This really 'gets my goat'!

earthmother

Now - a point to bear in mind before you read this - I am not on a DMP with the company concerned (or anyone else right now), and have never even been a day late, let alone missed, a payment to them, so they have no reason at all to think I might need this 'advice'.


I am a customer of Simply Be, and for the last few months, each month an envelope has dropped through my door from them with a letter which starts 'Are you worried about managing your debts?'

Now, so far I have just recycled it, been slightly annoyed with the amount of junk I get from them, and carried on with life, however this month I thought I'd see what they were saying (knowing already that you guys know better, lol).

They 'advertise' (there is no other word) two companies - nationaldebtadviceservice.com and moneyadvicegroup.co.uk - both of which, on first glance at their websites, are fee-charging insolvency or consolidation companies.

I can't help but wonder what cut they get from these companies for acting as introducer - and thinking that they can't be that bothered about their customers debts otherwise they'd be promoting National Debtline and CCCS. And to think of the number of their customers who have probably been sucked in by these guys when there was no need ...:mad:


Anyway - small rant over, and if I am wrong about these companies, then I'll be happy to be set right - not that I intend using either of them.

fermi

If think those companies fall into this category of Martin's:

From: Debt Problems - Where to start, what to do, where to get help

Martin_Lewis wrote:

The wrong people to go to

Avoid any of the beasts that advertise debt help or management on the TV or in red top newspapers. They are commercial companies who simply want to make cash out of you, they don't care. While in the short term their plans will make your payments lower, in the long run it'll cost you dear. Avoid them. Don't touch them. Don’t go near them.

I think this post from the Chat Forum explains it better than I ever can:

"We, my wife and I, are on a seven-year plan with CCCS" (that's the Consumer Credit Counselling Service, one of my recommended agencies – Martin) "having recently changed from a commercial debt management company after hearing Martin on Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show. The simple action of swapping to the CCCS has shaved over two years off the length of our plan as the money we were paying the management company now goes to our creditors instead! Of course, that also means a financial saving of nearly eight grand over the term of the original plans 10 year period."

This includes IVA companies who advertise about “a little known government loophole”. While it sounds good, it’s only for a few people. If it is for you the debt counselling agencies should suggest it.

bank_of_slate

Join the red pen club!
Every time one of these drops through, write MSE in huge red letters all over the form and return it to them in their pre-paid envelope!
...Linda xx

earthmother

Fermi - I think you are right there - it grates that they are being passed off by Simply Be (and probably the rest of the group on phishing trips) as 'the answer'.

Bank-of-slate - I hadn't heard of the red pen club, but it sounds like a very good idea

KittyBoo_2

Love the Red Pen Club.
I always post junk mail back to the sender in their envelopes but this takes it one step further.
Will tell all my mates at work

Broken_hearted

Pay of the simply be account and close it in writing saying you are unhappy with the junk mail. Best of both worlds.

jak

They are really annoying! Red pen club is the way to go!!!!! PLUS stuff the envelope with extra paper so the postage is way more expensive!

10past6

If you want to stop junk mail, click here and register, since joining 3 years ago, I cannot remember the last time I had any junk mail.

One thing it may not stop, that's junk mail from companies your already registered with, that's easy to solve, just contact each one direct, and request they remove you from their mailing list.