Help with 'VERY' account please

[beyondhope]

Im posting on behalf of a friend...she has a very account. Her husband lost his job 2wks ago and as such she has had to miss a payment. Before the payment was even missed she contacted CCCS to see what she should do who advised her that given their situation rent, council tax, gas and electric have to be their priority and to make a token payment of £1 and contact very to explain the situation.

 

She has contacted very who have basically said its tough!

 

They are adding £50 in interest every month and have added late charges even tho she has made a token payment as advised and informed them that it is temporary (her husband has found another job). Their response is tough! We will keep adding charges and it will get passed to a debt collection agency if you dont pay.

 

They have added nearly £100 between the interest and charges just for this month.

 

Any advice greatly appreciated asap

Thanks in advance!

[MARTIN3030]

There are guidelines that Very would be expected to consider and follow,in a situation where a customer is experiencing financial difficulties.

First of all - can you say whether anything has been put in writing ?

I am not familiar with this company but will have a look.

Your friend needs to be putting something in writing to them sooner rather than later.

Do NOT deal by phone or any other means but in writing.

We can help with a letter.

When was the account taken out ?

What are the total arrears ?

[beyondhope]

Thanks Martin

 

I have advised her to put everything she said to them on the phone in writing to create a paper trial for her own protection so to speak

 

Im not sure of the date of commencement of account but will find out. What i do know is the balance was at one point £1200 and she has been paying £100 a month but with them adding £50 a month interest it isnt coming down very quickly at times she couldnt afford £100 a month she paid £80 i believe so quite substantial payments up until her husband lost his job.

I will see if i can get her to register here and update with the info if not just pass it to me and ill pass it on

[cab1ne]

hi bee:D (stalker here)

 

i can't find were a fee of £50 is derrived from

 

Administration Charges

 

If you fall behind with your payments, we reserve the right to impose a charge to cover the cost of any action we may take. We will be entitled to debit your account with any costs incurred by us in respect of any missed or insufficient payment, including but not limited to dishonoured cheques, failed direct debit requests and recharged card payments. Payments received will be applied first in payment of insurance, interest and other charges as shown on the last statement and thereafter in the reduction of the current balance. Administration Charges:

• Copy statement - £5
  
• Immediate credit file update - £5
  
• Letter confirming clearance of your debt - £12
  
• Transfer of your balances - £12
  

Default Charges - Charges are payable by you in respect of the following matters:

• You fail to make at least the minimum payment by the payment due date - £12
  
• For any debt collection activity we undertake - £12
  
• Debtor Trace - £25
  
• Any cheque, direct debit or other item for payment into your account that is unpaid or dishonoured - £15
  
• Temporary payment arrangement letter fee - £12
  
• Transfer of your debt to a debt collection agency - £25
  
• Any court fees & costs incurred by us in pursuit of arrears
  

cab

[MARTIN3030]

Good.

Well from a quick search-I see that VERY are part of Shop Direct.

Associated business shows quite a few CC licence registrations.

In this case here I think this is the principle one;

 

 

Application / Licence Details

 

 

 

Licence Number:0535857

Licence Status:Current

 

Current Applicant / Licensee:

 

Business NameCompany Registration Number Shop Direct Finance Company Limited04660974

 

Categories:

 

Consumer credit Credit brokerage Debt collecting

 

Right To Canvass Off Trade Premises:Yes

 

 

Trading Name(s) (Current):

 

Additions Direct All In Choice Empire Empire Flexible Account Empire Stores Empire Stores Flexible Account Empirestores Empirestores Flexible Account Everyday Financial Solutions Flexible Account Great Universal Index Flexible Account Innovations Kays Ladybird Littlewoods Littlewoods All In Littlewoods Debt Collection Littlewoods Direct Littlewoods Flexible Account Littlewoods Money Littlewooods Direct Flexible Account LX Flexible Account Marshall Ward Shop Direct Shop Direct Finance Shop Direct Finance Company Shop Direct Financial Company Shop Direct Money Very Woolworths

 

Trading Name(s) (Historic):

 

Index Felxible Account

 

Issued Date: 26-Apr-2003

Date Maintenance Payment Due: 25-Apr-2013

 

 

Legal Formation:

 

Body Corporate (incorporated inside UK)

 

Current Individuals that run the organisation:

 

NamePosition Aidan Stuart Barllay Clive Darrell Fletcher Howard Myles Ballay John Paul Mackin Mark Newton Jones Michael Seal Neil Charles Chandler Philip Leslie Peters

 

Historic Individuals that run the organisation:

 

NamePosition Aidan Stuart BarclayOFFICER Alistair Kenneth McGeorgeOFFICER Anne Marie GroarkeOFFICER Anthony John Tufnell ParsonOFFICER Arnold IversenOFFICER Howard Malcolm GreenawayOFFICER Howard Miles BarclayOFFICER Howard Nyles BarclayOFFICER John Neil OgilvieOFFICER Mr Michael SealOFFICER Philip Leslie PetersOFFICER Rigel Kent MowattDirector

 

Current Organisations that run the organisation:

 

NameCompany Registration NumberPosition Littlewoods Secretarial Services Limited

 

Historic Organisations that run the organisation:

 

NameCompany Registration NumberPosition Littlewoods Company Director Limited OFFICER

 

Nature of Business:

 

Investment/Financial Advisers

 

Current Address(es):

 

Address TypeAddress CorrespondenceSkyways House, Speke Road, Speke, LIVERPOOL, Merseyside, L70 1AB Principal Place Of BusinessAintree Innovation Centre, Park Lane, Netherton, BOOTLE, Merseyside, L30 1SL, United Kingdom Registered OfficeAintree Innovation Centre, Park Lane, Netherton, Bootle, Merseyside, L30 1SL

 

Historic Address(es):

 

Address TypeAddress Correspondence100, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L70 1AB CorrespondenceFAO Stephanie Allen Legal Dept, Skyways House, Speke Road, Speke, Liverpool, Merseyside, L70 1AB CorrespondenceSkyways House, Speke Road, Speke, LIVERPOOL, L70 1AB, United Kingdom CorrespondenceSkyways House, Speke Road, Speke, LIVERPOOL, Merseyside, L70 1AB, United Kingdom Principal Place Of Business100, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L70 1AB Principal Place Of BusinessAintree Innovation Centre, Fortune Hse, Park Lane Bootle, Liverpool, Merseyside, L30 1SL Principal Place Of BusinessAintree Innovation Centre, Park Lane, Netherton, BOOTLE, Merseyside, L30 1SL Principal Place Of BusinessPark Lane, Netherton, BOOTLE, Merseyside, L30 1SL, United Kingdom Registered Office100, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L70 1AB Registered OfficePark Lane, Netherton, BOOTLE, Merseyside, L30 1SL, United Kingdom

[beyondhope]

hi bee:D (stalker here)

 

i can't find were a fee of £50 is derrived from

 

Administration Charges

 

 

If you fall behind with your payments, we reserve the right to impose a charge to cover the cost of any action we may take. We will be entitled to debit your account with any costs incurred by us in respect of any missed or insufficient payment, including but not limited to dishonoured cheques, failed direct debit requests and recharged card payments. Payments received will be applied first in payment of insurance, interest and other charges as shown on the last statement and thereafter in the reduction of the current balance. Administration Charges:

• Copy statement - £5
  
• Immediate credit file update - £5
  
• Letter confirming clearance of your debt - £12
  
• Transfer of your balances - £12
  

Default Charges - Charges are payable by you in respect of the following matters:

• You fail to make at least the minimum payment by the payment due date - £12
  
• For any debt collection activity we undertake - £12
  
• Debtor Trace - £25
  
• Any cheque, direct debit or other item for payment into your account that is unpaid or dishonoured - £15
  
• Temporary payment arrangement letter fee - £12
  
• Transfer of your debt to a debt collection agency - £25
  
• Any court fees & costs incurred by us in pursuit of arrears
  

cab

 

Hello my little stalker how are we this eve

 

this is from the email she sent me earlier

 

now i had a statement theres £50 interest £15 phone call charge ? £15 letter charge & £15 collection agency referral charge ? that's basically £100 a month charges ?

[MARTIN3030]

The £50 fee is mentioned as interest Cab1ne.

[MARTIN3030]

• Copy statement - £5
  
• Immediate credit file update - £5
  
• Letter confirming clearance of your debt - £12
  
• Transfer of your balances - £12
  

Default Charges - Charges are payable by you in respect of the following matters:

• You fail to make at least the minimum payment by the payment due date - £12
  
• For any debt collection activity we undertake - £12
  
• Debtor Trace - £25
  
• Any cheque, direct debit or other item for payment into your account that is unpaid or dishonoured - £15
  
• Temporary payment arrangement letter fee - £12
  
• Transfer of your debt to a debt collection agency - £25
  
• Any court fees & costs incurred by us in pursuit of arrears
  

[pompeyfaith]

The £50 fee is mentioned as interest Cab1ne.

 

How would the interest work out as exactly £50 dont sound right to me.

 

PF

[MARTIN3030]

These rates are very questionable.

A subject access request would cover ALL statements for one fee of £10

 

The debtor trace fee and other fees are open to challenge.

 

The £12 fees are obv in consideration of the OFT investigation and conclusion into CC charges in 2006-which the industry appears to think is a yardstick.

The OFT however,whilst agreeing to a blanket £12 fee did go on to say that only a Court could decide if the £12 was fair and not a penalty charge.

 

I would suggest sending a subject access request and asking for all charges back.

 

 

I would also suggest making a request under the Consumer Credit Act for a detail of payments made/recieved any interest and fees added etc.

This would cost a further £1

 

 

I see from their CC licence entries,that they have a couple of DCAs who are associated group companies.

 

I therefore would ask how they can substantiate £25 for a trace ?

[beyondhope]

Ive given her a link to this thread and recommend she join if not she can give me the info needed to proceed unlike me so goes to bed a reasonable time tho so it wont be until tomorrow lol

[MARTIN3030]

Something not right any case.

 

 

Some food for thought then.

 

1.Letter in writing to their reg address.

 

2.CCA request

 

3.Subject access.

[beyondhope]

Thank you all I will be sure she gets this info and at least does those for now

Thanks again

[cab1ne]

Hello my little stalker how are we this eve

 

this is from the email she sent me earlier

 

now i had a statement theres £50 interest £15 phone call charge ? £15 letter charge & £15 collection agency referral charge ? that's basically £100 a month charges ?

 

i am very well thankyou. it reminds me of that word, Errrrm its coming, oh yes "RIP OFF"

 

The £50 fee is mentioned as interest Cab1ne.

 

gotcha, " on track now"

 

cab

[beyondhope]

cab if you want to stalk go me and read my other thread in legalities im stuck

 

Thanks again all

[MARTIN3030]

Btw-their DCA arm is called Nationwide Debt Recovery Ltd.

[beyondhope]

i am very well thankyou. it reminds me of that word, Errrrm its coming, oh yes "RIP OFF"

 

 

 

gotcha, " on track now"

 

cab

 

 

arent all these charges and the companies are 'rip off merchants'

[beyondhope]

Btw-their DCA arm is called Nationwide Debt Recovery Ltd.

 

Thanks Martin

[MARTIN3030]

now i had a statement theres £50 interest £15 phone call charge ? £15 letter charge & £15 collection agency referral charge ? that's basically £100 a month charges ?

 

 

So this is presumably a 1 month statement ?

 

£15 phone call charge ???????

 

Jeez where was they calling from Russian Mobile ?

[cab1ne]

cab if you want to stalk go me and read my other thread in legalities im stuck

 

Thanks again all

 

i shall go forth and have a peek:rolleyes:

 

cab

[MARTIN3030]

Looks like they need to be taken to task-and given a taste of their own medicine with a few demands of your own;)

[cab1ne]

now i had a statement theres £50 interest £15 phone call charge ? £15 letter charge & £15 collection agency referral charge ? that's basically £100 a month charges ?

 

 

So this is presumably a 1 month statement ?

 

£15 phone call charge ???????

 

Jeez where was they calling from Russian Mobile ?

 

apparently its all done from the far east:eek:

 

cab

[beyondhope]

now i had a statement theres £50 interest £15 phone call charge ? £15 letter charge & £15 collection agency referral charge ? that's basically £100 a month charges ?

 

 

So this is presumably a 1 month statement ?

 

£15 phone call charge ???????

 

Jeez where was they calling from Russian Mobile ?

 

 

I assume it is a one month statement....

 

@ russian mobile!!

[beyondhope]

i shall go forth and have a peek:rolleyes:

 

cab

 

 

fankoooo i dont know if time order is the way to go or what im still too gutted to think straight

[beyondhope]

Looks like they need to be taken to task-and given a taste of their own medicine with a few demands of your own;)

 

 

Im sure we can all help her as if hubby being unemployed and them having to worry about rent isnt enough im so thankful that my credit rating wont allow me a catalogue I have enough of a fight on without those crooks as well!