this should be right now

well it wasnt exactly a love note but i do like to know youre ok. take care PD Have I got it right now, pd? Thanks for the tuition. I've been told men are no good at multi-tasking, and I guess that's correct for me. You're correct about the site, but I look at the 'newbies' most days and where I feel I can offer a glimmer of support or direction endeavour to do so. Also a bit of humour where I think it's appropriate (but probably isn't) Thanks for keeping in touch. As ever. Van

Hi pd See next post. Van

Please keep us posted Junki. I'm having a go today as I have been ordered to return my cheque guarantee card, otherwise 'an agent' will collect it and no further cheques will be paid even though my pension, benefits (including carer's, attendance and disability allowance) will be credited tomorrow. Frozen sausages for lunch today then. Suggestions for next week's graze welcomed. My letter has been taken from the site (I'm deliberately not posting on my own thread as I suspect the swine have identified me). One last word, I do not write to 'teams' - I address my comments to Commanding Officers officers only. Teams remind me of squealing schoolgirls running up and down the gym bouncing balls from one to the other and.......er perhaps it is the appropriate word after all with the Team Leader having a whistle in her mouth and boobs reminiscent of two babies fighting under a blanket and a backside like the Titanic. Keep it up (the postings I mean!) and good luck. Van

Hello again pulu Details for Thames Credit are: Wells House 15-17 Elmfield Road Bromley Kent BR1 1LT Telephone: 0208 313-0033 If this is helpful to you click my scales at the bottom left (the grey blob between the green dot and the red triangle) Maybe I shouldn't really ask you to as good old Google deserves the credit rather than me. Go to Aktiv Kapital and you'll see Thames Credit occupy three floors at Wells House. I gather Aktiv Kapital has a somewhat malodorous stench about it to CAGgers.

That's what I thought pulu, but no problem in sending from my post office. I expected Royal Mail to put a note in the recipient's box asking for mail to be collected and signed for. No problem though. The letter, sent to Howard Cohen Solicitors in Cleckheaton was delivered, and signed for along with 23 others (according to the online Royal Mail advice slip) by none other than......wait for it folks....... THE LEWIS GROUP! I can just hear the roar from the crowd! Regards. Vandermerwe.

Hello Dave Very well written and good sense of humour too. Ye gods, we need a bit of that in this politically correct, humourless society. I particularly empathise with wife's desire to return. Same happened to me a few years ago and now she can't stand the damned place but we can't afford to emigrate! You've pulled in a winner by getting a response from pinkdutchess. She's one of my favourites and a real grafter with wonderful repartee. Only thing is you'll need far longer than an hour to read her thread pinkdutchess - v- HSBC! At least you got a bank account without too much hassle - when I returned to the UK Lloyds wrote to my mother to ask how long she had known me! I offered to complete the reply for her, but she said she could guess how I might reply. Eightyfive bloody odd years old, and still couldn't trust her dearly beloved first born to be polite and respectful to The Bank Manager. How hurtful! Keep it up, keep us posted and remember this site only survives on the mantra of "The Three Musketeers" - One for All and All for One. Good luck. Vandermerwe.

Hi Opalie I'm in a similar situation, but have opened a parachute account to be on the safe side. Like all bullies, the banks don't like anyone standing up to them and I believe they are capable of anything. As long as you've got a parachute account for your income you hold the whip hand. It's a bit of a pain, having to prove you exist, but then I suppose that's not the banks' fault. I opened mine over the telephone with the Co-op. When I came back to England several years ago the same nonsense was in place and Lloyds wrote to my mother asking how long she had known me! Truly the inmates are running the asylum. Good luck, and remember to keep us posted! Regards. Vandermerwe.

Hi madcap. I have two utter loathings in my life (well maybe one or two more!) Number One: Computers. They don't work like I expect them to. Number Two: Banks. They don't behave like they should using my money. Do you believe there is actually someone named Heidi Daniels in HSBC actually writing you a letter? She must be a fairly prolific writer - much more productive than J. K. Rowling for instance - because she has sent me plenty. I'd actually prefer to think she didn't exist since I had a Heidi once - an adorable miniature dachshund - who was run over by a drunken driver in my own quiet cul-de-sac. I did something I have never done before or since - I went to his house and hit him in the face, and then buried little Heidi. But now we have a Miss A. C. Pridmore - same bulldust - but at least she acknowledges her feminity. On message #10 I said I would be 'up and chipper', but just between you and I wasn't. Mrs. Van diagnosed with clinical depression and reacting badly to medication, best friend dying with cancer (50 miles away) and water board threatening to cut off water supply. Few other things as well. Don't despair I'm telling Miss Pridmore what I am going to do with our benefits and how she can whistle for the bank's cheque guarantee card to be cut up and returned. Most regrettably, my generation never really learned the vulgar tongue these parasites seem to use and enjoy so it's difficult to respond. Mind you, I did make what 'soldierboy' thought was an appropriate suggestion to his problem with Abbey. Tomorrow, the letter goes - promise. Regards. Van

OK ginandtonic. You've got me stumped and, to be frank, I don't know what to do to advise further. Since I offered to help I want to do my best but must confess I'm a bit of a newbie as well (member since April). I don't know the protocol for making PM requests. There are clearly some superbly qualified people on the forum who must be simply inundated by queries. OK, I'm heading into what are for me uncharted waters. I'm going to send a PM to someone I think might help you, but it's entirely off my own bat so let's see what happens. In any event good luck. Van

Yes, jga, write to the beggars and send recorded delivery, keeping the receipt or getting a print out of proof of delivery from http://www.royalmail.com. The letter you need is barracad's letter D on 'Creditors and DCAs - Letter Templates'. Hope it works - keep us posted. Van

Scotcall is, I believe, the para-military wing of Mercers which is owned by Barclays Bank. Vandermerwe

Of course Westcot are very EXPERIANCED (sic) are they not? Vandermerwe

Just another DCA. Go to TSC CM | UK Debt Collection and Recovery Agency to suss them out. What about posting Curlyben's letter on their 'contact us' page? Better get Curlyben's opinion first though. Good luck. Vandermerwe

Hi ginantonic. If I read you correctly, I don't think you have set up a DMP (debt management plan) with the CCCS. It usually takes two or three months to do so during which time you formally advise your creditors of your financial difficulties and send each a £1.00 token payment every month. The DMP calls for a minimum of £5.00 per creditor per month. You say you owe £32k, and so for simplicity let's assume it is owed more or less equally to 8 creditors and you can spare £160 per month on a regular basis. You set up a direct debit payment of £160 to CCCS on the first of every month, and they pay £20 to each creditor on the 25th of the month. They make no deductions or later charges and, for some reason, creditors seem to respect them. Their enquiry line is 0800 138-1111 and a counsellor should make an appointment to call you back a few days hence. Hope this clarifies things for you - I think it's what you need. Regards Van

Hi Mazel. Get to know your enemy. Google Scotcall (UK only) and read what others say about them. Not entirely complimentary.. Van

Hi soldier boy. a)Time is very short but I'd do one of two things (preferably both). Write briefly (or get your Mum to do so) to: "e-mail [email protected] - please include daytime phone number, postal address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Mary Stone. We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents." [ex yesterday's 'Daily Mail'] The "Daily Mail" is red hot on both inefficient banks and bad treatment of our armed forces. b) Hone bayonet to ultra-sharpness of tip and hold in close proximity to the Manager's rectum. He should now see your point as well as feel it touching cloth! Please keep us posted - if you click my scales (the grey blob between the green dot and the read triangle at bottom left) I'll follow this thread. Good luck and fix bayonet. Regards Vandermerwe.

Hi the madcap. As Rayne says, go public. My problem is I am not a computer geek and can't link all my posts together but I know I have posted two excellent contacts that will help you in the weekend press. Try the 'taking benefits' links, but if you have the slightest difficulty just respond here and I'll repeat the details for you. It's just I have had one of the worst possible days but I'll be up and chipper tomorrow. We're all her for you! Regards. Van

"I would be careful, with the sort of figures you are talking about, that would be worth them chasing". Sorry, Pete, I don't know how to quote, but hope I just did so.. I've just had one of the worst days ever, s..t hitting the fan, not in bucketfuls but in blobs here and there. All little things really but I haven't been up to taking them on board all at once. Re the Citi, I think let's wait for the next round. At £5 per month who am I to get uptight? Just tried to sell the humble abode and the estate agent has gone under. If I did, the scavengers would probably want the few bob I might ever make out of it. Our good friend deedee offered me a flat in Brixton but haven't heard from her since I mentioned I had two partners in the form of miniature dachshunds. Haven't had any love notes from pinkduchess either. It's enough to make a bloke turn queer. Oh, shyte, I can't use that word any more can I? Going to bed now, waiting for them to come for me, to come for, to come....zzzzzz Van

Facts, folks: February 2006: Told Citicard couldn't pay. Balance £8,900. March to May: Sent £1.00 per month token payment whilst setting up a DMP. May 2006: Debt "assigned" to Direct Legal Collections for £9,129. June 2006: DLC added £167.05 interest. September 2006: DLC issued notice of debt recovery for £9667.09 July 2007: DLC offered discount and removal of interest and charges if "an arrangement to clear the debt was made". July 2007: I requested further details, confirmation of who owned the debt, and the capital amount. August 2007: Request ignored but confirmation that £5.00 per month "will be acceptable". Questions: a) since the token monthly payments of £1.00, DLC has been paid £5.00 per month under a DMP. b) as my understanding was that interest would be withheld how has the balance jumped from £8,900 to £9,611, c) silly question, but why has my request of July been ignored? Request: Do I keep up with the £5.00 per month through CCCS or rock the boat by asking DLC for a copy of the CCA? Am unsure, still, of who owns the debt and my file shows only a copy of an application to Citi. Vandermerwe

Good morning Ginantonic. I enjoy reading letters like yours on this site. Not, I hasten to add, because of your difficulties but because you have taken the first step to controlling your financial affairs instead of them controlling you. As, shall I say an elderly citizen, I find something very distasteful about modern day yobs 'putting the boot' into vulnerable people. That is what is happening to you - or so it would seem, Please phone two charities for their advice. 0808 808-4000 will get you through to the National Debtline. 0800 138-1111 will connect you with the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS). No charge. Non-judgemental. Good advice. I can, and will, elaborate if you wish - just let me know if you wish me to follow this track. Remember, today is the day you pick up the phone and get your life back on track. Best regards and good luck. Vandermerwe

Morning jga. Thanks for your PM. I'm replying here rather than with a PM as I believe my message might just have interest for others - please don't take it amiss. All I wish to do is to set out the principles of my CCCS debt management plan, the most important of which is their insistence on pro rata payments. I pay them £xxx per month for y number of creditors. Each gets a minimum of £z per month, but the larger ones get £z plus. CCCS does the calculation, not me. On the (rare) occasions I have had a greedy beggar come along demanding more I've replied (template letter on this forum) that the allocations are made on a pro rata basis as used by the county courts. That has usually shut them up (including DCAs) but I have one to respond to again today. I lost my business 18 months ago, put my head in the sand until I realised the effluvia wasn't going to go away. Can't remember why I called CCCS, but I got a counsellor who, as far as I know, is still there for me, but once I had set up the DMP I've never spoken to the same person twice which, in my case hasn't been a problem. There is also a fairly reasonable on line communication service. jga you owe it to yourself to give them a call; it'll cost you nothing and the beauty of the 0800 number I gave you is that they set up a time and day for a counsellor to call you back. Give it a go and please do keep us posted - the messages on this forum have helped saved my sanity and given me a good laff (as my friend Pete would say) - but then I enjoy gallows humour! You sound like a genuine bloke jga and that (I believe) is who this whole site is for. Keep us posted - PM again if you wish. Best regards and good luck. Van

No laff this time, Pete, I just want advice. Am composing this morning. Have just realised that's Freudian given my avatur! Regards Van

Hi jga. Would greatly appreciate a PM from you telling me who it is who won't accepted a reduced offer. Of course post on the forum if you feel able to do so. It wouldn't be Northern Rock would it? Regards Van

'Ello Pete - we meet up in the funniest places! Don't want to hijack your thread, so have started my own - see 'something stinks in the Citi' Hope the mods approve! Regards Van