Payday Express & harassment!!

[owlsyerfather]

Long story short, I got into a bit of mess with payday loans to the point where I eventually went to a debt management company. Like the idiot that I was, I forgot about Payday Express and felt rather positive that, given their actually rather helpful way in being that you roll over x amount of times, they attempt to 'help' by taking a little bit more to lower next month's payment. Well, that's what they suggested, asking for email confirmation which I gave them back in April. Little did I know that their interest rate was going up, and therefore they conveniently failed to receive my email and took the lot, leaving me completely screwed on my pay day. But it's ok, they say when I call them up to say hey, what the heck were you doing, because they can offer me another loan! And, since my plan had been to pay them in full a couple of months later when I'd be in a better position, I did because I'm a moron like that.

 

Cue a few weeks ago when I finally bit the bullet and admitted that actually, with utility and vet bills to pay, I couldn't handle it. I discovered this, by the way, the day that my payment to the debt management company was the payment to bounce. Luckily they were really nice about it, and have taken on Payday Express.

 

Obviously they didn't get their money when I got paid, and that day they phoned my home phone eight times to speak to me between 9 and 6, and once in the evening which I actually missed. The next day they called a similar amount of times, and my mother took down their number and asked me to call them back, which I did instantly. When I told them I was with a debt management company, they said the name and told me they'd refused their offer, and asked if I'd pay the settlement figure they had. Obviously, I said no. They told me they'd have to at some point start proceedings against me and it would affect my credit rating (I think I actually laughed at that), and I said please do, their collection company will have to acknowledge the amount they're offered. (To my knowledge at least). In the meantime, would they be so kind as to stop calling my home phone because they're winding my parents up with the number of calls they make.

 

Later the same day, I get another call from them. I told him I'd already spoken to them. He knew (?) and then started asking me questions about why I won't pay a settlement figure if I can afford to now I'm with a debt management company. I told him about that stunt they pulled in April/May and said I realise he probably has a target to reach but he's not getting anything out of me, I'm with a debt management company and speak to them, don't call me.

 

A couple of days later, I received another call from them. The woman checked my details, read off the information she had on the screen, then said she was sorry, she much have made a mistake in calling me, and that was that. Starting yesterday though, they're back to phoning more than 3 times a day. My mum doesn't know how many times they called as she actually has a social life and was out half the day.

 

I'm sure there was a more concise way of saying all this but I figured I'd give you the details!! Are they at that point yet where I can threaten them? I'm actually rather placid, REALLY not good at threatening, but I'm pretty sure this constitutes harassment now!! There isn't a single detail I can give them to make their call worthwhile!! Even their emails asking me to contact them, but disregard the email if I've already spoken to them.

 

I don't suppose anyone has any amazing advice out there by any chance...?

[havinastella]

Hi and welcome to CAG.

 

Firstly and most important, look in the library for the telephone haressment letter. Send it via email and hard copy ASAP.

 

Second, never talk to these people on the phone, refuse to answer security and tell them in writing only.

 

Third, how much was the original loan and what have you paid back? How much do they say you owe?

[owlsyerfather]

Hiiiiiiii!

 

Thanks - I will. I did send an email to them earlier which may not have used all the legal terminology I should have... I wasn't as polite...

 

Not talking to them isn't much of a problem - my mother's taken note of several varying numbers they call from and doesn't answer, but she doesn't really get it when I say I shouldn't speak to them. I only called them back at her request because of her frustration and to tell them to not call my house phone. (There answer was "I know but we couldn't get an answer from her mobile" - that's because I had it cut off!!)

 

At the moment I'm standing at £584.60. The original sum to pay back I believe (including interest) was £477, from I *think* £370.00 loan. Obviously it's not a lot in theory, realistically it's a catchup situation.

[renegadeimp]

You only owe the original loan plus original agreed interest. Let them justify their inflated and unfair charges/interest if they want more. They'll have a job to justify contractual interest after the initial contract has ended.

[Bombaymix]

Grrrrr @ payday express.

Bad memories of this bunch of animals. Still to this day I hope with sincerity that PDE are one of the first of hopefully many to go belly up when these companies are exposed for exactly what they are.

 

They did eventually accept my debt management plan after months and further charges.

 

Follow the advice, DO NOT speak to them on the phone, as you're learning, you're getting no where fast in talking to them anyway.

 

Send them the telephone harassment letter by recorded delivery and I they still call, complain to EVERYONE.

 

Hope you get sorted soon. I believe as time goes by, they will consider your DMP. Worst case scenario, they'll pass it on to a DCA who will be more likely to accept your DMP. But whatever happens, make sure you only pay back loan amount plus one months interest... They can whistle for the rest

[owlsyerfather]

HA! Loving you, Bombaymix! I hate to admit it but I did refer to them as illiterate snipes in my politer email... Last check when I called home, they have so far called four times today.

 

I will look into a list of everyones. I'm pretty certain that they'll keep calling as clearly they're unable to review notes on a screen before they call. During a call, they're still incapable of reviewing notes.

 

I'm sure everything will die down soon. I'm presuming they may be a little panicked over the fact that clearly I will never have anything to do with them again. I presume up until now my notes told them how amazingly witty and brilliant I am to speak to...

 

On a serious note, thanks for the advice so far. I do appreciate it, and I just wish I'd consulted the forum before sending them the barrage of (justified) abuse. Just running a test now to see if they've received my rant. If my phone rings, I'll know they have!! Then I'll have fun using the blacklist function on my phone. Hopefully it'll give my mum a break from running to the phone and groaning every time she sees their numbers on the screen (although exercise is brilliant.)

[Bombaymix]

Just wondering how you're getting on with my good friends over at PDE?

[owlsyerfather]

Ooooooooh, HOW indeed... Well. Here's the general gist of it:

 

Since my very incredibly polite email to them (I know, that reeked of sarcasm), I called them to tell them to remove my home number as it's pointless harassing my mother at times when ordinary humans are at work. The chap duly did.

 

I got home and was told there'd been a call about 10 minutes before. I called them and fair play to the chap on the end, he was alright to talk to. I do feel sorry for them at times, it's hardly like they grew up thinking "One day I want to work for Payday Express and take other people's crap!" Well, he said he could see my number's been removed from one system, but not the other and apparently they have 2. He asked the reason for the removal, and I said they have the ability to call 8 times a day between 9 and 6, and since I'm not home between those hours, they're cruising for a maternal bruising. He said fine, and did so.

 

We didn't have any calls the day after, nor for the rest of the week, and just as I was beginning to feel unloved, suddenly I get the text coming through to my phone. Ah-ha, I think to myself, they've received my emails finally.

 

Monday morning, mid jog-to-work, my phone rings (I was highly grateful for the interruption too. Until I found out it was them) and I confirmed my details, saying to her that this would be the final time I *do* confirm anything, and it's only being confirmed because I wanted it official when I say "please see your notes from the last three times I've spoken to your company." She then informed me the company could call up to 8 times a day on any given number until they receive payment. Fine, I said. My work number's outgoing only, and all their numbers are blacklisted in my phone.

 

Then my mum calls me to say that yes, they have called twice so far. I spoke to the woman at 8:30am. My mum called at 9:15.

 

Now, forgive my stupidity, but I thought that their ability to call 8 times a day applied only to days when the person they wish to speak to didn't answer. And incidentally, they NEED to change their text message from something more accurate than "We have been trying to contact you regarding your arrears, please contact us urgently." It leaves a false impression. You know, one that says I haven't actually had any contact with them that day.

 

Anyway, true to my word, I didn't answer a single call, and I forwarded my emails with the telephone harassment letter email AND recorded as you said). When they'd called my home for the 8th time, I called them and asked if it would be at all possible for my dad to speak to them on my behalf. They agreed. I'd in the meantime forwarded everything I'd sent to them to my dear papa and he agreed that there was pretty much no room for any misunderstanding in any of it. Strangely, since he called them and asked to speak to a supervisor (who, by the way, was very busy and would have to call him back), there hasn't been a single call.

 

The last text I had was saying about passing over to another company (I got told on the phone that happens on day 49 or something though...? which frankly, I welcome.

[renegadeimp]

If you revoked their permission using the telephone harassment letter, then they are not allowed to call at all. you need to be making full complaints in writing to the oft pdl and to Ofcom.

 

Dont talk to them on the phone anymore. Simply ignore and get those complaints filed.