Homebuy-direct problems, please help

athy59

I have a telly with homebuy direct, i rang and asked them what was left on my account., was told £115. Also i am £80 in advance, I then told them when my collecter next comes and i pay £40.00p (more than i should pay.) and with the £80 advance payment the telly is now paid off. Girl on phone said no, i would still owe £115. I told her if i have £80 in credit/advance that i am entitled to that money back or to pay off my telly. I always paid more than i should just in case 1 month i couldnt pay the £40.00p This then would cover me for that month. She told and was extremely rude no it dont and that we dont owe you the money. I then told her if i am in credit with say Gasboard ect i am entitled for that money back. She would not have it, that i am £80 in credit. So what rights do i have?
Far as i am concerned, the telly will be paid off with that £80 credit/advance after paying £40 next month. She also informed me telly is not due to be paid off untill November , i told her where the hell did she get that from seeing as i only owe £115.
I have told her point blank after next months payment i will not be paying anymore towards the telly. Do they have the legal right to take me to court. To say i am fumming is an understatement. I have never known such a inept company since they were taken over. Does anyone else have any problems with this company and what legal right do i have over this company?

hollydays

If you search the site for their name,there is a worrying thread by one of their staff (pre being taken over admittedly).

Did you have some kind of record card you had to sign?
Have you looked at your contract.

Is the company still called Homebuy direct,hadn't they gone into administration?

Is it a 3 year hire purchase agreement,or a pay by meter arrangement?

athy59

Hi
They are still Homebuy-direct.
I dont have meters. (never had.) Its monthly collection of £34.00 a month but i pay £40 .00p as i stated. I read that post, its 2 years old, so need an update on this company. Its a 3 year contract. Due to be paid off very soon.
With yesterday collection, i be even more in credit. Why i want to know more by some-one in the know.
Oh i did forget to put when i said i will refuse to pay for the telly, she told me she get the baliffis in.

I been with Telebank, then Easivieiw took over then Easiview was taken over by Homebuy direct and had nothing but problems since them taking over.
Need some advice on next step please.

hollydays

If you go onto companies house website and do a "webcheck",their accounts are overdue since 2006.

I have read an article i found by googling "telegraph homebuy direct",which talks about Homebuy having gone bust last year,(but no mention of anyone else taking over,)and people who had saved with them,in advance,not getting their money back.

There are a lot of possibilities.The first being, the person in the office doesn't know what she's talking about.,or there has been a misunderstanding?Their accounts are wrong??Your collector has pocketed the money ?

You have signed a legal contract,until you get someone else to look at it,no-one can tell you what to do.If the terms and conditions in the contract are unfair,thats a job for the c.a.b.
How did they keep a record of what you paid? Surely you signed something each time?To argue with them,you need proof of what you paid,and a copy of the 3 year agreement.They have treated customers badly before,so they could do the same again,You will need some legal advice
You need to go to your Citizens Advice bureau now!Take the hire purchase agreement,and your record card with you.
With a Hire Purchase agreement, the goods do not become yours until the end of the 3 years,which may be November.
Some companies used to charge a fee at the end of the 3 years if you then want to own the T.V.,you would need to check this isn't the case here.You also need to find out the name of the Finance Company.This will all be in your hire purchase agreement.citizens Advice bureau will help you.

What telephone number did they give you?

pinkshoes

Some contracts don't allow you to overpay, as they don't want to lose out on any interest, so even though you've overpaid, they'll still keep taking the £34 a month until the contract is paid at that rate, so although they have more of your money, it's not counted towards the balance.

In future, if you have a spare £40 a month, why not open an ISA and save it in the bank, then buy a TV when you've saved up enough. Not only will you get interest on the money in the bank, you'll also end up getting a cheaper TV as you won't have to pay any interest to a rip off company!