Incorrect Debt Collection

MJ-98

Hi,

I went abroad for a year last January (2015). In around October/November 2014 i advised my internet provider that i wanted my month-to-month service to be cancelled on the 12th Jan 2015. I also asked if i could pay this up front which they also accepted (so i wouldn't need to pay it when i was abroad).

After a month abroad i was sent an email requesting payment for another month of internet (obviously extra than i paid for). I found out this is because they turned off my service 2 days late, triggering another monthly payment.

I went into their live chat about 6 times over the coming months (i saved all conversations) telling them exactly what is written above. Every time they said that i had to pay, gave me an incoherent response and generally didn't explain why this had happened. The best way to describe it was like they knew they had screwed up but they didn't have te authority to do anything about it so would just constantly tell me 'I'm sorry but you need to pay'.

Finally, i got fed up. The original reason i phoned in October and i told them (and i quote): 'Every time i try and cancel a service, companies screw it up so i have to phone to confirm that it has cancelled. I don't want this hassle when i am abroad so i am telling you 3 months in advance'. I emailed them my reasons, linked them to all conversations i saved (yet again) and told them i refused to pay.

For the next 6 months, they increased the bill by around £6-7 a month. Today i received a letter that it has been sold to a debt purchaser. I really don't want this hassle. Time is money and the original company have wasted enough of mine.

Can anyone tell me the quickest/easiest way to get this sorted without paying? The debt purchaser has no idea what has gone on and must think the debt is legitimate.

I have never been in debt before so i have no idea what to do in this situation.

Thanks,

MJ-98

sourcrates

Hi,

Official written complaint to the internet provider is the way to go, follow there complaints procedure.
Tell the DCA the account is in dispute with the original creditor, and to !!!! off while its dealt with !!!

Delete33

Big Fan of yours sourcrates, another brilliant post.

midnitegremlin

sourcrates wrote: »

Tell the DCA the account is in dispute with the original creditor, and to !!!! off while its dealt with !!!

Just a thing here, is that official advice, or do you mean it ironically?

sourcrates

midnitegremlin wrote: »

Just a thing here, is that official advice, or do you mean it ironically?

Take it how you like my freind lol !!!!

I hate money grabbing, misery making DCA's !!

midnitegremlin

ha ha! :P Mee too! I just get the impression that they may well have heard that before! The whole system stinks, though.

midnitegremlin

But yeah, this is a really touchy issue- it seems really unfair that companies can do this. Are you allowed to name and shame the ISP on here?

MJ-98

Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure if i can name and shame but would sure be happy to...!

MJ-98

Hi,

Just as a follow-up...

I phoned the debt purchasor today to advise them i am still disputing the debt. They have told me that i have to dispute this through them as they now own it and that the ISP will just redirect me to them. I don't have a problem with this as i can just email them my argument and evidence which they will forward on, however i am a little concerned that the purchasor doesn't care if they win or lose the dispute (maybe they'd prefer to lose as they can claim all the money from me rather than get less money back from the ISP?).

Due to this i just wanted to check if this is the route i HAVE to take? I just feel i'd be more committed to winning the dispute than they will be on my behalf.

Thanks

sourcrates

MJ-98 wrote: »

Hi,

Just as a follow-up...

I phoned the debt purchasor today to advise them i am still disputing the debt. They have told me that i have to dispute this through them as they now own it and that the ISP will just redirect me to them. I don't have a problem with this as i can just email them my argument and evidence which they will forward on, however i am a little concerned that the purchasor doesn't care if they win or lose the dispute (maybe they'd prefer to lose as they can claim all the money from me rather than get less money back from the ISP?).

Due to this i just wanted to check if this is the route i HAVE to take? I just feel i'd be more committed to winning the dispute than they will be on my behalf.

Thanks

Ok, don't speak to these people on the phone, as they tend to come out with !!!!!!!! like this.
They are not offering to help you with your dispute, they are saying you should complain to them, this is totally incorrect.

Your dispute is with the original creditor, makes no difference whatsoever who now owns the debt, as I said before, complain to the original creditor, and stay off the phone to the DCA.

State in your letter that you are aware the debt has been sold on, but as the dispute is with the ISP, they must deal with it.

MJ-98

Okay thanks for the help, i will do.