Dca Ignoring Requests Because I'm Deaf!! Help Needed Please

Runnybabbit

:mad: Hi All, I am hoping someone can help me with this dilema,

I recently sent a 3rd letter to Metropolitan Collection Services offering 50% in F&F Settlement of my debt. In that letter I pointed out that because I am deaf I was unable to contact them via telephone.

I have received a letter back today saying that my offer was NOT acceptable to their clients, and I need to TELEPHONE them so that we can come to some arrangement !

For gods sake, which bit of I AM DEAF do they not understand :mad: and they have made no referral whatsoever to my disability.

I need to send reply to this letter, sooner rather than later, but I am at a loss as to what wording to use, since they seem to ignore anything that I write. I am desperate for some help guys, perhaps anyone has any suggestions or indeed is aware of the Law where disability is concerned. Babbit x

mumoftwins

Sorry Babbit not very 'up' on how to deal with this but could you put 'I am deaf' in bold capital letters? Surely they couldn't ignore that???

Runnybabbit

Oh, you'd be surprised what they ignore when it suits! x

Ames

Hmm, everything I know about disability law relates to shops and things. But I'd have thought that if they have to make reasonable adjustments then so do places like DCA's. As you're deaf, dealing in writing is definitely a reasonable adjustment! There's also something I've seen in letters on here saying that vulnerable people should be contacted in writing only as they can't deal with the harrassment of phonecalls, I don't know if that would be any use?

There's a couple of disability websites I know that might be able to offer an answer, but I don't know if I'm allowed to post the links? If you want I could pm you them, although you probably already know them anyway!

Runnybabbit

Hi Ames, yes please do PM ME, all help is greatly appreciated x

ZTD

Runnybabbit wrote: »

:mad: Hi All, I am hoping someone can help me with this dilema,

I recently sent a 3rd letter to Metropolitan Collection Services offering 50% in F&F Settlement of my debt. In that letter I pointed out that because I am deaf I was unable to contact them via telephone.

I have received a letter back today saying that my offer was NOT acceptable to their clients, and I need to TELEPHONE them so that we can come to some arrangement !

For gods sake, which bit of I AM DEAF do they not understand :mad: and they have made no referral whatsoever to my disability.

I need to send reply to this letter, sooner rather than later, but I am at a loss as to what wording to use, since they seem to ignore anything that I write. I am desperate for some help guys, perhaps anyone has any suggestions or indeed is aware of the Law where disability is concerned. Babbit x

Couple of things:

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

Note part 1.1 - practiced discrimination

And 2.2-g Respecting debtors wishes re communications.

Also.

http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_rnib003561.hcsp

Reasonable adjustments under the DDA.


First port of call - the complaints department of the company involved. Send it by signed-for, and give them a deadline for compliance - 28 days is not unreasonable. Then if they don't contact you, send copies of all correspondance to the OFT.

Runnybabbit

ZTD, that's fantastic, thank you, shall I incorporate the paragraphs into a F&F Offer letter or send under separate cover. The last thing I need is one department hassling me and the other replying to a complaint. Unfortunately there is no 1 person dealing with my case, just anybody will do!!.

Incisor

Runnybabbit wrote: »

:mad: Hi All, I am hoping someone can help me with this dilema,

I recently sent a 3rd letter to Metropolitan Collection Services offering 50% in F&F Settlement of my debt. In that letter I pointed out that because I am deaf I was unable to contact them via telephone.

I have received a letter back today saying that my offer was NOT acceptable to their clients, and I need to TELEPHONE them so that we can come to some arrangement !

For gods sake, which bit of I AM DEAF do they not understand :mad: and they have made no referral whatsoever to my disability.

I need to send reply to this letter, sooner rather than later, but I am at a loss as to what wording to use, since they seem to ignore anything that I write. I am desperate for some help guys, perhaps anyone has any suggestions or indeed is aware of the Law where disability is concerned. Babbit x

There is no dilemma here, you are just standing a little too close to the problem

Dear <person who does not understand what deaf means>

Thank you for your letter of <date> in response to mine of <date>, offering 50% F&F. Unfortunately, it would not be helpful to comply with your request to contact you by telephone because, as I stated in my original letter, I am deaf. As it appears that you would like to suggest an arrangement, can I suggest that you contact me by <some preferred means> to take this matter forward.

Yours sincerely

<deaf person>

Runnybabbit

Hi Incisor, yes, you may be right about standing too close, but they really rattle my cage when they ignore the blinding obvious, maybe the person who opened the letter was blind? ! Now, there's a thought!

stapeley

May I ask details , have you requested a CCA and a notice of Assignment from them . Without these do not play them a penny!

poorandindenial

These silly !!!!!!, I am drunk and petty and I say write them a letter where they can't fail to miss it, eg

Hello !!!!!!

I am writing to you as a deaf person, sadly I cannot call you on the telephone because I am deaf. Please contact me in writing, I find this easier to deal with because I am deaf, I have offered you a 50% full and final settlement but don't know if you will accept this because you have asked me to call you because I am deaf and can't communicate this way.....

[I am guessing you get the idea] but I am feeling drunk and contrary, it might not get them on your side but they might get the point in the end.

The crazy thing is that if they don't communicate with you in the right way they stand a worse chance of getting their money this side of the next millennium. Perhaps a chivvy of 'I have offered you this but as you seem unable to accomodate my disability I will offer to another creditor if I don't hear from you in x days might speed them up???