Just having a grumble.....

pennyfrog

Every time I think our finances are moving along ok, something comes along! We're sorting things out with debts- got repayment plans in action and, although things are going to be tough for some time, we keep holding on to the fact that this time next year most will be paid off and things will be better.

One of those debts (our biggest at just over £8000) seem to have been passed to a company called Ultimate Credit Services. From what I gather it's Glasgow based. We had phone calls a couple of months back from them (not easy people to deal with) and agreed a monthly payment plan. They've had the agreed amount in October and this month, so we haven't defaulted or anything.

Originally they said that if we paid £3000 now, they'd write off the rest. Very nice- but absolutely impossible! They got a bit snotty and told us to borrow the money from a relative!!!!! Well, our family just don't have that kind of money. You may as well ask for the moon!
Anyway, a couple of weeks ago they rang again and told us the same thing- pay £3000 now and they'd write off the rest. My hubby said "As much as we'd love to do that- it's physically impossible!"

Yesterday they left messages on our phone demmanding that my hubby call them urgently. There were several messages, all in a very abrupt tone. The final one said that they were giving him until 10 pm last night (Mon 19th) to call! We don't even know what for!

I was out all evening (youth work) and when hubby picked up daughter and me, he said he'd been trying to contact them. To cut a long story short(ish) he'd been trying for a couple of hours- got an answer once and was told he was being transferred to the relevant department, only to be instantly cut off! When we got home, he sat from 8.45pm to 10pm trying to get through but all he got was a messge saying that the agents were all busy, please hold, blah blah.....
This is an 0870 number- so we're really unhappy about this!

Anyway, at 10 he gave up. This morning we've found another message saying "This is an urgent message for (hubby). You know very well we're trying to contact you. Call us urgently on...."
I'm livid! They won't talk to me (tried that before- and hubby has knows exactly what was said to who, so more sensible for him to talk them). They seem to be convinced he's doing nothing all day and just not bothering! He's at work and can't take/ make calls like this in his job.

Why do these people believe that if you have financial problems, you lose all rights to be treated politely? Is it really necessary to be so damned rude? Sometimes it feels that having debts turns you into some sort of sub-species!

Sorry to go on. I've just had enough of snotty people (not the first this month!)- just needed to vent!

It doesn't sound good, though. They can't make things tough if we've been making payments as agreed, can they?

Oh well- vent over for now. Off to doctors with daughter now. She has to have a blood test today and she's very needle phobic, poor kid!
See you later.

itsnever2lateisit?

You don't need this hassle. Your dealing with your debt, they are getting their money, and yet in common with all these organisations want more, and use tactics which are no different to bullying. You are well within your rights to write to them insisting that ALL further communication is by letter only. This is your right, and should they ignore the request will be in breach of OFT guidelines

The advantages of communication by letter only is that everything is documented, and evidenced, and secondly it gets you away from the constant hassling.

There is a template somewhere on this board, I will have a look later.

Chin up chuck

happyhappygal

I don't blame you for having a grumble. I think you are being quite calm actually, much better than I would be in that situation.

If they have agreed a payment plan with you, that you are sticking to then they can't amend that.

It sounds to me like their debt collectors are heavily targeted and will do anything to achieve their target...hence why they are always on the phone and not allowing you to get through!

If I was you (or your OH) I would write to them today/tomorrow, recorded delivery if you can and state what has been going on re the harrassment and consequent difficulty getting through to them to return their call. Suggest that they correspond to you only in writing and you will do the same.

The most important thing is that you keep ALL CORRESPONDENCE safe. Including a history of answer machine messages from them, tims you have tried to get back to them, names of who you have spoken to and letters you send them.

Maybe speak to CAB to see if there is anything they can help you with. You are definately in a very strong position though as you have been meeting the terms of your agreement.

Hope the needles wern't too bad!?!? xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Little_Pickle

oh pennyfrog!!!
there are some nasty bits of work out there, huh?
I think, though, that these people at the call centres are paid to scare you... not a nice job... i wonder how they sleep at night? making people scared, sad, sometimes cry even...

I don't know anything about these nasty collection people, I'm sure someone here can give you some advice...my only advice would be, stay angry, don't let them upset you... it's not worth your tears! head up sweetie, you're honouring the payment plan you agreed to - just remember that... they are just trying to move the goal posts...

Good luck, and let us know what happens.

LP
xox

itsnever2lateisit?

As promised earlier, here is a template with thaks to Fermi

Quote:
Dear Sir / Madam,

Re accounts ref

I am writing to you to inform that I request all communications to me in writing. I do not want any further telephone calls made to me.

To continue to contact me by telephone after I have requested you not to constitutes harassment. I require all future communications in writing for future reference and use. Do not telephone me again – remove any telephone numbers you hold for me from your systems.

Your telephone calls are in breach of the Office of Fair Trading guidelines. If you continue with them after the receipt of this letter, an official complaint, together with a log recording the times and frequency will be passed both to that office and to Trading Standards, For your information, all telephone calls are taped.

This type of debt collection method is contrary to the ‘Administration of Justice Act 1970’. In that it is intended to cause alarm and distress to the recipient. Your methods will not be tolerated. A formal complaint to the relevant authorities will be made.

Take further notice that continued telephone calls after receipt of a request not to call may constitute a criminal offence under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

Communicate in writing and ONLY in writing. Your telephone calls will not be answered.

HOWEVER, CALLS WILL TRIGGER COMPLAINTS TO THE REGULATORY BODIES.

I trust I have made myself understood on this matter.

pennyfrog

Thanks for your encouragement and help, folks. It's helped no end.

They got hold of hubby today and told him they hadn't received payment this month and when he told them the S/O had gone out fine, their response was "Well, you'll have to prove it won't you?"

Well duh! :rolleyes:

The bank were really helpful and said the money is definitely where it should be- so if it's gone AWOL, UCS should try looking a bit harder in their own system! The bank are happy to help if needed, so we're ok there, really. I thanked the woman on the phone from the bank for being so pleasant to talk to and for having such a good attitude. She was really surprised to be thanked! It seems that so many people are let loose on phones, who don't have any social skills at all, it's refreshing to find those who know how to conduct a call properly! I've decided I'm going to make sure I thank people more in future!

Honestly, all this company had to do was say to us "We don't seem to have received your latest payment, could you confirm if it has been made" or something like that, rather than be so obnoxious.

Tried to get through to them to say ya boo sucks : (maybe phrased a little more maturely!!!!) but no answer again!
We'll see what tomorrow brings, I suppose.

Anyhoooooo- I'm not all worried now. Oh- and the blood test went well. The nurse was lovely and my poor scared offspring came out saying it wasn't as bad as she'd expected. Phew!

MKDon

Hi pennyfrog,

I'm glad to hear that you got the payment confirmed by the bank.

Don't phone them, put it in writting along with the template letter provided above. Not only will you save the cost of multiple calls to an 0870 number, but they will have no choice but to comply with your request for no futher calls. You will find lots of others on DFW who have done just that and no longer have to suffer the worry and hassle of constant calls demanding more and more money from DCA's.

You might also like to request (nay demand!!) a statement from them, so that you can see that the payment has been applied to your account!!

pennyfrog

Definitely getting all the future contact in writing. That template is really useful!
Good point about the statemant, too, MKDon.
Thanks everyone.

High_Peak_Lass

Hi pennyfrog

Last year I was £300 over my limit with MBNA and I started getting phone calls on the old silent dialler. 15 calls a day at times. Thing is I had got it down to £70 over my limit before the calls started. This seemed to trigger the phonecalls as soon as I was 'nearly there'.

I was studying for exams and they were calling when i was on my revision day before the exams. Got myself into a right state arguing with the monkey, team leader, organ grinder, etc etc etc. who eventually promised the calls would stop, if i could 'just get my debit card out and make a little payment today, we'll get it all sorted out'. GRRR!

I wish id've known about MSE then, id've sent a template letter and avoided some of the stress!

Good Luck and I hope they stop pestering.x