Home Retail Group Fiasco

[Mountain]

Hi,

 

The other year I was continuously 'locked out' of my Argos/ Home Retail Group account. Unfortunately I had to have emergency spinal neurosurgery so had other more important things on my mind. During my recovery I wrote to them several times explaining the scenario...I was on sick pay with a protracted recovery time.

 

Home Retail Group initially ignored me, sent me demands, lost 3 income/outgoings finance forms. Then attempted to charge me a whole years interest for a card that due to being locked out I was unable to access.

 

So, to cut a long story short, the FOS found in my favour, made them refund the interest, and left us to arrange a reasonable payment. Fair enough from my perspective.

However...that was last December. I'm back in work, but in a reduced capacity.....worse off financially.

 

I have now written 4 times offering a very reasonable payment. All I get in response is 'please contact us by writing to make a re-payment offer'. Erm I have 4 times. SO that is the never ending saga.

 

However....having spinal cord damage, and hence mobility issues I rely on my car for everything, including getting to work. I need new tyres. So I tried to pay monthly via a tyre company. I figured taking the hit of the interest over a year was preferable to shelling out all in one go. I was turned down.

 

Now despite a few wrangles with unscrupulous companies (usually due to them messing things up) I've always had a very good credit rating. Always good when checked via experian etc. I have never ever had any issues with obtaining credit.

 

Checking my credit file for the first time since before my big operation, I find out I have a poor credit score wholly due to Home Retail Group issuing endless defaults.

They issued defaults when I couldn't access my account(FOS ruled in my favour) and also for every month since last December when I have been asking them to sort the payment out and send a direct debit form.

 

I've written today asking them to redact these alleged defaults.

However...knowing Home Retail Group the letter will be ignored or they'll pretend it didn't arrive.....as with seven previous written communications sent to them.

 

What I could do with is the email address of Home Retail Groups head of complaints.

Anyone have this?

Any other ideas?

 

I'm now looking at driving to work in the North with almost bald tyres due to Home Retail Group sabotaging my credit rating. I can't walk very far, so if I get stuck in the snow I'm stuffed.

[fkofilee]

No no no .... They will have issued just one default... Its just how they report it on the CRA Files so you dont need to worry.

Your score should not be taken as concrete.

 

john.walden@homeretailgroup.com - CEO

 

Drop him an email. FYI, Argos is obliged to report correct information to the CRAs. If an account has defaulted etc then sadly it may be very difficult to get it removed from your CRA.

[Mountain]

Should they have issued a default when the account was in dispute and under investigation by the FOS?

 

Tried him before. Didn't work.

The other contact that did try to resolve issues is on leave until the end of the month. Unfortunately, as I said, despite my efforts the continued incompetence of the complaint handlers has delayed any resolution by 8 months at least. Not sure why trying to pay is proving so fruitless.

 

Only default I have is from Home Retail Group. Surprised it has had such a catastrophic effect on my credit rating!

[Mountain]

No no no .... They will have issued just one default... Its just how they report it on the CRA Files so you dont need to worry.

Your score should not be taken as concrete.

 

 

 

Drop him an email. FYI, Argos is obliged to report correct information to the CRAs. If an account has defaulted etc then sadly it may be very difficult to get it removed from your CRA.

 

PS It is due to Home retail Group that I defaulted as I have been unable to get a written response from them for almost a year! So in reality they issue me defaults because they have been unable confirm my payment and set up a direct debit.

Only so many times you can write the same letter to the same company saying please can I pay and please can you send me a direct debit form!!!

 

Profoundly ironic that I'm having to chase these incompetent jokers trying to pay!

[nexxusone]

I thought Argo card / finance was outsourced to vanquis bank?

[fkofilee]

Credit Card Yes... Store Card no...