Wescot Credit Services and ntl 'debt' (merged)

OREILLYBruce

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

It's entirely possible that Wescot are contacting you regarding this. You say you had legal advice ... did you get an acknowledgment, in writing, from NTL that this was not your debt? If so, I suggest you reply to Wescot and send a copy. If not, then you are going to have to negotiate with them if, indeed, it is regarding this debt that they are contacting you.

I had "dealings" with them once over a Telewest bill. The bill was paid and I sent a fax to show the amount debited to my credit card. They either ignored or lost the fax and sent a follow-up letter even more agressive than the first. I called and explained I'd faxed proof of payment. Their attitude was one of "pull the other one, luv". I asked for the name of someone to send the fax to or an undertaking that they would call me to confirm receipt of a further fax. They refused. I tried to suggest that sending a fax had no guarantee, due to the "problems" with the first fax. They were unsympathetic and insisted I pay the bill (again).

In the end, I found out the name of someone senior at Telewest, from their website and relayed the story to them. Westcot stopped pursuing me, but never wrote to confirm that the debt was indeed cancelled.

They were extremely unpleasant to deal with.

I rather suspect that the NTL debt is still on NTL's books somewhere and that it's been sold on to Wescot.

As a first step, I would ask them for details of the debt and a copy of the bill/correspondence sent to you by NTL. Or, if you had an acknowledgment that it wasn't your debt, just send that. I would suggest not ignoring Wescot .. .or if you do ignore them, then start to pay attention if they issue a CCJ!!

They are not a scam - just an extremely unpleasant firm of debt collectors.

HTH - good luck

RE: Wescot

I keep receiving letters from this company; The CAB informed me that they are at the bottom of the pile; they use the most threatening letters to panic you. They are acting illegally; You do not have to answer the door, if they obtain possession an old law covers them to remove your goods, you open a window and inform them they are tresspassing, they have no legal rights to visit your property, they will then inform you they are advisors and not baliffs, if the debt has not been to court they are acting illegally, you would know if it had been, and you only have to let a Court baliff into your house, which only happens if it has been to Court. The CAB claim, they do not allways come out, and if they do, do not let them in...
Send a letter offering a minimal payment of £1 they will refuse, but keep sending it, then if it goes to Court, you have a record of minimal payments and it will go no further, but it will not go to Court, they buy the debt for a small ammount of money for example, £10s and even if they get this amount they have got more than they paid for it. Do not be bullied, they will give up and sell it to another company once they have visited and you tell them to go away; repeat the same process to all the other companies...they have no legal rights. They can only take your possessions, if you allow them in, they are not legal baliffs.

LindaThorn

Hi I'm Linda,
I'm with the debt management company, I paid them £6000 to clear most of my debts from my pension pot as I am now retired. One of my debter's, (a well known bank) sent my debt to Westcott and I paid the £1600 through the debt management company which took the money and resold the debt to another debt company. However now they now want me to repay that £1600 again to Westcott and they resold the debt AGAIN.

So please be aware of Debt management companies unless they are official government companies.

Linda.

namid

Hi, everyone I found this site via searching for information on Westcott Credit Services and have been reading replies to this post.

Late last year My Sons Company went into liquidation, he had signed an agreement with his company bank that he would guarantee an overdraft of £14.000 and of course they bank chased him for repayment. Unfortunately he's not able to pay the debt due because he is now unemployed, doesn't have any savings and he also lives at home. He started to get letters from Westcott asking for payment in early January. It's only recently I've realized that they have actually brought the debt from the bank and therefore feel I need more advice.

Since the first letter we have kept them informed the best we can and we have let them know we would be seeking advice regarding the debt. On Saturday we received a letter from a solicitors stating payment was required asap or they would go to court. We are sending a letter offering to pay £1.50 per week to help clear the debt and told them he only received unemployment benefit of £68.00 and pays £50 reduced board and lodgings, leaving only £18.00 per week for his himself.

At the moment we are still trying to find some help and the Citizen Advice say we should contact Business Link. My son has phoned, but, was unable to get through.

I really could do with any advice, whether what I'm doing is right or wrong. Or what our next step should be.

I also should add that the debt was also in his partners names too.

Thank you in advance of your replies.

Namid