have declined the order, I asked why as everything was up to date, they told they did not know but they would check. She put me through this rather obnoxious stuck up cow who told me that because I owed £2000 from over 6 years ago then until I paid that I could not have anything, nor could I have the cash back I had earned from the catalogue. I said 'but you have sold it on' and she said yes, but it is unpaid, until you pay you are not having anything. I asked why because the Kays account was in good standing for the last 6 years could she do this 'because we can'. I told her that she could see what i was buying and it was quite clearly business and she told me I should be using the money to pay the old debt off, I said Business and Personal was different and I was not getting any income from the business side yet (I am still a fairly new business). Anyway, she was very rude in her tone and manner and I have to confess I told her to stuff it and did not need anything from the catalogue and I would get it elsewhere, to which she quoted 'Well, we own all 16 major catalogues and you won't be getting anything from us until the £2000 is paid'. I told her I did not need to buy from catalogues and I would go onto the High Street then and get it there and put the phone down.

So, that is their attitude and I wanted to warn others, if you have a current catalogue account and a past debt they will not be letting you buy from the catalogue until the old debt is settled - even though they had sold mine on.

I did get a call from the company who bought the debt yesterday who offered me a 50% discount on F&F. I buy the business stuff with the intention of paying it in full when the invoice arrives but I have used this money to pay the debt off I have (I have asked for a letter confirming F&F before paying but I will settle) and then I will pay for the recent stuff I bought in the free credit instalments rather than in one go as planned. I know it is around the houses but I don't think I'll ever be buying from the catalogues again. They do have good stuff in their sales that I do buy - usually they are cheaper than buying from my suppliers and I can usually sell for full selling price but I don't know if they will let me d this now, I guess I'll find out sooner or later. I guess it'll be a bit longer before I earn more money to buy more stock that is all but at least I'll have 5 months to sell the goods I bought and Xmas shopping will come in that time so for me I think it has worked out OK and got another debt out of the way.

I just thought I would give you fair warning as I know some people do rely on the catlogues for essentials but if you have a past debt - no matter how old and how you are dealing with it - they won't let you have anything else until the old debt is paid. I still can't beleieve the way that that woman spoke to me. Why is it that people look down their nose at you and speak to you lie crap if you owe money.

chevalier

Sorry I am a bit confused.
Why are you paying this debt at all. Debts over 6 years old are not enforceable unless you have been in contact with the creditor during that time. Is that the case here?

Seems a bit poor about the other catalogue to do this to you though.
chev

rayday2

They have been paying the 10 year old catalogue debt in installments since so that is correct I believe. Isin't it only if you have not had contact for 6 years?

3LITTLEPIGS_2

i have had a Next Directory for 4 years and they have suddenly cancelled my credit (due to setting up pymt plans with other cc's and defaulting on my credit file)...so they can and do check your credit file whenever they want to decide whether to still give credit.
i am gutted-i was like you, just liked knowing it was there to buy bits when i needed-especially the sales!!

rayday2

When you order items by catalogue over more than about 40 weeks they usually send out a credit agreement, thats if you passed if not they would decline it goes on each individual purchase not when you first applied if you get my meaning.

custardy

yeah i had the same with Next recently.had it for years and was actually a little in credit.only used it to buy from the sales but they closed the account given i have other debts with debt collectors.funny thing is i have been dealing with these debts for a few years and should be clear in 12 months or so

blue_monkey_2

Apparently Littlewoods are buying all of the other Catalogues - I don't think Next would apply in this case but maybe they are looking at their trading terms because I did get a new credit agreement with Next. But Littlewoods are buying most of them - if you look at the websites they are all the same and all sell the same things.

I have been paying for all this time yes, I didn't ignore it at all, but it has been about 6 years since we had to reduce payments so this is why.

I just wanted to make others aware of what is happening. It is more for the sales really that I'll miss it as they sell the stuff for stupid prices but I kind of feel it a little unfair, still it is paid now. The business is improving and I might make some money this year - it is going towards paying off our debts one at a time starting with the smallest first (well, the first one is done) so this is a step on the rung of the ladder. If I have sold all the stuff I bought from them I'll have the money to clear another debt in 5 months time.

Butlers1982

Ill explain it for you. Littlewoods is part of the Shop Direct group.
Within the Shop Direct group there is:

Littlewoods

Littlewoods Xtra

Great Universal

Great Universal Essentials

Marshall Ward

Choice

Choice For you

Additions

Abound

Kays

Kays Lifestyle

Halens

Sport E.

They are not buying all the catalogues so dont worry about that, its just that they own the majority of Home Shopping.
Their call centres are run by Optimum Contact Solutions. If you threaten to leave one and join the other, it makes no difference- youll still speak to the same people.
Very big company, couldnt care about customer service!

taxi73

Hi there...don't know whether anyone reads the small print but all the ones I've read recently state that if you enter into a DMP or IVA or any other such plans that they have the right to terminate the contract with you...this is also on mortgage agreements.It is hard when people are having a tough time with payments but all the financial institutions have been accused of irresponsible lending and have lost so much money to bad debt I guess they have to protect themselves and share holders...I think times are going to get a lot tougher for us all with personal debts..

donnalove

this happened to me recently , i had a debt with littlewoods, they cant persue it because of there is no credit agreement.

any way i had an abound catalogue used for years no missed payments no late payments , they changed over to additions , all was fine for a couple of months then i ordered a badly needed bed.i waited , then i got a letter stating the order could not be delivered because of the old debt with littlewoods, i said they are diff companies but she said they were the same. so my credit limit on additions in now zilch, i can't use it for another four years.

i refuse to pay the littlewoods as it is all interest as i paid more than the value of goods while on an arrangement over 4 years, they can't persue it and i have the letter.

i know littlewoods were struggling as they have closed there index stores and shops maybe this is their way of saving thenselves, but my oppinion, i think they will all go belly up.
hope so anyway lol

donnalove
xxx