Just give them a call! My own story...

Legacy_user

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tattooed_lady

Well done :T

As you say you are only at the beginning of paying your debts back but things will be alot easier to deal with, and that feeling of being in control of your life again is priceless!

[Deleted User]

Congratulations Dave.

Debt never goes away no matter how much you try to ignore it. Facing it and dealing with it is best way to regain control and get your life back.

Good luck for the future.

Hobo17

I second this. I had to call the first of my creditors on sunday and let them know that I'm dealing with payplan - I was expecting them to hassle me for payment straight away. I launched into a long spiel about token payments and my planned IVA, only for the guy on the other end to cut in and say "If I can just stop you there madam. We have frozen all interest and charges on your account for the next 42 days, if we receive an income and expenditure from payplan within that time and the suggested reduced payments seem reasonable, we will continue to freeze all charges.". It was that simple! I'm sure they won't all be that easy, but still...

leela_2

Hi Dave,we are currently in the same situation as you ,contacting all our creditors and making token payments.We have decided to write rather than ring as im a big scaredy cat! Although worringly none have got back to me yet.Im hoping they arent pretending they havent recieved them or theyve got lost in the post.

klare_2

just had to add to this that my post office told me that you need to send things special delivery not recorded delivery which cost about an extra 3 quid. Apparently recorded DoeSNT guarentee that the letter gets there it just records whether it does or doesnt...and also the consistency in them actually getting recorded deliveries signed for is attrocious.
With special it is guarenteed delivery and you have a lot more clout if companies claim they havent got them etc.
Also i did all my notifying of companys by mail as i was too frightened to phone them, told them all that i would now only deal with them in writing too. However the letters seemed to take ages to get through their internal systems ( I mean as in their different admin departments not their digestive system!!) and there were one or two who tried to pretend they hadnt got them but then slipped up by quoting bits of the correspondence!! DOH!!
Just stick to your guns and well done.

tomh_2

bham-dave wrote:

MBNA - and I’ll be honest – have been the worst of the lot, but nothing too bad! They’d passed my a/c to a Debt Collection Company – “Credit Solutions Ltd” (“CSL”) – to immediately recover the arrears. CSL themselves told me that they will pester me constantly by phone, letter and text message until I sorted the a/c out (there’s honesty for you!) and advised me to speak to MBNA’s Debt Management Team to try to convince them of my hardship.

I'm not sure if this is relevant, but I'm sure that I've read on here that you can write to Debt Collectors and quote one of the consumer credit acts, and request that all correspondance is by mail only.

You might get a letter a day, but at least it keeps it on your terms!!

crossleydd42

CSL should be very careful of their actions because:

Creditors are warned by the Office Of Fair Trading that they should not: -

* Bring unreasonable pressure to bear on you in default of payment

* Falsely claim that criminal proceedings can be brought for non-payment

* Falsely imply that they may legally seize property or take other action without going to Court

* Impersonate a Court or any other official person, by letter or by telephone

* Make nuisance visits and phone calls, or use abusive or threatening language in person, by letter or by telephone

* Leave messages for you to contact someone urgently with no explanation

* Contact you at work, or the customer's employer with intent to create embarrassment and create fear of dismissal

* Wait outside work on payday

* Park outside your door in a vehicle marked 'debt collectors'

* Call on the neighbours, pretending to believe the neighbour is you

* Send insufficiently addressed postcards

You cannot be prosecuted in the Criminal Court because you have not paid a consumer debt, but some creditors may try to make you think you can, this is also illegal.

If you feel you are being harassed, you may take the following action:

The first step is to write to the creditor and outline your concerns regarding the company's behaviour. Inform them that you are familiar with the terms of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act and ask that the creditor take steps to avoid similar occurrences in the future. Make suggestions as to how youwould prefer to be contacted by the creditor and ask that they confirm their agreement to this in writing.

However if you do feel the need to make an official complaint regarding a creditor, this should firstly be made to your local Trading Standards Officer. If Trading Standards will not act it may be worth contacting the Office of Fair Trading.

Back to Question

What action can my creditors take against me?

This really depends on the type of debt and agreement that you signed initially. You need to be aware of the consequences of non-payment as for some debts it is much more serious than others. Your priority debts are so called because the ultimate outcome is more severe.

Priority debts are:
NON-PAYMENT OF THIS CAN LEAD TO THIS


Mortgage / 2nd Mortgage / Rent Loss of your home
Secured Loan / Secured Overdraft Loss of the item given as security. This could be your home
Council Tax Attachment of earnings / Bailiffs* / Imprisonment**
Magistrates Fine Bailiffs* / Imprisonment**
Inland Revenue / VAT Bailiffs* / Bankruptcy / Imprisonment**
Gas / Electricity Pre-pay meter / Disconnection / Large reconnection fee
TV Licence Fine / Imprisonment**
CSA / Maintenance Orders Deductions from earnings / Imprisonment**
Existing County Court Judgment Attachment of earnings / Bailiffs* / Charging Orders
Hire Purchase Loss of goods

Non-priority debts are:
NON-PAYMENT OF THIS CAN LEAD TO THIS


Credit / Store Cards County Court Judgment
Unsecured Loan / Overdraft County Court Judgment
Credit Sale County Court Judgment
Loan Shark Threat of violence
Loan From Family / Friends County Court Judgment
Catalogue Not enforceable if you have
not signed a credit agreement

crossleydd42

You'll emerge all the stronger for the experience, if you succeed.

tattooed_lady

Hiya Dave!

Have you tried the Co-op? Apparently they do a basic account which I've heard is good. With regard to you buying DVD's - we all need to have the odd treat now and again otherwise what's it all for?? Good luck with getting a new account and well done for what you've acheived so far :T

Sparklemonkey

Is is scary but you are doing the right thing, well done on your efforts so far :T

It's great to have a place where we can all meet and discuss things, this board is a Godsend!