gregory pennington - no good

Deep_In_Debt

shellbubs wrote: »

Thanks for everyone's advice. I have now cancelled my plan with GP and intend to claim a refund for the Income Safeguarding Payment they charged each month. (Around £850 over the 4 yrs) I am also closing the bank account they recommended me, which also charges £17.50 a month, and have opened a fee-free account elsewhere.

Excellent. You've totally done the right thing with both.

Good luck with it all.

Mistee

I have been with Gregory Pennington for many years. When I originally joined they promised to work around me and look after me. Things have changed alot! Felt like I was put into a corner in a police cell asking how much I spend - which is cool but the staffs approach was rude and patronising and judgmental. They take a fee every month you expect a good service. Will be looking to go to a free agency. Oh and without my consent they have been charging me income protection insurance. Why? That will be for the Ombudsman to investigate. I will be reclaiming. Do not use this company go to a free agency. These people are conning.

fatbelly

Mistee wrote: »

I have been with Gregory Pennington for many years. When I originally joined they promised to work around me and look after me. Things have changed alot! Felt like I was put into a corner in a police cell asking how much I spend - which is cool but the staffs approach was rude and patronising and judgmental. They take a fee every month you expect a good service. Will be looking to go to a free agency. Oh and without my consent they have been charging me income protection insurance. Why? That will be for the Ombudsman to investigate. I will be reclaiming. Do not use this company go to a free agency. These people are conning.

I agree. The FOS can handle complaints about DMCs the same as creditors and debt collectors.

Just make your complaint to the DMC and require their response within 8 weeks.

Then refer that response (or lack of it) to FOS

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/132/132-ombudsman-focus.html

Totally_Deflated

I too have been with GP for several years now, and had a call from them just over two weeks ago for a review! I have maintained my payments all the years I have been with them without a problem, and all of a sudden they tell me that I cannot afford the payments that I have been paying them!! They informed me that I should go to a debt management that doesn't charge a fee? Why didn't they suggest that when I rang them years back ? I am absolutely disgusted at the way they have just dismissed me like that. I requested hard copies of the information I need to make alternative arrangements, and stil have had not received. They have passed my details to the companies I owe money too, which is around three grand now, and have also passed the number of a friends telephone that I used when I had no credit on my phone, knowing that I personally don't have a landline. How evil is that? They know I am retired and not in the best of health, yet show no respect. They haven't even given me time to get another debt management company in place because they have not sent the correspondence needed to do this. They are even going to suggest fee free companies!! I plan to change banks after Christmas too, that will saved another fee, can pay bills with the extra £56 pounds! Totally deflated.

Totally_Deflated

Hi, what bank have you changed to? I need to change, does it matter that you have been with a DMC? Your advice would be really appreciated. Thank you

sourcrates

Totally_Deflated wrote: »

Hi, what bank have you changed to? I need to change, does it matter that you have been with a DMC? Your advice would be really appreciated. Thank you

Hi,

Most banks do basic bank accounts with no OD facility, but they are not widely advertised, you need to search for them.

You should then contact stepchange who who are a debt charity, they will organise a DMP for free.

You can get details of your creditors from your credit file :

https://www.noddle.co.uk/?gclid=CPHZ_NKx8tACFRA8GwodCQgIaQ

Is free,

Experian : http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/statutory-report.html

£2 statutory copy.

Equifax : https://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report.html

£2 statutory copy.

ampersand

Was just shutting down when I saw this topic, albeit op was almost a year ago.
#
I will just highlight CAP as another brilliant, FREE, totally secure, caring, effective, non-judgmental resource for anyone in debt. See my siggie.

Martin recommends them - and they win Sunday Times Business Awards too.
#
https://capuk.org/about-us

https://capuk.org/connect/latest-news/cap-launches-new-report-in-parliament
https://capuk.org/connect/latest-news/cap-wins-decade-of-pioneers-award-at-collections-customer-service-awards-20
https://capuk.org/i-want-help/cap-debt-help/introduction

Please give them a call, if not one of the other free debt charities.
#
re: alternative Bank a/c's. Sourcrates is correct. Even Natwest have one which they don't advertise, but is exactly for your situation, totally deflated, mistee and other recent posters above.

Found this accidentally last week, when obliged to change back to contactless card. I'd deliberately opted away from one, because of a £12 rogue payment showing up from a gunshop! However, when this would not work for night petrol at Tesco, learnt why.

Everyone has their own Bad Bank story, but Natwest have been brilliant to me [oap, never in debt, but massively defrauded post-partner's suicide]

shellbubs

It's good that they are advising you to use a fee-free company, as that saves you money. But it doesn't sound like they have dealt with it very well. Try using the letter templates on the nedcab website (nedcab.cabmoney.org.uk) to request the info from Gregory Pennington, and to make payment plans with the people you owe. That's what i used and it was so simple! You will be debt free so much sooner without Gregory Pennington.

shellbubs

Personally i changed to a basic current account with RBS. I opted to have an account with no overdraft (i had got so used to not having one with Think Money i didnt want to slip into bad habits) but having had a debt management plan didnt have any impact for me.
I meant to say in my last post, not using GP meant i was actually able to save a little each month, and a few months ago i cleared 3 debts in lump sum payments. My credit score doubled almost overnight! Its so encouraging once you can really see the benefits of dealing with it all yourself. I'm still cross at myself for all the money i wasted with GP.

ampersand

Well done, o.p.!

Every CAP plan always ensures some saving each week and some 'me' money each week.
Saving is just as addictive as spending.

Merry Christmas can really mean Merry, not Worry, this year.