It doesn't sound like I'm alone then! Thanks for that, I'll have a look later and look forward to some bedtime reading before giving them my response.

Hi all, Extremely sorry if I'm repeating any previous posts, however I'm after a bit of advice regarding Close Motor Finance. I've had an issue over the last couple of months due to my payment date from work changing meaning I haven't had cleared funds in my account on my payment date with Close, however, this has always been rectified within a couple of days and I've never had an issue. When clearing my arrears last month I pointed out that I'd probably need to change my payment due date so it was inline with when I got paid from work. The person I spoke to agreed but then advised against it as it would mean two payments coming out that were close to each other, so this was not set up. I missed my payment due date again this month and was away so I couldn't rectify it within the time I usually do. Within a couple of days of this missed payment I had received a letter from a company called Hillside which I established to be a tracing agent. Although it didn't state why they were trying to contact me I figuered it would have something to do with Close Motor Finance. I paid my arrears and the usual £40 for a missed DD and this time changed my payment due date and everything seemed fine, until today where I have received a default notice along with a £55 charge and the actions that I need to take to bring my account up to date. Obviously feeling a bit peeved with this as feel it's unjust due to the fact the payment has been made. I don't usually have a problem with making the payment although it has been late recently but always brought up to date. Just wanted some advice regarding the default notice and the use of a tracing agent to contact me despite the payment only being a couple of days late. Sorry for the long post, just thought I'd put as much detail in as possible.

I had issues with them back in December regarding a missing payment that I had already arranged to pay on an alternative date. The local branch phoned me and denied that any arrangement had been made and also accused me of committing fraud. They then charged me for this. I sent a letter of complaint in January also refusing to pay the default charge and heard nothing, I then sent another letter in Feb and still have not heard anything. I am aware that making such an accusation is against the law. Ben

Sorry to hijack your thread, but this would also interest me as I have sent a couple of letters regarding unfair default charges with no response. First letter I sent was 9/01/09, followed by another on 9/02/09 and will be sending another next week. Not heard a thing. Ben

Ok, many thanks, much appreciated.

I have started a new thread for the issue I raised Many thanks

Hi, I am new to the site but have a couple of issues that I thought I would discuss. I stupidly purchased a loan from Welcome in June of this year, I know my credit score is not the best but I have not previously struggled with debt. My payments are scheduled for the end of every month, however, towards the end of November it was becoming clear that I was not going to be able to make a payment and so I made contact with my local branch to arrange an alternative payment date. The first time I rang the woman who I spoke to seemed like she was able to help, but advised me that her computer system had gone down and she would have to give me a call back in the next 20 minutes. I heard nothing so rang back shortly after but there was no answer. I figured that as it was the end of the day, she probably just wanted to get home. I rang up the next day and the person who I spoke to said they were unable to give payment breaks. I made them aware that the payment for November would not be paid until mid December when I next received some money. This I thought was noted. Over the past couple of weeks I have been receiving phone calls from Welcome, the first of which I missed due to being at work. However, a message was left asking if I was interested in topping up my account in time for Christmas and if so to contact them. Obviously I was not interested. I then received a letter at the end of last week asking if they could tempt me with topping up my account. Again I was not interested. Tonight I have received a phone call again but I chose to ignore it as I thought I am not interested in topping up my account. However, this time it isn't asking for me to top up my account but to make a payment on the overdue amount that I contacted them about 2 weeks ago. The person who I spoke to is adamant that the phone calls they have been making have been chasing payment and that I will be charged for these, she has even spoken to my mum about my account saying that this is a serious matter and that I only had 15 minutes to get in touch with them before it became a police matter. Apparently, if I miss a payment in the first four months of taking out a loan with them it is classed as fraud? This is the first time I have missed a payment and I made them aware of this. The woman who I spoke to made no security checks on my account so I could have been anyone, and she kept referring to me as darling. Now I told her that I made an arrangement to pay this on the 19th Dec, but she wanted to take my details there and then. I told her I would contact them on Friday as arranged and make payment. I realise that payments should be made on time, but she discussed my account with a third party and had she been a little bit more professional on the phone I would not have had a problem. I am aware that I will now be charged for the phone call she made, but the previous phone calls were made to offer funds on my account and therefore I am reluctant to pay anything more than the agreed monthly payment. I have a record of the voice mail I received that if she does insist on involving the police I will be more than happy to share. If people have any comments, they would be much appreciated, sorry for the long post.

Hi, I am new to the site but have a couple of issues that I thought I would discuss. I stupidly purchased a loan from Welcome in June of this year, I know my credit score is not the best but I have not previously struggled with debt. My payments are scheduled for the end of every month, however, towards the end of November it was becoming clear that I was not going to be able to make a payment and so I made contact with my local branch to arrange an alternative payment date. The first time I rang the woman who I spoke to seemed like she was able to help, but advised me that her computer system had gone down and she would have to give me a call back in the next 20 minutes. I heard nothing so rang back shortly after but there was no answer. I figured that as it was the end of the day, she probably just wanted to get home. I rang up the next day and the person who I spoke to said they were unable to give payment breaks. I made them aware that the payment for November would not be paid until mid December when I next received some money. This I thought was noted. Over the past couple of weeks I have been receiving phone calls from Welcome, the first of which I missed due to being at work. However, a message was left asking if I was interested in topping up my account in time for Christmas and if so to contact them. Obviously I was not interested. I then received a letter at the end of last week asking if they could tempt me with topping up my account. Again I was not interested. Tonight I have received a phone call again but I chose to ignore it as I thought I am not interested in topping up my account. However, this time it isn't asking for me to top up my account but to make a payment on the overdue amount that I contacted them about 2 weeks ago. The person who I spoke to is adamant that the phone calls they have been making have been chasing payment and that I will be charged for these, she has even spoken to my mum about my account saying that this is a serious matter and that I only had 15 minutes to get in touch with them before it became a police matter. Apparently, if I miss a payment in the first four months of taking out a loan with them it is classed as fraud? This is the first time I have missed a payment and I made them aware of this. The woman who I spoke to made no security checks on my account so I could have been anyone, and she kept referring to me as darling. Now I told her that I made an arrangement to pay this on the 19th Dec, but she wanted to take my details there and then. I told her I would contact them on Friday as arranged and make payment. I realise that payments should be made on time, but she discussed my account with a third party and had she been a little bit more professional on the phone I would not have had a problem. I am aware that I will now be charged for the phone call she made, but the previous phone calls were made to offer funds on my account and therefore I am reluctant to pay anything more than the agreed monthly payment. I have a record of the voice mail I received that if she does insist on involving the police I will be more than happy to share. If people have any comments, they would be much appreciated, sorry for the long post.