New member seeks non-urgent tactical advice.

[victoria_siempre]

Hi all - and it is a great site.

 

Usual story, 15years+ of accumulated cc debts (50k+ some old some new). Made redundant and struggling to meet priority bills. Went through fear, embarrassment, guilt etc and thanks to this site now have some fighting spirit.

 

Ccs egg 2, nw 2, bcard 1, mbna 2, santander 1 - some mine, some OH and some joint.

 

I have taken advice from NDH and written to all explaining situation, including household income and expenditure statement and requesting 6 month moratorium, freezing interest and charges and offering zero payment.NDH also advised not speaking to them by phone and under no circumstances to make even a token payment. We have opened a bank ac elsewhere to pay priority bills. We have no assets, interest only mortgage and very minimal (now) equity in house.

 

So far all have acknowledged letters. Nobody has accepted this offer (NSSherlock).

 

Aegis call from Delhi with security questions re MBNA/BofA 4 times a day. I no longer answer phone. (their number is unavailable on 1471)

 

Egg call 4 times day.

 

Barclaycard have written saying it's 'not their policy' and ask for payment.

 

Natwest have said they will default accounts but haven't done so yet.

 

So, really I was just looking for some tactical advice - I have lurked through all the threads.

 

Thanks now and in the battles to come.

 

victoria_siempre

[dx100uk]

first port of call cca everyone

if some are 15yrs then odds on no cca exists...

 

i'd also look at reclaiming unlawful charges and p'haps mis-sold ppi?

 

dx

[sillygirl1]

If possible get a printout of all the incoming calls to your phone and send a copy to OFCOM and Trading Standards and the OFT, that should start the complaints cycle going.

 

Keep a folder for each debt then you can track who is chasing it, it is surprising how many will chase for three months, the their 'legal' people will chase, then back to another company all under the same address...

 

Don't speak to anyone over the phone and eventually they will soon give up calling, my favourite when asked for security questions is "Who is calling..." when asked why I reply "Because I have a different password for each company due to security reasons...." shuts them up straight away. Haven't had any calls for months now...

 

Other people will be along to help out.

[victoria_siempre]

Thanks dx for speedy response.

 

I'll cca all starting with oldest first.

 

There is no PPI on any and charges will be minimal because accounts were kept in pretty good order until now.

 

vic

[victoria_siempre]

Thanks sillygirl for speedy reply.

 

I now ignore the calls and I have used your approach; I do though appreciate the importance of complaining.

 

Aegis are interesting because BofA still write seperately and don't mention Aegis, although all the Aegis letters are posted from Chester but are written over a Mumbai address that it tells you not to write to! Has anyone had any success in complaining about Aegis - I'll try writing to MBNA/BofA in the first instance.

 

Thanks again

 

vic

[crispybacon]

Hiya

 

Well done on getting stuck into this! This is a great site with loads of good advice.

 

Echo previous comments, also if the phone calls are getting you down or are intimidating, if you can stretch to it buy a device to record the calls then complain, complain, complain. I think a good device is called Trucall?

 

Also look for the letter template on telephone harrassment and send this out.

 

Keep sending the offer regards your DMP and reinforcing the message that you can only offer what you can afford nothing more.

 

Above all try and relax and remember these people have no legal powers whatsoever

 

Good luck and keep us posted

 

Crispy

[Sea Gull]

Victoria

When they acknowledge the letters what did they say?

As for Aegis everything in writing please - You do not give any security details to Mumbai over the phone

after all how do you know they are legit

[victoria_siempre]

Hi guys

 

i haven't given Aegis any security details and now don't answer the phone. Their number is 'not available' on Bt systems. you cannot write to them. this makes logging calls and complaining difficult.

 

The replies are at various stages in my process but so far:

 

egg - need to arr arrange minimum payment plan and pl contact us + loads of phone calls; ignoring for now

 

MBNA - ditto + Aegis dimension

 

Barclaycard - not 'policy' to accept zero payment for 6 months but no harassment; not replied yet.

 

Rest in various stages of development and will post separate threads as things emerge.

 

Vic

[victoria_siempre]

Hi all

 

A brief update on progress for info only:

 

I have read all threads, judgements (carey etc) and the 'book'.

 

Aegis (MBNA) sent Mumbai postcard from Chester on Aug 19 saying they '..will be calling..'. I phoned them (I know) and they undertook not to telephone me or write to me ever again. So far they have not. No further contact from MBNA yet.

 

Egg (OH cards) maintained telephone harassment until Aug 20 when I answered phone and we had a 15 minute conversation (I know). They undertook to not call me 9.00 - 5.00 and so far have not called at all. No further contact yet.

 

Barclaycard (ex. MSDW) wrote 'zero payment not policy..' and started phoning Aug 19. Letter received Aug 24 saying passed to Mercers who would issue DN. Letter from Mercers received same day with default notice and response date of Sept 6 - I'm not bothered about DN. Lots of rude, aggressive and automated calls from Mercers. CCA sent to BCard.

 

Santander. Newish card. Quite a helpful chap explained that they would not accept zero payment and would just 'pass it on' but would accept £5 pm. Nothing formal done on this yet.

 

Everything else in various stages of fermentation.

 

best wishes to all

 

vic

[victoria_siempre]

Hi folks

 

An update on progress.

 

I am still feeling my way with regard to tactics.

 

Barclaycard (MSDW and very old). DN from Mercers. CCA sent to Bcard but no response. I will send dispute letter in about a week. No phone harassment for two weeks.

 

Bank of America (on today's letter, aka MBNA): .'... if you do not make payment of...or phone.. we will pass your account to litigation unit.' 'One of the following actions may be taken...'.Only one call in two weeks. I will CCA shortly.

 

Egg: OH 2 cards. Loads of calls and I keep repeating my mantra of can't pay (not my cards) not won't pay. Today received letter headed 'CAPITAL CREDIT AGENGIES (a trading style of Egg Banking plc licensed to supply credit)' headed IMPORTANT NOTICE. If I fail to contact them within 72 hours I will be referred to 'one of our specialist agents...'. Will send CCA shortly.

 

NatWest: one very old card, one new - 2 DNs received. Will send CCAs shortly.

 

Holding exercise on 2 other new cards.

 

I am making zero payments to anyone on advice from National DebtHelp Line which the cc companies helpfully referred me to. I am not discussing this on the phone as advised by same. I have no money for food (I am still feeding my dog, Basil, because he his not to blame). Harassment engenders suicidal thoughts which does not help me in my search for work. etc etc

 

I was always taught to make haste slowly in war (Festina lente) but am I being too cautious: all view gratefully received.

 

Best wishes to all CAGGERS

 

vic

[Sea Gull]

Vic - Regarding Capital Credit Agencies - I think they are in house, unless its Capital Credit Recovery, and you can find them on google, just a bog standard DCA so same rules apply.

You have done all you can do - at the end of the day once you have asked for CCA or made an offer which is acceptable and as long as its a token payment of a pound, there isnt a lot they can do!

It works on a basis of she will give up before we do - its like the 30day round robin

Send letters saying I will not discuss anything on the phone - Writing only

 

As for food - if you look at all the debt plan advice - you are allowed by law to eat!

So start feeding yourself!

Debts will be here a long time after you have lost weight and slipped down the plug hole

Keep smiling

[Sea Gull]

Have googled all the DCA you mention - check out Mercers, well known for bully craptics

[Sea Gull]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?61448

 

Vic read this thread might help you rest a little easier

[victoria_siempre]

Thanks for the support Sea Gull

 

I'm actually very calm, though I wasn't before I found this site.

 

Much of this is about tactics and I am in a fortunate negotiating position:

 

 

• "What's the definition of a Communist?"
  
• "Someone who owns nothing and wants to share it with everybody"
  

Les Dawson or Karl Marx

 

Again love to all members on this site

 

vic

[Sea Gull]

You are most welcome - If you can treat it like a job, daytime research and doing what you need to - NO PHONE CALLS mind you finish on Thursday so no post opening until monday am

that way you have a peaceful life - I worked out a long time ago nasty letters arrive the day before Chrismas or a Friday when you cant do anything about it.

 

Trust me this knowledge could have saved me 10yrs of worrying and a lot of grey hairs!

Funny really I never lost any weight tsk

[victoria_siempre]

Hi guys

 

Just an update so my original mentors dx, sillygirl and sea gull don't think I've gone to sleep.

 

All quiet on the western front; no letters this week and down to one 'phone call per day - not curate's egg.

 

No reply to CCAs, sent all the usual; I am holding OCs responsible for DCAs' actions 'that appear to be in breach of OFT guidelines' etc.

 

More importantly bloody rats have appeared in my garden; quite friendly, they come up to a ledge on a large picture window and stare in (thought I'd overdone Aldi cider not on I&E statement to start with); do we have a template to send to rats?

 

My fault really as I've neglected the garden. Trouble is the OH has seen them through the window. Now banned from t'internet tomorrow on pain of a curious surgical procedure: don't want to CCA or SAR her (she once threw an iron at me which fortunately went through bedroom window and only cost me £60). Do we have a template to send to other half?

 

Seriously though this is a great site with great support (better than the hush-puppies); I was very depressed but am now completely sane.

 

love to all members of this site.

 

vic

[dx100uk]

hehe

been there done that too

 

duck

 

dx

[Sea Gull]

Hi Vic Glad that things are ok - as I said hang in there and use the time for research - as for your littl ratty experience you can borrow my cat - having said that little bugger brings them in, so maybe not such a good idea lol

Keep Smiling x

[sillygirl1]

Get hold of the local council and they will sort out the rat problem free of charge (I've just had them charge £75 plus VAT for one mouse....)

 

Pity there isn't an effective way of sending off the delinquent DCAs....

 

Keep up the good work and let us know if there is anything you need help with or want to rant off about anything...

[victoria_siempre]

Thanks sillygirl

 

Rats are work in progress.

 

Some advice is needed:

 

Santander card - newish card 1yr old so haven't CCAed yet.

 

Sent same letter as to all, can't afford anything please freeze for 6 months and accept no payments for 6 months. Refused to fill in their I&E, bank statements etc but told them I'm acting on advice of National debtline.

 

Yesterday, received usual notice of default sums and statement plus Notice of Interest rate increase on card with effect from Nov1. I 'can close my account and repay the balance at the existing interest rate'.

 

I've read other threads re FOS and not jacking up rates prior to termination (they haven't sent a DN yet but have reduced my limit and told me verbally not to use my card).

 

I believe there is OFT guidance on being sympathetic to debtors experiencing difficulty.

 

I would like to write to them with some form of compliant that can be later referred to FOS but does anyone have any advice on how to play this?

 

Thnaks to all

 

vic

[sillygirl1]

Write this to them

 

"On xxx date I informed you that I was experiencing financial difficulties and wanted a freeze on the interest on my account to enable me to work out an affordable repayment scheme which would benefit all my creditors, to my utter dismay I received today a notification of Interest increase.

 

As a result of your communication (I can only assume somebody hadn't pushed the 'off' button when sending out this automated letter I now require a copy of your complaints procedure. To send this sort of automated response is NOT helpful and is clearly designed to maximise the arrears which are already gathering on the account. As you have invited me to close the account I wish now to do so and require written confirmation that all interest has been frozen at the ORIGINAL rate and NO INTEREST INCREASE will ever be applied to the arrears.

 

I already have sufficient evidence to complain to the Ministry of Justice, Office of Fair Trading, Trading Standards about the unfair way I have been treated. I am trying to resolve this matter and you have now forced me to escalate it to a complaint. My local MP is also being informed of your behaviour in this matter.

 

Get that off asap and let us know how they respond.

[victoria_siempre]

Thanks sillygirl, I'll send something along those lines.More pressingly, Ive just received ‘true copy’ of CCA from egg re request sent Sept 15. It is very small and barely legible photocopy. The 2 two pages that don’t appear to be from the same document.

Page 1 ‘main financial terms’ – no credit limit, no mention of penalty charges, account number is handwritten across top..

Page 2 – two signatures boxes signed and dates seem OK.

Then 19 pages of ‘conditions and 14 pages of current T&Cs.

Nothing else except covering letter.

Any advice please on what to send next (I can’t access the library).

Thanks in advance

 

vic

[Petejc21]

god advice from sillygirl

[victoria_siempre]

Hi all

 

Just an update to hopefully help others.

 

I first found this site on August 16, and don't think I would have survived without the help and learning I've received.

 

Rats have now gone, or appeared to have disappeared.

 

3 accounts are in dispute due to harassment, and I have 8 week 'we're sorry that you've had a complaint etc....' letters; so the compliant via Consumer Direct worked. I haven't paid them anything.

 

3 accounts are now on £1 a month with charges and interest frozen.

 

2 are still fermenting.

 

My eternal thanks to original mentors.

 

And I am alive and kicking.

 

vic

[wilchil64]

I've been keeping an eye on your thread as well as posting myself in my own thread. It's great to hear you are getting somewhere. I agree, the folk on here are great, I don't know what we would have done without them. We have two lower payments accepted, five to go!

 

How did you put the 3 accounts into dispute? Does that mean you don't need to make payments to those accounts? Did you complain to them about telephone harrassment etc.? I've sent off two telephone harrassment letters to creditors recently. Haven't taken it any further though. After one day last week when we had 12 (!) dropped messages on our answer phone, it's gone quiet again.

 

Anyway, keep up the good work. Good luck.