Getting free of Debt collectors

Howikay

a few years ago I signed up for a 3 SIM card, never used it and called and cancelled within the 30 day timeframe. Didn’t owe anything.

12 month later I get bill and demands for £300. I call and explain that I cancelled in time and never used. I thought the end.

9 months later I get debt collectors letter who then call and send me letters. I call them and explain. They say they’ve closed the case.

9 months later now I’m getting demand letter from another new Debt collector (Lovell this time). 

I mean I’ve explained this so many times at this point, seems they just pass me onto the next debt company who will buy my record.

must be illegal, no? How do I stop this for good?

ryanm8655

I’m sure someone with more experience will advise shortly (sure I saw a similar thread recently, so might be worth a browse).

Do you have a record of cancelling originally? Do you have it in writing from 3 that you cancelled or acknowledging that you cancelled when you got the £300 bill?

Have you tried calling 3 again? 

sourcrates

Lowell, have now bought your debt, they will not be aware of the events prior to the purchase of the account, convince them the debt is not owed, and they will make a commercial decision and write the debt off, thus bringing this sworded event to an end for you.

Howikay

Thanks - yes I can do that. But the problem is this is happened before, I called the previous debt company and did like you said.

Is there a way I can be sure I will stop from being passed from company to company? i.e. stop it once and for all?

Howikay

ryanm8655 said:

I’m sure someone with more experience will advise shortly (sure I saw a similar thread recently, so might be worth a browse).

Do you have a record of cancelling originally? Do you have it in writing from 3 that you cancelled or acknowledging that you cancelled when you got the £300 bill?

Have you tried calling 3 again? 

Thanks - yes I did a search before I posted and couldn't see anything.
No, I called 3 and cancelled originally (but they would have recorded the call)
Yes, I did call 3 again and they said that's fine...but I still get the demand letters from the debt collection company

Can do these steps again, just want to stop it once and for all as super annoying

sourcrates

From time to time this kind of thing happens, the difference this time, like i said before, Lowell have now bought the debt, in good faith, where as before, it was probebley still owned by 3 and was been passed around various collection companies, who would not have been interested once they realised a dispute existed.

The onus is on them to prove you owe the debt, not on you to prove you don`t, unfortunatly if 3 have incorrectly marked your account as still showing a balance, then Lowell will just provide you with that evidence, and you will be no further ahead.

You have two choices, the first is the quickest, the second a more, roundabout and laborious route.

So, the first choice, put everything down on paper, as you have explained it to us, if you have evidence of payment, enclose a copy, send it all to Lowell, mark your letter "complaint", provide the right reference numbers etc, one of 3 things will happen, they will either, dismiss your complaint, say balance is still due/uphold it and write off the balance/or dismiss it, but as a gesture of goodwill, write off the balance, that is how they usually deal with complaints, by one of those routes.

The other way is to make the same complaint to 3, and if that is unsuccessful, escalate the matter to the telecoms ombudsman (Google is your freind) for 3, all this can take a long time, but again, if option 1, fails, option 2 is the only other way.

Howikay

Makes sense - thanks for the advice. I’ll do number 1

appreciate it!