Hi all I'm new here and its maybe a bit late in the day but I've been reading the problems people have being having with AIC and AMEX, so I'm just after a bit of advise.
A bit of background on my problem first of all.
Around 6 months ago I had moved address, I had changed address with my bank who for some reason decided to cancel all my direct debits. I thought I got them all back up and running apart from AMEX, who admittedly I'd forgot all about. I don't use the card (in fact its cut up and probably lining a landfill somewhere) and just had the direct debit set up to collect £75 per month to clear it, I never even paid it any attention month after month, it was there and it got paid.
Last week I realised that AMEX were not getting paid, obviously I had not been getting any letters at all due to moving address, so I rang them and they passed me around a few departments until I had one person say that they have cancelled the account and will not reverse the decision and passed me onto a company called AIC.
The initial conversation was last Thursday, in which I told them I was more than willing to pay whatever was outstanding (around £350 based on minimum payments by my figuring) and get the direct debit set back up for the £75. The person said let me see what I can do and he'll get back to me the next day. They never did.
Yesterday I got a text message asking me to call them as a matter to priority before 5pm. Which I did and now I'm being threatened with all sorts, if I don't pay £1900.06 Funny how the debt was around £1500. Bankruptcy, unemployment (I'm not sure how), repossession of my home (which is rented ) assets frozen or siezed by bayliffs (what assets, I've just moved out of the parents trying to set myself up for the life ahead, most expensive thing I own is a £200 sofa from Ikea) etc etc
They decided to give me two options, either pay £1400 or pay a down payment of £740 with 12 payments of £95 and if I can't pay ask friends or family to pay it for me(no). Frankly I cannot afford an intial payment of £740 nevermind the £1400, I'm due to call them tomorrow again not even sure what to say to them, and after reading some posts I most certainly will not be giving them my debit card details.
However after discovering this site, I've came to learn that AIC are nothing but bullies. I am tempted to ring AMEX back tomorrow and negotiate with them, but I've been seing a lot of people recommend that I ask for a CCA and not to pay anything until I get this. I'm not even sure what this is, or why I would need it.
So can anybody offer any advice of this most disturbing chain of events.
Like I say I am more than willing to pay whatever it outstanding on the 6 or so months and continue to pay it off, but will not be bullied into paying more than I can afford to. I took the card out around 2001-time (in my silly youth days). Would it be advisable to try and negotiate with AMEX?
Thanks in advance.