After months of non harrassment from debt collection agencies I have recently experienced what seems to be a change of tactics; denying previous repayment agreements, denying receiving proof of wages/benefits, and income & expenditure forms through the post. Even if you sent recorded delivery. The big thing is they can record calls, and their staff types a synopsis of what was said after a phone call but you, the debtor, doesn't record the call and whatever you say was agreed in that call is just hearsay to them later, as you can't prove it.
A repayment plan was set up between myself and Sainsburys Bank, and later they denied all knowledge and refered me to a debt collector. I cannot prove the repayment agreemenet was made and do not know whether this is a tactic or a genuine mistake on their part.
Also Marlin Financial Services of W Sussex who collect for HSBC are claiming they have not received any repayments, even though my bank statements say they have. They are denying receipt of bank statements sent and proof of wages, despite previously saying they had received them, They are saying they asked me for proof of wages again last week, when they didn't. I can prove the payments were made but can't prove I sent the other details. There does seem to be a lack of communication between departments with them, and if something has genuinely got lost and they are not just denying recieving it, it means you have to take the trouble to send it again unsure of whether they are going to admit recieving it. They have now said they have passed me onto a field agent, who I can show the proof to at the door.