Capital One debt - advice required

~Beanie~

Hi

I have a Capital One credit card and have got behind with my payments. I had a letter today saying that I needed to pay £95 immediately and then another £75 before the 28th.

I explained to some woman in Timbukto that I simply don't have £170 and that was why I was phoning them. She said that I could pay on 27th (my payday) but because it wouldn't get to them by the 28th, I would incur further late charges. I said to her that I can't afford the whole £170 just like that so she just kept repeating in broken english 'Well we need full payment...' I did offer to pay some now and then the usual minimum on payday but that wasnt acceptable.

She said that because it wasn't over the limit it was just missed payments that they couldn't come to any sort of payment plan. Very helpful I don't think. The letter they sent me said 'Our collection specialists are skilled at helping customers in difficult situations and they may be able to help you find a payment solution.' Well no they aren't and no they can't.

I ended up losing my temper and slamming the phone down. Does anyone know what the next step is? Will they send it straight to a debt collection agency or something?

I'm not trying to dodge paying it but I simply haven't got £170! I already posted an SOA on the DFW board, should I send them a copy of that and a letter explaining my circumstances?

Thanks

Bismarck

No real advice other than losing your temper won't help. What I do is end the call and try again and hope to speak to someone on your wavelength - especially if it's not a straightforward call.

Try again tomorrow and say you had a bad line today...

~Beanie~

I know losing my temper won't help but it is very frustrating when you are trying to explain your problems to someone in India who just keeps repeating the script that they obviously have in front of them.

I don't know whether she could understand what I was trying to say or not but I was having major problems understanding what she was saying to me!

I think phoning again will just get me straight back through to India (and I will lose my temper again) so I'm going to write to them.

If we can't come to some arrangement regarding repayment of the missed £95 payment, are they likely to get a CCJ against me or send it to a Debt Collection Agency? That is what I would like advice on the most, what is likely to happen.

Cheers x

thefuturesbright_2

Ask to be put through to their English call centre or to someone who speaks fluent English.

Sue-UU

Hi Beanie,

I'm sure I'm right in saying that on speaking to a foreigner who does not understand us, that we have the right to say so and to ask to speak to someone who DOES! At such a time you do at least need someone there that understands exactly what you're wanting. Try again tomorrow and all the best! Please let us know.

Sue.

Merlot

Beanie,

They will not send this to a debt collection agency yet, but they will keep adding the fees, I know only too well that Indian call centres are really frustrating, write a letter tonight, explain the situation and your repayment plan and post it tomorrow recorded delivery. Get POD off the Royal Mail website, I least they can't say they haven't had the letter.

Merlot.x.

Sue-UU

Merlot wrote: »

Get POD off the Royal Mail website, I least they can't say they haven't had the letter.

Merlot.x.

Hi Merlot,

Can you please tell me why, after sending the letter by RD (& presumably having a POD receipt given to Beanie/anyone), you'd then need to go to the RM web site and get a POD - or is there something I'm not aware of? Aside from brian cells I mean!!!;)

Sue.