Do I have to send Argos details about my medical condition?

Iwanttobefree

Hi all.

Been on my DMP for a few years now, due to failing ESA medical, have been making temporary token payments while awaiting my appeal date.

Have informed all my creditors of this and that the appeal will be sometime in early Feb (it had to legally be before 14th, now have a date of 9th)

Since day one, I've only ever had major problems with two creditors. Creation finance has been an ongoing battle since day one, and involved the ombudsman (who turned out to be useless), and Argos Card Services.

All the rest, even ones passed over to debt collecting agencies, I have no real complaints about, might have had to sent the odd letter but everything was quickly sorted.

Argos has been kept fully up to date, the account is my wifes, she has informed them that it's me that's unable to work,. not her, and shes informed them that my appeal is in Feb.

Today, they have sent a letter saying the payment arrangement is no longer in place and if we want it re-instated, to send an updated financial statement (I have told them all I will send them one in Feb following my tribunal).

In addition to this, they have asked for details of her health problems that are stopping her from working.

Apart from their incapability to grasp that it's my health problems (sorry I'm a little stressed), surely the fact that my GP has signed me off and said there's no way I can work should be good enough.

I don't want call center staff seeing detailed information about my health problems, I don't see that it's anything to so with them.

They also add on their letter that when they receive the medical documentation, they will treat it as here consent to hold her health info on their records.

I'm tempted to simply ignore it and send out a new income/outgoings in Feb as I originally said, but knowing them, they will put on a load of charges and refuse to budge on refunding them.

elsien

If the account is in your wife's name then surely it's her ability to pay that is the issue, not yours. Or am I missing something?

sourcrates

Hi,

When creditors are been deliberately obstructive, or just plain stupid, instead of letting it stress you out, just remove them from the equation instead.

Ignore them, i`d even stop paying them as well, it will encourage them to default you and sell the debt on a whole lot quicker.

It will most likely be picked up by Cabot or Lowell, or another debt purchaser, who will be a whole lot easier to deal with, Lowell especially offer good discounts, which would offset any further charges added by Argos.

I never like dancing to someone else`s tune, I much prefer to do things my own way.

sourcrates

elsien wrote: »

If the account is in your wife's name then surely it's her ability to pay that is the issue, not yours. Or am I missing something?

That`s the whole problem in one sentence.

Iwanttobefree

We are on a DMP, some debts are my wifes, some are mine, all went to token payments when my benefit was stopped pending appeal.

Fireflyaway

So to check my understanding, neither of you work? I can't see how your condition is any business of Argos, if the credit isn't in your name.
I've always refused pointblank to discuss my income or expenditure with collectors. I make an offer and that's it. Yes I made mistakes but I'm entitled to privacy.
I'd just make an offer. State what you can afford and tell them you are setting up a standing order, end of.

unforeseen

But they don't want HIS medical info, they want the wife's because they are wondering why she doesn't work

Argos don't care about his medical problems because the account isn't his and they didn't ask for them

fatbelly

I agree with Sourcrates on this.

It sounds like you are already on a long-term debt management plan and now the DWP are messing up the income you had.

Have you looked at the various forms of insolvency as other options?