Vanquis Hell

phil_charman · June 14, 2007

Hi guys and gals,

Just a little problem here...

I have a vanquis card and I run it perfectly, however I note that it went over limit for some reason, got charged all the usual rubbish then the phone calls started, please read my letter below for details...to this letter a got the typical standard rubbish letter, but still keep getting calls,

Vanquis Card Customer Service

PO Box 399

Chatham

ME4 4WQ

30 May 2007

Our ref: pc.vanquis.telephone1

Your Ref:

Dear Sirs

Harrassment By Telephone

Account Number:

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing.

To date, since the 22 March 2007 I have received 34 telephone calls from your office and I expect that after posting this letter I will receive further calls. This is completely unacceptable and is causing me great distress.

Some time ago I spoke to a representative who duly informed me that I was over my credit limit. When questioned as to how this happened it was a further 15 minutes before I received the answer that it was a transaction that took place that month, this, I note was after being informed that it was the interest applied that made my account over limit.

I then proceeded to explain that I have a minimum payment set up and as far as I am aware if my account shows over limit then the minimum payment should automatically take this into account and bring it back within the limit next time it is due.

If this is not the case then the way I view the matter is quite simple, Vanquis are therefore knowingly keeping customers over limit, thus enabling Vanquis to apply over limit fees every month.

Therefore, I require a full breakdown of all charges applied to my account since activation with a detail of why and by whom the charge was generated. As you are no doubt aware, these charges are unlawful at Common Law, Statute and under recent consumer regulations. If you say that they are not, then will you please demonstrate this by letting me have a full breakdown of the costs to which you have been put by as a result of my breaches, in order to reassure me that your penalties really do reflect your costs.

Additionally, it has now been confirmed that your particularly high level of penalties are considered to be unfair per se by the OFT who reported on the 5th April 2006 and are therefore presumed to be unlawful in the absence of specific proof to the contrary.

Due to the appalling nature and abuse of the telephone system you may wish to reimburse these charges to save any further embarrassment and I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only.

I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, which states;

“that a person commits an offence if, with the object of coercing another person to pay money claimed from the other as a debt due under contract, he or she:

[a] harasses the other with demands for payment which by their frequency, or the manner or occasion of their making, or any accompanying threat or publicity are calculated to subject him or his family or household to alarm, distress or humiliation,”

I am also of the opinion that you are in breach of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I intend to report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine.

Be advised that I have compiled a full schedule of calls received to date including times to my mobile number and I enclose this for your reference at appendix 1.

I should also be grateful if you would provide me with a schedule of calls made to all of my numbers you have on your system.

Whilst in writing you should also note that my telephone service provider is now monitoring all of the calls made to my phones, I will record any further telephone calls and I will request that you record also.

I look forward to receiving your prompt response and reviewing your comments therein.

Yours faithfully,

Phillip J Charman

Enc. Appendix 1

Now then, here is a list of the calls received to date, I keep getting them, not to mention they ring the house phone momentarily before the mobile they call me on, I am at a complete loss, and need some advice, I will certainly wobble down to court and obtain some sort of restraining order or similar if I can, Im very busy with work at the minute and due to a death in the family i cant think straight, im having visions of jumping in the car and finding the call centre and slapping the offender silly !!! :mad:

Vanquis Credit Card

Schedule of calls received from 22 March 2007 by telephone

Number 0800 2888640

Date

Day

Time of call

22 March 2007

Tuesday