Odd credit card activity...!

sourcrates

Cabot will not be particularly bothered about you not been the debtor, as far as they are concerned, they just want paying, and they are not really that bothered who pays, as long as someone does.

If you want to complain about this, you must complain to Cabot first, and follow their complaints process, only once that is exhausted can you escalate the matter to the financial ombudsman service.

Going straight to the ombudsman will only result in them informing Cabot they have a complaint to deal with, which won`t be a bad start to be fair.

As for them having teeth, well yes and no, occasionally companies don`t abide by FOS decisions, and whilst the majority of them are honoured, a company risks enforcement action by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) the regulator, if they persistently disobey FOS decisions, this can be anything from a slap on the wrist, to a full blown, root and branch enquiry, unlimited fines, removal of consumer credit license or suspension of said licence, an order to remove directors, re-train staff, re-brand the company name, they have very wide ranging powers to deal with such matters, so Cabot will play ball, without a valid consumer credit licence their business is defunct overnight, so yes, the teeth are there.

AdrianMessenger

I have made direct complaints to Cabot, and it does sound as if their business model includes ignoring initial denials.

I first had advice from CAB who were useful. I've sent a lengthy complaint email - headed 'letter before action', following a template from a debtline website- CC'd to various contacts within, including:

...If you fail to resolve my complaint within eight weeks from today's date, or if matters are not settled to my satisfaction, I will have no alternative but to escalate my complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service...

The FOS have an open case for me awaiting the Cabot response. A few weeks to wait.

sourcrates

Err, a "letter before action" refers to a possible court claim, ideally the word "Complaint" would have sufficed, but I`m sure it will do.

AdrianMessenger

A small response received - an acknowledgement of an error, from the card company. I hadn't mentioned this, as it was TMI, but at one point, a second debt firm, (additional to and separate from Cabot), was referred to, by a 'director', saying I should contact them, to arrange payment - which significantly muddied the water.

Now, a small apology from them - he was mistaken. Just sloppy and random work by them.

Otherwise, business as usual. Having heard nothing from Cabot for a while, I'll leave matters until the deadline.