Bookworm and Sky, a hate-hate story... (and assorted DCAs)

[Bookworm]

Pasted from my reply to another unlucky subscriber:

Many many moons ago, I gave Sky 1 month's notice to cancel my subscription by e-mail, via their own website. Then I cancelled the d/d (cos me not stoopid).

1 month went past... and they didn't switch off. Like the good little Bookworm that I am, I phoned to query this. The chap I spoke to said to me: "Oh yes, I can see your e-mail, but it hasn't been activated, I'll do it now." A few days later, Sky and my TV parted ways and that was the end of it...
Or so I thought...
A bill arrived. Not only they were asking me for the month's rental, there were also 3 pay per view items on the bill. The total was for £45.06.
Now, many of you may well enjoy ppv, but the fact is in all the years we were with Sky, we never once used it. Furthermore, on checking, it turned out that 1 item was a film I had seen on video 2 weeks previous, 1 item was a film I wouldn't want to be found dead and viewing, and the 3rd was, wait for it, F1 racing at 3 or 4 am!!!! Let me add now that no-one in this family unit would EVER watch F1 racing.
From then on, followed years of harassment from Sky. Sky, solicitors, debt collectors, you name it. Then they would go away for a few months, we'd think they'd given up, and another lot of debt collectors would appear and start again.

I think that I've got rid of them at last, they haven't bothered me since I've told them I wouldn't enter into any more correspondence unless it was a Court summons.

But who knows? They could change debt collectors again, and it will start again... Mind you, since I have been on this forum, I have found out so many things, I wouldn't let them lead me such a merry dance this time...

[Bookworm]

I got a letter a couple of days ago, forgot all about it with all the excitement going on with NatWest, Ikea, straighteners...

This time, it's from a company called "Scotcall Debt Collecting Services", based in Glasgow, complete with swooping falcon crest in the corner. Oooh, I'm scared.

DOORSTEP COLLECTION NOTICE-PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Dear Sir/Madam,

We confirm that your outstanding debt due to the above-mentioned company has now been placed with "SCOTCALL" for immediate collection and settlement.

We intend to arrange a doorstep call by one of our representatives unless within 7 days you respond to this letter and make specific repayment proposals which are acceptable to "SCOTCALL" thereby avoiding further inconvenience or legal and collection expenses.

Should your financial cirumstances prevent total settlemtn of the account your offer of realistic monthly or weekly repayments will receive our careful consideration.

Please complete the attached payment slip, etc...

I'm thinking, if they're going to come from Glasgow to try and get £45.06 from me, they must be desperate!!!

Let 'em come... They'll get a warmer reception than they expect, I can tell you now!!!

I shall keep you all updated. Meanwhile, if anyone knows the company, pls let me know. Thank you.

[comanche]

Scotcall operate at the fag end of the debt collection market. A debt only ends up with them if all other attempts to collect have failed and it's not worth going to court. They do actually have collectors and they do call but whether they have one in your area is anyone's guess.

I had enormous problems over a mobile phone a few years ago. A debt collector tried their level best to get me to pay something I didn't owe. They ignore everything I wrote to them and just kept on hassling. In the end, I sent them a bill for my time and a promise of a county court claim for payment unless they went away. I would have followed through if they hadn't given up because I could prove that they had caused me a great deal of time and hassle and they couldn't prove any debt because there wasn't one.

I've no idea if I would have won but it certainly got their attention not lease because the people dealing with payments were different from the debt collectors.

[Bookworm]

Scotcall operate at the fag end of the debt collection market

The fag end? The FAG end? How deliciously vulgar!


But anyway, THANKS for that!!!! Know thy enemy, and all that...

I shall fight them in my garden, I shall fight them on my doorstep...

[pmhread]

Originally Posted by Bookworm

The fag end? The FAG end? How deliciously vulgar!

LOL

[dave]

I too have had problems with Sky/DCA's.

I have NEVER had Sky TV. My parents had it when I lived with them, and when I left to live on my own, I decided that I had quite enough adverts and rubbish on the TV with 5 channels - I didn't need another 35 channels feeding me with bad adverts from minor celebs touting bad credit deals.

I must admit, I ignored the letters coming through the door, as I (quite rightly) assumed that it was a cock up and that Sky were just as bad for cocking up as the next big company.

Eventually a DCA phoned and I told them that if they could provide me with a copy of any contract I had signed in which they perport that I had a Sky subscription I would gladly pay.

They refused.

I refused to pay for a service I have NEVER received.

Then I received a letter informing me that they would be taking me to court if I didn't pay up by such-and-such a date.

I ignored it (secretly in the hope that they DID take me to court - it would have been great fun!) - it's been about 8 months since that letter, and sadly they seem to have realised their mistake.

Oddly, I had the same thing a few years before (when I was still at my parents house) for Cable & Wireless - they didn't (and still don't) operate in that area. They did, however send me a little box to put on the wall - I hadn't ordered it, or asked for it - remember, this wasn't my house, and the bills were not in my name - so I saw no reason why I should pay for it. On that occassion I did write and tell them that they could have their box back if they wanted to pay for the postage. It was ignored of course, but the letters demanding payment still arrived.

Now the sad thing about all this is; if my Grandmother had received these bills, she would have paid them (she's just turned 92) and not given them another thought - so through their 'mistakes' they would have make quite a nice little earner from her.

[Spiceskull]

Originally Posted by seminole

Scotcall operate at the fag end

...does that make them Butts?

[comanche]

Well they're certainly ar$eholes.

[surreyscouse]

just done a check on scotcall. They are not a limited company from what I can see so they are probably a one man band with a couple of heavies on their side for large debts. It would indicate to me that you probably won't get a visit.

Does their headed paper have a company registration number. If I had that I could probably tell you a bit more about them. They are based at Carrick House on Carrick Street in Glasgow if I am correct ?

[Bookworm]

ScotCall Debt Collecting Services
Spectrum Building, 3rd Floor
55 Blythwood street, Glasgow G2 7AT

Registered in Scotland No. SC127277
Consumer Credit License No: 307076

[Bookworm]

Wow, this thread is so old, it was in General Consumer, because we didn't have a Debt forum then.

Revived here for entertainment value!!!

Having not heard for a long time (as you can see from the dates of last posts, guess who's come back?

Yep, Lowell, masquerading as Red debt Collection Services. "Trading style", my considerable backside.

I've had the "this debt is not going to go away, you know" letter. Which I ignored.
I've had the "we may have to think about being serious about possibly looking into the possibility to take you to court, you know". Which I've ignored.
This morning, I got the "once in a lifetime, limited period only, do not delay!" letter, offering me to discount, yes, DISCOUNT, the outstanding balance!!!
Here comes a great mathematical calculation:

Balance o/standing: ............ £45.06

Discount Amount:................ £22.53

New Balance: .....................£22.00

Here comes the kicker: If they don't receive communications from me within 7 days, they will recommend to their client further action to be taken against me. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, not the further action!!!

Do you know, it's quite funny, because I reckon by now, the amount they have spent in chasing this non-existent debt far exceeds the original sum.

Ah well.

[rory32]

If they are anything like Moorcroft, further action means you'll get a letter from their pre-litigation division, then their pre-court division (what's the difference? ) and then their home collection division.

Lowell's only have a few different templates for letters, so you've probably already got the full set. Soon you'll be able to play snap with them.

[Bookworm]

This one was from the "Special Recoveries Unit". I'm special, me.

[lemma1968]

As a lawyer (not doing this type of work I might add, thats why I'm in trouble!!!), I have always wondered where you would find the pre-litigation department in a company.

Is it in the foyer of the litigation department or is it a desk in the farthest corner of a litigation department? I mean, quite seriously, what is a pre-litigation department?

Or could it be a "we are making this up so that we sound big and ever so serious and you should be scared" department?!!!

Poppycock!!