Baillifs

CheeksCheeks

Hi 
I was in a payment plan with Marstons and paying every month by direct debit, it was a CCJ. I've worked really hard to pay off my debt and this was the last one. 
Then, out of the blue, I had a baillifs calling card through my door. I called the number and asked what on earth was going on. After a short conversation with him he agreed to contact Marstons and find out why they had stopped taking payments! In the meantime I had been making payments on line. When he contacted me by text he said that 'they cancelled the payment plan' but doesn't know why. And that they're happy to reinstate the payment plan but that I must pay him a £250 deposit!!! 
Since then I have been unable to make payments on line and only have the option of paying the outstanding amount in full!! 
Any advice? I don't have £250 to pay him! I have made it clear that I absolutely want to pay the debt, and was doing so! I don't understand how it's come to this and I don't know what to do next. 

Thank you in advance for any advice. 

sourcrates

Hi, OK.

Who is the CCJ in favour of, who is the creditor?

What type of debt is it, and why are you paying Marsden`s instead of the creditor direct?

Brie

Have they given you payment details?  If so you might be able to set up a standing order so that they get the money in installments you can afford.  

CheeksCheeks

The original debt was for water. A result of bad choices and burying my head in the sand! No excuses really! I had so much going on at the time im not even sure what happened! I think it was sold to UK Search and then to Marstons. I finally removed my head from my butt and started sorting my debt! The Marstons one was my last one. So I was making payments to them.
I have contacted them and asked them to reinstate the payment plan as it wasn't me who cancelled it! They have replied that all contact to do with the matter must be through the enforcement officer, who is insisting on £250 to reinstate the payment plan. I don't have that kind of money spare. 

sourcrates

How much is owed still?

Marston`s do buy debts, apparently, I wasn`t aware of that.

I would send a written complaint to them, ask why the payment plan was ended, and why a payment of £250 is been asked for, tell them you simply cannot afford it, its a difficult one as they are not the easiest company to deal with and the regulation is so poor that they can get away with this behaviour.

fatbelly

I doubt this is owned by Marstons. Likely still owned by the water company. The cancelltion of payment and subsequent visit was so that the bailiff could add the £235 enforcement fee.

Copy the water company into the complaint and refuse further payment until the fee is removed.

If you can establish that the water company owns the debt then you should be able to force payment to them

CheeksCheeks

Hi sourcrates. The original debt was for 1372. I have 850 left to pay. I offered to continue with 30 pounds a month, which is what I was paying as well as the odd payment since they stopped the payment plan! It sounds to me that they have sold the debt to this 'enforcement officer'? I have heard that they do this?
He's told me that if I pay the 250 I can then pay monthly whatever I can afford! It seems very odd to me that they have removed my option to pay any amount other amount than the full ballance. 

CheeksCheeks

fatbelly said:

I doubt this is owned by Marstons. Likely still owned by the water company. The cancelltion of payment and subsequent visit was so that the bailiff could add the £235 enforcement fee.

Copy the water company into the complaint and refuse further payment until the fee is removed.

If you can establish that the water company owns the debt then you should be able to force payment to them

I'll contact the water company today. Thankyou 

sourcrates

Agh I was looking at a 3rd party site that assumed, wrongly, that Marston`s bought the debts they chased, they don`t, they just act as collection agents.

More incorrect internet chatter, OP its quite likely your debt is still with the water company.