What would be a fair offer?!

Confused_Newbie

Hi Everyone

Just looking ahead a little. I had previously posted about hubbys credit card that was with Northern Bank, basically the debt has been transfered to Apex who are hounding us by letter and telephone day and night. So far we have 'ignored' their calls as they were previously very rude and to be honest scared me half to death! Anyway, we have just sent a letter to them requesting the CCA.

However last night we got a nice little surprise of a cheque for £3000. Credit card balance currently stands at £3900. The whole thing is really getting me down and to be honest I am very tempted to just call them and offer them a settlement figure. Cant really afford to offer them the full £3000 that we recieved in the cheque as it couldnt really have came at a better time for us.

Basically I suppose I am asking if anyone has any idea what a realistic settlement figure would be or how I go about working it out?

xoxox

brightonman123

write saying you maybe able to make a f/f payment, ask what they will accept- could be less than what you were expecting to pay.. or may offer £2k to start?

GeorgeUK

If you make an offer, as BM says, make sure you get it in writing that it is a full and final settlement offer before sending any payment. Most DCA's buy a debt for 10p-15p in the £.

I would offer 30% and go up to 50% if really pushed.

Make sure that you inform them that this offer is available for only a short time.
http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=24_full_and_final_settlement_offers

Are you currently making any payments towards this debt?

Confused_Newbie

Hi George

No at the moment we are not making any payments towards it which I know is really bad but I am trying so very hard to get us out of the mess we are in. Will this make a difference? So basically if I was to write to them offering them say £1170 (30% of total) and tell them this offer will stand for x weeks. Will I have to tell them where we got the money from?

Sorry if these all seem like silly questions I dont really have a clue what I am doing to be honest!

GeorgeUK

You don't have to tell them, but if they ask you can say a family member has offered you a loan, but you may not be offerred it again. If they haggle and then ask how you can afford more, you can tell them it's the loan and some emergency money you had set aside.

Basically, they couldn't care less where the money is coming from as long as they receive it. If you get into more debt to pay it off then that's not their problem. I'd make the amount 1200 though

stapeley

Hold on ! not so fast ! You have put in a request for a CCA , the account is now in dispute until they produce it . Which in many cases they can not . If this is the case account is unenforceable ! If they continue to call you just be firm and state account is in dispute and no attempts can be made to enforce the debt until a CCA is supplied .! In the mean time I would write to NR and ask them to confirm that the account has been transferred to APEX , and if they are a collection company acting for NR .Or if the account has been in fact sold to APEX . I would advise also that you email CCCS and request a guide to full and final settlements .

Confused_Newbie

Ohhhhh on information overload now! lol but its very much appreciated!

Ok so I need to email CCCS to ask them for a settlement guide, do I go into detail as to why I want it or do I simply ask for it?

So I also need to contact Northern Bank to ask if the debt has been sold or transfered? Is there a difference? Would there be a template for these letters anywhere? Im not really much good at this kind of thing to be honest! If Apex dont send us back the CCA what does that mean?

Again sorry for all the questions!

Confused_Newbie

Can any of you night owls help?

stapeley

A simple request no need for detail . Some DCA,s buy up debts , they should also have all details of the account . If they are just collecting on behalf of the OC, they have got to get all the details off the OC . Also any settlement figure has to be agreed by the OC . You are more likely to get a agreement on a low settlement figure if a DCA has purchased the debt . But no CCA NO ENFORCEABLE DEBT .