Brtiannia Music and Film Club and Intrum Justitia

tigerfeet2006

Glad it was of some use :j

greer17

Hi

Just received two letters in the space of five days saying I owe 14.48. I never receieved thus DVD from Britannia music and film, spoke to someone at Music and Film at the time who said ok and to wait till next catalogue arrived. I never knew that they had gone into administration until this thread, so have written Intrum a letter saying as such and I will wait on reply. Although reading these threads am not holding out much hope!!

fermi

truly.maddy.deeply wrote: »

Well just watched it on watchdog - didn't say much really did it!! LOL

Seems to have rattled IJ and the DCA industry though.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

http://www.credittoday.co.uk/news/news-item.htm?news=499

Watchdog bites Intrum - 30/11/2007

Debt collection agency Intrum Justitia has hit back at the BBC’s Watchdog after it said the firm has been unfairly chasing customers of the defunct Britannia Music Club.

Three customers of the club, which went into administration earlier this year, appeared on the BBC programme complaining about Intrum’s pursuit of debt they didn’t owe.

However, according to the company, its portrayal was one-sided and inaccurate.

Intrum said the report gave the impression it was still chasing customers after they had notified the firm of no outstanding debt and that Intrum had not resolved the complaints featured.

A spokesman told Credit Today, however, that this was not true and that all of the cases which appeared on the show had been resolved before the customers got in touch with Watchdog and before the programme makers contacted Intrum.

In a statement issued, the DCA said: "Before being contacted by ‘Watchdog’, we had already concluded each of the three cases the programme featured and were unaware these customers had any cause for complaint.

The firm also claims it followed standard protocol at all times given the information it was provided and only sent two letters in attempts to retrieve outstanding debt, which went out a week apart.

"At the start of November, the Club’s liquidators asked us to seek payment from people who, we were told, had received products and had not settled their overdue accounts. We did so via initial and follow-up letters following procedures which are routine in the credit management industry."

Intrum added that once customers responded to dispute the data outlined in the letters, it carried out the relevant checks to verify the customers’ claims.

"In addition, more specific details about those items received by Britannia’s customers are available via our telephone Customer Service team, all of whom are trained to ensure that they provide customers with the best standards of support possible."

Out of the 17,000 Britannia customers who received letters concerning unsettled accounts, only 50 complained to Watchdog, many of whom did so without notifying Intrum of their complaints following encouragement by consumer websites.

The report follows a Watchdog programme earlier this year in which it criticised three other DCAs for alleged mis-tracing. Watchdog subsequently apologised to the three.

Credit Today contacted Watchdog but nobody was available to make a comment.

Butterfliesarepretty

Did anyone watch the programme watchdog!

JAMESTALKALOT

shawtj2 wrote: »

Did anyone watch the programme watchdog!

I watched it, but thought it did not help much. After 3 phonecalls to IJ and information sent to them to prove I owe nothing I've not heard anything back from them. They told me they would call me but as yet they have not.

Why are they now saying they can tell us what this dept is for when we have all be told they cant do that?

I've got a feeling this is just going to drag on and on. I expect another letter in 6 months or so saying I owe ££££ and probably from another dept collection company as I think IJ are just going to send our info back to Britannia and they are going to say we still owe them cash.:mad:

Well I've got the proof I owe them nothing so if they want a fight I say "bring it on" because they are not getting a penny from me.

jhluxton

KelvinFagan wrote: »

A bit disappointing they did not tackle IJ as firm as they seem to tackle some companies, but I think they must be thanked for looking at IJ and Brittania on our behalf.

Yes it was very disappointing - I wonder just how many have paid up and not queried.

There really are two issues here, the unsubstantiated claims for money AND the bullying nature of the letters and lack of a reasonable time scale to enter into dialog with IJ.

John

MiffedChris

fermi wrote: »

Seems to have rattled IJ and the DCA industry though.:rolleyes::rolleyes:

http://www.credittoday.co.uk/news/news-item.htm?news=499

So my account is now clear? Excellent - well done "Watchdog" and thank you!

However, "Intrum Justitia" haven't told me this is the case, so as far as I'm concerned my account is simply "on hold" as I haven't received a letter or phone call to this effect.

When I asked the representative to confirm receipt of my fax on 20th November 2007, I was told to phone back in 2/3 days (again at my expense). I haven't done this and don't see why I should have to - particularly as I was advised I would be contacted by the Company to advise closure etc!

Hopefully the thought of being named and shamed on "Watchdog" again will help "Intrum Justitia" focus on how it deals with its clients in the future as clearly genuine debts need to be recovered.

:T

Haystax

Just seen this thread and I am concerned that many people are phoning IJ. You have to write, use one of the letters in the thread, and dispute the amount. Send the letter recorded delivery. The onus is on IJ to prove the debt and they cannot as they don't have the details behind the claims. Furthermore, as I have no agreement with IJ they cannot charge admin charges for chasing the debt.

My own situation is that I paid what I owed and no more. I also threatened to charge them for my time in responding to any letters that I deemed excessive. Now IJ have written back stating that the account has been removed from their files and that any furhter correspondance should be sent to Britannia. Of course, they still show the admin charges on the balance; this will be the next challenge when another DCA is chosen to chase the balance (IJ admin charges).

Simple rule - put it all in writing and send it recorded delivery and retain a copy of the letters.

Haystax

MiffedChris

Intrum's UK address (according to their web site) is:

Intrum Justitia,
Warwick House
Birmingham Road
Stratford-upon-Avon
Warwickshire CV37 0BP
United Kingdom


The correspondence address for Britannia (as shown on the "offending" letters) is PO Box 7182, HARLOW, CM19 5WF - however you cannot send "Recorded Delivery" items to a PO Box, which is probably why so many of us decided to phone them (then they have your phone number as well! :rolleyes: ).

Chris

chasingamy

Hi,

I have received two letters from Intrum Justitia regarding two Britannia Music accounts I had years ago, but it's a little bit different to the letters other people have received asking for money to be paid.

The letters are dated the 21st December 2007 and they state the following:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Client - Britannia Music
Clients Account Number: ************/****
Intrum Justitia Account Number: **********

As a result of a review here at Intrum Justitia, we have identified that there is an overpayment due to you on the above account.

Our client was not aware of this overpayment until recently and has asked us to refund it directly to you as soon as possible.

In order for us to return this overpayment to you, please telephone us on 0870 333 7015. Should this not be possible then please complete the tear off slip and return it to the address below.

Yours faithfully

Mrs T Smith
_______________________________________________________________

To: Intrum Justitia Ltd, PO Box 3252, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 0ZH

Intrum Justitia Ltd Reference: **********

Please accept this as authorisation to refund the overpayment amount to me on my above numberd account.

If there are any queries, please contact me on telephone number _ _ _ _ _ _.

Signed: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Date: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Please print your name: _ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _

I did get into a bit of trouble with Britannia Music when I had these accounts. I took these accounts out when I was a student and I kept forgetting to send the CD's and DVD's back to them that they sent to me each month, and I didn't pay my bills.

Silly I know but when they sold my account onto Intrum Justitia to claim the money back I owed them, I paid it all back. They did at one point have two Debt Collection Agencies on to me at once for one of the accounts, and I think I paid the money outstanding for the account to each DCA. It as only for about £60 however and I just left it as it was my own silly fault for paying them both. This is the only overpayment I can think of, and I wasn't aware of any overpayment occuring on the other account.

I have moved address and changed my telephone number since I had my accounts with Britannia Music, and I only got these letters because my mail is still re-directed by Royal Mail from my previous address.

Has anyone else received this type of letter from Intrum Justitia? I thought it was a bit odd as I believed that Britannia was in administration from other posts I had read, so I couldn't understand why they were offering me refunds. They also haven't stated how much money was overpaid, which I also found odd.

I am worried because I know that these debts were paid and this letter just seems a bit strange. I was wondering if this was a scam to try to get my address and contact details, so that they could state that the money wasn't paid back. I thought it could be a way for them to claw back money. Has anyone else received similar letters from them or can anyone advise on this matter? I don't want to ring them just yet in case it is a scam as I don't want debt collectors harrassing me for money that is not owed, and I am not sure I could now prove I paid it as it was a long time ago.