Debt sold to 1st credit finance- how to deal with this?

AmIdone4?

devonsdreamer wrote: »

I almost gave in and was going to call them getting him to grunt persmiison for me to speak with them BUT I shall continue as I planned and stick to the letter- The irony is it is costing me a fortune in postage and that comes out of our food budget! Oh well

I was thinking that earlier you know, about you maybe ringing them, ie it's easier to negotiate, BUT, they are a DCA, and even though I only spoke to 1st credit a few times, and didn't have any funds to negotiate a FAFO, they were always quite aggressive, nature of the beast I suppose, therefore would doubt that this particular leopard has changed it's spots and is suddenly ready to negotiate a friendly settlement around the camp fire. I think you're definitely making the right call by continuing the struggle (yeah, go on Devonsdreamer! ) by letter...

Maybe someone else has heard of DCA's being reasonable, but I doubt it :rolleyes:

All the Best

user55

I'm watching this situation with interest as an old debt belonging to dh has just reared it's ugly head and he is considering the full and final offer route. Different DCA though, and hopefully one less stupid!

1st Credit sound very like the company who dealt with my Bank of Scotland debt some years ago - I still have a very very thick file of correspondence between us which consists of my letters making an offer of a payment plan, and theirs demanding I call them about this matter as they haven't heard from me....I think in the end I wrote a very lengthy letter detailing the date and content of every letter I had sent them and demanding that they acknowledge my attempts to pay the debt, and for some reason that worked!

Shoulda just gone bankrupt then now I think about it!

devonsdreamer

I used the letter as suggested on DFW as they ignored my FAFO and this time the response has been a "legal proceedings" letter. Not too concerned as they have sent one before and hubby realises that a CCJ is quite possible. So todays questions are:

1. What happens if it gets to a CCJ (we have never had one before) :eek:

2. I have drafted this to send any imput from anyone:

I write with reference to your letter dated 29/05/08 informing me of your intentions to commence legal proceedings.
I have many attempts to offer you token payments and have requested you furnish me with details to enable me to do so. I have made you an offer of a 'Full and Final Settlement' on 05/05/08 of £350 against this debt. These funds were made available, to me, on the agreement that I settle the account by the end of May. The funds are limited to the amount of my offer of and no additional funds can be made available. I am not in a position to increase my offer however I have been able to negotiate the availability of these funds until the end of June.

All offers of payment have been ignored and you have responded with letters asking me to call your office. I have stated clearly that I am unable to discuss any matters over the telephone as I find speaking on the telephone difficult and stressful.


I would ask, therefore, that you reconsider my offer and confirm, in writing providing me with the details to make payment at a bank, that it is acceptable as Full and Final Settlement of the account, within 7 days of this letter.


I repeat that I can only deal with you by letter, so please do not continue to attempt to pressure me into making contact by phone.


Many thanks for reading

AmIdone4?

Hi Devons,

1st Credit really are excelling their selves ignoring the situation that's staring them in the face aren't they? Isn't it a shame that you can't take them to court for being total to$$ers! :mad:;)

Not sure about the CCJ situation, but if they do take you to court for any reason (which I very much doubt), you'll have loads of evidence to show that you have been more than reasonable in trying to resolve this situation, and that 1st Credit... well, just haven't (God, they really are totally crap aren't they), and this is why they probably won't.

Stay strong though Devons, they are obviously trying to wear you down with mixed messages and generally bad practices... don't let them... the parasitic bar-stewards.


All the Best

AID4

Night-owl_6

1st Credit suck.

Dont put up with there letters!!!!

devonsdreamer

It is easy for me to carry on playing "letter tennis" Hubby leaves it all to me- lol I write the letters (with your help) I get him to check it and send it off. He doesnt even sign them- but he is the one who will end up in court if/when it gets that far. If i left it to him they WOULD have been ignored.

It would be nice to be able to let him know what could happen if he gets taken to court - I assume the judge would look at our income and expenditure and tell us what we have to pay- As I am bankrupt I am use to what we are "allowed" to live on - would the amounts be the same?

devonsdreamer

Well I have sent the letter lets see what they say this time?

AmIdone4?

Good luck Devons, be prepared to continue the war of attrition when they ignore your letter :rolleyes:

tiredteacher

:rolleyes: I have today received a letter from 1st credit re an outstanding debt that has been passed to them by Citicards. I phoned them and was met with similar bullying tactics which included being threatened with court action, bancruptcy etc. I have been given 7 days to raise funds and plan to write to them with an offer, sending an income and expenditure form. Any advise on what to do next? I am concerned that they will take me to court. Help!

fermi

tiredteacher wrote: »

:rolleyes: I have today received a letter from 1st credit re an outstanding debt that has been passed to them by Citicards. I phoned them and was met with similar bullying tactics which included being threatened with court action, bancruptcy etc. I have been given 7 days to raise funds and plan to write to them with an offer, sending an income and expenditure form. Any advise on what to do next? I am concerned that they will take me to court. Help!

It's hard to know exactly what to suggest without knowing a lot more about the debt and your situation.

Your best bet would be to start your own thread on the Debt-Free Wannabe board so that the people there can help you work out the best approach.

A few quick points though.....

Don't panic too much about 1st Credit's threats. These people are very fond of using threats of "court" as a way to scare you, but they are normally very reluctant to follow through on these threats. That is doubly true for bankruptcy, since that costs them a lot of money to do with no guarantee of getting anything back.

If you should have to make them a repayment offer then make sure this is only what you can genuinely afford. These people will try to make you pay as much as they can get away with, but stick to your guns and don't be bullied.

Do everything in writing with them. Don't talk to them on the phone if you can at all avoid it. If you they phone you tell them that you will only deal in writing. They will often try to bully you over the phone in ways that they would never dare put into writing.

I would recommend contacting one or more of the organisations in my signature. It really does help to talk these things through with a professional advisor.