Jump to content

hiphil

Registered Users

Change your profile picture
  • Posts

    20
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Reputation

1 Neutral
  1. On 17 September 2009 then Health Secretary Andy Burnham, announced plans to scrap GP catchment areas in England within a year. Shadow Health Secretary at that time, Andrew Lansley, said that the Conservatives were also in favour of doing away with GP catchment areas. However, since winning the election in 2010, the coalition government seems to have shelved this plan. This means, the so called "NHS Choices" are really no choice at all. If you would like to urge the government to reconsider the issue, please sign the petition below: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38619
  2. My wife keeps getting letters from a company in Ross-On-Wye Herefordshire, called "The Unclaimed Cash Prizes UK" Another letter arrives every couple of weeks, although my wife has never entered a competition or prize draw with them. The letter claims "We are holding a valuable prize that has already been allocated to you (minimum £25 cash, maximum £20,000 cash)..." The letter asks for the recipient to make a £9+ premium rate telephone call (09061 581575), to find out what prize has supposedly been allocated. This obviously does not make sense, if every £9+ phone caller is going to receive at least £25. Is there any way of putting a stop to the activities of this bunch, e.g OFT, Trading Standards etc? P.S. Message to moderators - If this is in the wrong category, please move it to a more appropriate category.
  3. Recently I have come across newspaper adverts, where companies claim they can "Cancel credit card and loan debt". They also claim they can cancel the debts within just days using a legal loophole. They also say this is not debt management or IVA. Has anybody on this forum any experience of these programs? They seem too good to be true? Or is this some kind of [problem], leading to even more debts?
  4. After twice having my debit card details stolen, and having money stolen from my bank account, I decided to look for an alternative. I have now obtained a prepaid credit card that I use for all regular purchases (e.g. weekly supermarket shopping), and all online purchases. You only deposit enough into the card to cover your intended purchases, so if it does get stolen and the thief also gets your PIN number, they can only steal as much as is available on the card at the time. There are no credit checks when you obtain a prepaid card. Further details are available from: Prepaid Credit Card - Pre Paid Credit Cards - Top 10 Free Prepaid Cards (I have no connection with this web site)
  5. I will be 65 next year (2009). My wife is partly sighted, and is in receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA), which gives her an independent income. My question is: If I retire and start claiming the state pension for myself only, can my wife continue to receive her SDA? Or will I need to claim the state pension for both of us - in which case my wife would lose her SDA? Thanks.
  6. Latest development, (after sending copies of my wife's birth certificate etc. by recorded delivery). Received a letter from TV Licensing today, addressed to the occupier: "Our database lists this address as unlicensed..." and going on to threaten dire consequences of using a TV set without a license. Not only are they ignoring any letters we send them, they are also making out they do not know our names. (I do in fact have a valid TV license, in my name.) Is it time to contact our MP?
  7. Hi, (I'm not sure if this is in the right forum, so mods please feel free to move it.) Since November 2007 we have been trying to transfer our TV licence into my wife’s name as she turned 75 in December 2007. We called the number on our TV licence, and gave them my wife's National Insurance (NI) number, and they said they would send us a free over 75 TV licence. About a couple of weeks later they send a letter stating there was an error in the NI number, and could we please give it to them in writing. A few weeks later, they wrote again and said there was still a problem, and asked for a copy of my wife's birth certificate and/or passport and/or marriage certificate. So we sent off copies of all three documents around about New Year 2008. Then - nothing. So after about 6 weeks, we telephoned them again to find out what was happening. They once again asked for my wife's NI number and said we would receive the licence in a couple of weeks. But some weeks later they again sent a letter stating there was a problem with my wife's NI number etc. So we again telephoned them and told them we had already sent the documents requested but they denied any knowledge of them. A few weeks later, another letter saying they could not process the licence, and included dire warnings about using a TV set without a valid licence. Again we telephoned them, and a few days later received a letter saying there was a problem with my wife's NI number, and asking for copies of birth & marriage certificates and/or passport. Once again, we sent copies of all three documents, this time by recorded delivery. This was about three weeks ago and once again we have heard nothing. This has been going on for nearly nine months now, and we are wondering what to do next?
  8. The Office Of Fair Trading has published the results of a review into debt collection compliance with the OFT's guidance on debt collection: http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft880.pdf According to the review, consumers are still receiving threatening telephone calls. In particular threatening court action, and not describing the process correctly. This is a difficult area for the OFT to enforce, because of the lack of robust evidence from consumers, including the names of the individuals concerned, and details of the content of the calls. Another common complaint relates to the failure of DCAs to investigate disputed debts (as is evident from many posts in this forum). Also attempting to collect debts when they are uncertain as to who the debtor is. They also fail to provide copies of original agreements etc. in support of their demands. DCAs also bypass third parties appointed by debtors to manage their financial affairs, (preferring instead to harass the debtors direct). The review also reports, that failure to obtain a consumer's permission to reveal their identity or relevant details of their complaint can prevent the OFT from approaching DCAs. In most cases where the OFT has taken action, one or two warning letters to the DCAs concerned, is usually effective in getting them to comply with the guidance. If you receive a call from a DCA, (or make a call to a DCA) always ask for the name of the individual making the call. Refuse to speak to them if they don't state their name. Also, tell them you are recording the call, and that you are going to send a transcript of the call to the OFT. (It is perfectly legal to record calls from a private phone.)
  9. When I had this same problem with DCAs calling at all hours I changed my phone number. If you are a BT customer, they will change your phone number free of charge. After you change your number, if you ever contact the DCA by telephone, never - ever give them your new number. They do not need your phone number (and cannot demand it by law) as long as they have a valid mailing address where they can contact you.
  10. When dealing with DCA call centres, the monkeys they employ seem to be particularly unreasonable and obnoxious. The link below gives contact details of the organ grinders (sorry supervisors) at most DCAs. DBSG Website If you experience problems when dealing with call centre staff, you can ask to speak to a named supervisor instead. P.S. Be sure to check the email addresses to find first names.
  11. To find article: First click the link below: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/dmstandard/frame.html?in_bottom=http:%2F%2Fwww.thisismoney.co.uk%2Fcredit-and-loans%2Findex.html%3Fin_page_id%3D9&in_page_id=1804 Then enter "dogged by bad old debts" (including double quotes) into the Advanced Search box, at top right of the page. Click Go.
  12. I have noticed many postings from people who are still being pursued by DCAs, for statute barred debts, i.e. where they have had no contact with their creditors for more than 6 years. I came across a newspaper article recently, which may go towards explaining the DCAs actions: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/dmstandard/frame.html?in_bottom=http:%2F%2Fwww.thisismoney.co.uk%2Fcredit-and-loans%2Findex.html%3Fin_page_id%3D9&in_page_id=1804 It seems, that although DCAs cannot legally enforce statute barred debts, there is nothing in law to stop them from continuing to demand payment. According to a spokesman from the Credit Services Association, which represents debt collection agencies, they can continue to "politely" lol request payment, (i.e. send threatening letters, make threatening telephone calls, or turn up on your doorstep) until such time as the debt is repaid.
  13. 1st Credit. About 6 months after 1st Credit took over the debt, they sent me a letter demanding payment of the debt in full, and threatening court action unless I telephoned them immediately. This was in spite of the fact they had received a copy of my financial statement, and had been receiving regular monthly payments via Payplan. When I telephoned them, the operator informed me they could not accept the monthly payment offer. I pointed out that my other creditors had all accepted the payment offers, to which the operator’s response was “We own the debt and we can do what we like!” He went on to demand payment in full and suggested I get a loan to pay it. I told him this was not possible, so he then went on to say they would accept a 20 fold increase in monthly payments, then I hung up the phone. I reported the incident to my case officer at Payplan. My case officer told me the call centre operators at these DCAs work on a commission basis, and so receive a bonus if they make a debtor pay up in full.
  14. I have also had dealings with Wescot, where they tried to make me increase my monthly payments. However, I just kept sending them the amount I offered them via Payplan, and eventually they accepted this. If they are bullying you into paying more than you can afford, Wescot are breaching the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Debt Collection Guidelines. If they refuse to accept your offer, then you could fill in the OFT's DCA complaint form, and post it to the OFT, together with copies of any letters you may receive from Wescot. You can download the complaints from from the link below: http://www.oft.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B3999175-A9BC-469D-AD5B-BA284DE36E01/0/complaint.DOC
×
×
  • Create New...