JB Debt recovery chasing me for a debt to Thomson Local

[seylectric]

A debt colllection agency, namely J.B. Debt Recovery of Glasgow, are phoning me on a daily basis two or three times a day, including over the bank holiday.

 

The number comes up as 0800 288 9838. The strange thing is when I answer the phone nobody speaks, it's silent for a few seconds then goes dead (an audible "click" can be heard. Generally no big deal but I don't see the point.

 

The problem I have is that I'm self employed and divert my calls to my mobile during the day so it costs me upwards of 30p a time to recieve these calls, even if I don't answer them (the voicemail picks up the call so I pay anyway).

 

I have tried phoning them to discuss it and all they say is that "my number isn't on their system". At no point did they ask for my personal details, again strange because they are the company who are chasing me for a debt to Thomson Local.

 

Any suggestions, peeps?

[Guest Alison82]

This website is supposed to block unauthorised number calling you, don't know if it works though

 

http://www.ukdatait.co.uk/cgi-bin/sgAddNumber.cgi

[seylectric]

That's a useful site and I've given you a rating for it.

 

However it wouldn't solve this particular problem as they already have my number. Have now reported them via the Ofcom site.

[Lusky]

With BT choose to refuse you can block them from calling your landline. They will just get a recorded message saying you are not accepting their call.

[seylectric]

Got that, it doesn't work with all numbers though for some reason.

[seylectric]

Got that, it doesn't work with all numbers though for some reason.

 

....which is a shame because I just got a call from another one, Cabot financial services. Withheld number, the woman asked me to confirm my name and address. I refused to do so because, as I told her I had no way of proving she was from Cabot.

 

Usual collection agency tactics, tried to nag me into giving the details. No chance. I also told her that I refuse to discuss anything over the phone anyway. She said that she would call back every single day. I warned her that I would report this to Ofcom but she said they were perfectly within their rights to do so.

 

Now I have given them two definate statements;

 

1. I refuse to discuss anything over the phone and have no intentions of doing so, and,

 

2. I have no way of confirming they are who they say they are.

 

So they are going to repeatedly phone me regardless of the fact that I have told them I won't discuss anything. Surely it is classed as intimidation?

[Guest Alison82]

You should definetly report them, the cheeck of her!

[panther12]

I once had dealings with Cabot financial services over a statute barred debt. They passed it over to Global Debt recovery and what an underhand shower of xxxx they are. I made a complaint to the Credt Services Association http://www.csa-uk.com and heard no more from them.

[Seminole]

I think the original problem is due to an auto-dialler. The computer rings you and when you pick up it tries to assign you to an operator but if there isn't one available it hangs up. This means that the DCAs staff are working but it pisses off their victime. Totally typical lack of concern for the people they are trying to pester.

 

The trick with Cabot is to write to them telling them that you won't speak to them on the phone and demanding that they remove your number. If you make it clear that you will complain to Trading Standards they will usually comply with your request.

[seylectric]

Re. J.B. I'm not sure about the autodialler. You can often hear "office" noises in the background and I heard on seperate occasions a cough and breathing from whoever was on the other end.

 

Got an autoreply from Ofcom tody via email:

 

"We do not investigate individual consumer complaints. However, we record and monitor complaint levels. If we identify an area of concern we may raise the matter with the management of the company directly."

 

 

Re. Cabot, I did tell them that I would report them, no call today. Ofcom were about as much use as a cat flap on a submarine.

[Seminole]

You can also try chucking the following sentence into any letter about calls you send them:

 

Take further note that continued telephone calls after the receipt of a request not to call may constitute a criminal offence under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

[seylectric]

Nice one, that's exactly what I'm looking for, legal stuff to throw at 'em. It tells them I'm serious. Much appreciated, rated.

[myvesta-sean]

Hi, you may find it useful to make them aware of their responsibilities under the Office Of Fair Trading Guidance that has been released regarding the practice of debt collecting. I have attached the link to the OFT publication below.

 

Hope this helps.

 

http://www.oft.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/9018331A-389E-487E-A1C2-2161AC53697C/0/oft611.pdf

[seylectric]

Good grief, had a brief look at that and most d.c.a.'s are guilty of breaches of most of what I've read. I think I'll just print out the lot and send the documnet to them as a whole!

 

Great info, many thanks; I know most of it's out there, it's finding the time to find and pursue it. This site is invaluable.

 

Rated.

[myvesta-sean]

My pleasure ! Happy to help.

[dw190]

I think I'll just print out the lot and send the documnet to them as a whole!

 

Why waste your money printing 24 pages. Send em the link and let em print their own.

[seylectric]

Just wondering, does this apply to bailiffs? E.G. private bailiffs employed by the council to collect unpaid parking fines or council tax (not bailiffs employed via the courts to collect unpaid criminal fines etc.)

[breadline]

Hi seyelectric

 

i cnat open the link above so have added this anyway its off another thread

 

If you write to them telling them that you will only enter into correspondence with them through the post, if they phone you after that, they are in breach of the Wireless Teleghraphy Act 1949.

 

I used to work on a call centre that was automated dialer and it was a joke, the computer would think no answer after 4 rings would hang up, but it took a delayed time to hang up and most people get the sounds you hear and then get cut off. The operater may not know you ever answered.

 

Sheer disregared for peoples time and space.

 

BL

[seylectric]

And your privacy.

 

Thanks for that line, great info!

[trundlecat]

Here's another one for you:

 

I am officially informing you that I will deal with you only in writing & any telephone calls from you will cause me significant alarm, harassment & distress & I will have no option than to seek an injunction against you under section 1 of the Harassment Act 1998.

 

You must get in the bit about it causing you "alarm, harassment & distress" then if they carry on calling you can go ahead & seek an injunction but it never gets that far in my experience, that line puts them straight off.

[andrew1]

...."which is a shame because I just got a call from another one, Cabot financial services. Withheld number, the woman asked me to confirm my name and address. I refused to do so because, as I told her I had no way of proving she was from Cabot".

 

Cabot: There are a few threads re debt collection agencies and Cabot. Search on Cabot and you'll find them. JB are not like Cabot - they're worse! The Scottish DCA's have a particluarly aggressive way about them - nasty bu...ers, but the letters stop them as quoted in posts above. Read as much as you can about debt collection agencies because many people have had dire times with them and there are many people dealing with them. Candice has many threads, Seminole has answered many too. Once you know how to handle them from those who have had experience you'll find that you can keep them under control. There are also alot of technical areas which can help you negotiate outstanding amounts, ensure they have default notices, some have bought the debt from the original creditor ( bank/card co's) and the legal status re charges and interest is outlined. They buy the debt for about 12% of the value you owe, then they add interest on the whole lot - immoral! and you can get it back. Keep reading that's all I can say and you'll get justice.

[seylectric]

Many thanks for that; I have been collating information from various threads regarding Cabot and other organisations who are chasing me, and I'm posting as much for imformation and to share experiences as much as anything because no matter what they won't get anything from me.

 

I intend to write back to them today with information gleaned from your "Debt Collection Agencies" thread.

 

The interesting thing with Cabot is that they never refer to the fact that they bought the debt from anybody else, in this case Barclaycard.

 

Somebody is in big trouble though, because I have recently found out that both Cabot AND Barclaycard have the debt registered with Equifax as seperate debts and there is no way on earth I intend to let that go!

[andrew1]

If you didn't get advice from Cabot that they purchased the debt don't pay them a penny! Ask them if they have the default notice there - they will never sue you anyway. Just make sure that Barclaycard actually sold it to them and they are not just ' collecting' as an agent of Barclaycard as some don't sell-on the debt. Egg are a bit like that - they don't /wont sell-on debt. Make sure of your facts first. And remember ( and please don't think I'm being mr rightious here) It is important to acknowledge that if we are in debt we owe it and should repay them. Advice we all gather here on this forum (me included) helps us get the injustices overturned and unlawful charges back, it might also empower us to be better negotiators in getting the debt down - that to me is just good plain business skills and I have negotiated some pretty hefty deals in my time ( got 60k knocked off a bank debt once( hard work but brilliant feeling!) and a £3500 card paid off for £650!) so I don't begrudge anyone getting debt down and clear, I just recall bankfodder killing someone previously for using the site to learn how to get away with debt and he's right.. ( spoilsport!)

 

Good luck anyway.

[seylectric]

I never pay DCA's anyway, I always tell them that I only deal directly with the original creditor, that usually stumps them!

 

I'm not trying to get out of what I rightfully owe - don't get me wrong, if I do it's a bonus - but that's not my aim, but if they had their way I would be paying both Cabot AND Barclaycard, and that's not going to happen. I'm pretty sure they have bought the debt and are not just acting for Barclaycard.

 

This debt is now some 4 years old btw and occured as a result of Barclaycard changing their T&Cs without informing me. What originally happened was that Barclaycard informed customers that they were scrapping the annual card fee but introducing an over-limit charge (illegal charges anyway?) at about the same time that my acount went over the limit.

 

I didn't receive a statement that month (the changes to the T&Cs were enclosed with that months statement apparently). To cut a long story short Barclaycard refused to cancel the over-limit charge and suspended my account so I refused to pay and thus suspended payments.

 

It was quiter amusing at one point, one department had told me the account had been closed and as such no longer existed so I insisted that they couldn't impose T&C's on an accountr that didn't exist! I'm a stubbord sod when I need to be!

 

Neither side would back down and Barclaycard took the decision to cease correspondence. I took the same line and that's where it stayed. They have used various DCA's over the years but I have taken the same stance that I will only deal with the original creditor and they took the decision to cease correspondence!

[andrew1]

Sounds like you've got the measure of them. I got a book called - how to annoy bureaucrats - sounds like you wrote it!