Hi there Before getting into the question of whether the debt is yours or not WHY ON EARTH should you do the DEBT COLLECTORS work for them. It's up to THEM (NOT YOU) to get the correct address etc of the person they think owes the debt -- and further they have to present their authority to collect it too. Just politely but firmly tell anybody calling you to Foxtrot Oscar. If they send mail that doesn't DIRECTLY address you then just bin it. If these really horrible companies want to pursue people with their wretched and vile tactics make THEM do the work. Capquest are a particularly nasty bunch with a load of "Non Dom" directors so best of luck in seeing them off. However other people on the Forum will give you good advice here concerning CCA / SAR etc. Just remember NEVER EVER deal on the phone with these type of people, send any mail recorded delivery and NEVER EVER pay any sort of Debt Collection agency via a DIRECT DEBIT. Cheers jimbo

Hi there IS IT SB'd or NOT. SAR will determine this. Cheers jimbo

Hi there Whilst to most people the meaning of this document is probably as clear as mud I accept the fact that you are answering the previous Posters question but this issue actually obfuscates the whole question of whether the debt is STATUTE BARRED or NOT. So just to re-iterate It doesn't matter WHEN / IF / HOW these slimebags ASSIGNED the debt -- if it's 6 years without a payment on the account or acknowledgement of the debt BY YOU then its STATUTE BARRED --END OF. 100% defence in Court -- there is no actual law against them from TRYING to collect although you are under 100% no obligation to pay it -- and of course the usual complaints about Harrassment etc can (and should) be made if they keep pestering you. Once they KNOW that YOU know the debt is SB'd then even their tiny pea brains will realize its pointless continuing to attempt to collect. They will then move on to a more unfortunate victim who has never heard of CAG. (SB is 5 Years in Scotland just in case). Cheers jimbo

Hi I'd do the standard response to this one. One - WHAT is the debt they are trying to collect. Standard "Prove it " letter. Two challenge their right to collect it -- do they OWN the debt or are they just the Lapdogs collecting on behalf of the OC. If they are just the Lapdogs just ignore and deal with the OC. Three -- challenge and "abnormal" / or "excessive" charges too. If you even THINK this is a debt from 2003 DO NOT ACKNOWLEGE it in anyway. Send 1 GBP Postal order for CCA agreement to Sharkleycard. Also after this verify date of last activity on this account via the SAR (10 GBP) also send to Sharkleycard. If last date is 6 years or more (5 in Scotland) DEBT IS SB'D and you can tell HFO with great pleasure to Foxtrot Oscar. Cheers jimbo

Hi there Before you can even defend this you want to get the actual POC -- waht are they going to Court for. If its debt subject to the various CCA's then you need to get a copy of the CCA to make sure that it IS your debt -- they MUST produce the a valid document if you want to defend the claim. If the amount on the Court claim looks supiciously different to what you think it should be then get an SAR from the original creditor. The fact that they aren't using Northampton to pursue a CCJ leads me to a suspicion this might be for something like non payment of a parking fine etc. A Council tax problem won't go to County Court either -- a Liability order granted in a Magistrates Court is the first point of call for these types of problems. Without knowing what the CCJ is FOR it's hard to suggest a line of defence. In any case whatever the debt is ALWAYS make the person or organisation hassling you prove that it's actually YOUR debt -- AND THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO COLLECT IT. Anybody can say XXXX have told me to collect a debt of YYYY -- this has as much validity as my Grandmothers cat asking for the same thing. Cheers jimbo

Hi there Excuse the slight drift of the post here verging on to Off Topic but in order to answer previous posters question this bit of info needs to be understood. You need to understand a bit about "Derivatives" trading on the exchanges to get to the bottom of these -- but essentally a "Derivative" is essentially buying "an Option" in the "Asset" without actually OWNING the underlying asset. In Stock exchange parlance you are trading the DERIVATIVE of the asset not the actual UNDERLYING ASSET ITSELF. For example you could sell someone the "Right to buy your car at 4000 GBP any time within the next 6 months" and for this the person buying the right would pay you say 300 GBP. The person doesn't actually have to BUY your car but he can "Execise his right" any time until the option expires. You get to keep the 300 GBP whatever happens. If you sell the car you get the sale price agreed 4000 GBP. So what you have done here is traded in the right to buy your car -- not traded in the actual car itself. The option derivative here is your Car. This is known on the market as "Covered Calls / Puts " and are used also a lot in Hedge Fund trading. Now debt buying works the same way -- the debts are parcelled up into a "Derivative" and sold by the Bank to the DCA / Debt collection company. What the Debt company has done is to pay the Bank for the right to deal in the underlying "Securities" in the Fund -- the nominal debts that the bank wants to be shot of. As far as the "Financial Markets" are concerned its a win win situation since the Banks are shot of their "Non Performing debts" while the GREEDY DCA's have the right to obtain the "debts" for anything they can extort out of their usually hapless victims. By reading various Stock exchange sources one can glean what these "Funds" trade for and applying fairly basic mathematics can come up with a realistic "guess" of what people like CL Finance / Capquest or others actually paid for your debt. 1% to 5% is pretty par for the course for this type of "Market" -- depending on how bad the banks think the debt is. Sorry for on a DEBT managing Forum explaining a bit about how the Stock Market works -- but if you understand where these VISCIOUS companies are coming from you can see why they WILL spend a little bit extra money in going as far as possible to retrieve their money If they think that say for a debt they purchased for 25 GBP even paying 2 or 3 hundred pounds in court costs etc makes it for them a worthwhile investment if they think they will gain several THOUSAND pounds at the end of it. You have to distinguish between a basic "Debt collection Service" who in most cases you can see off and those who actually PURCHASED your debt. Really horrible but true which is why you should do ANYTHING legally in your powers to thwart this whole NASTY, STINKING ROTTEN business. Cheers jimbo

Hi there an SD is a Statuatory Demand which basically means just that -- the Creditor can Demand money without further ado IMMEDIATELY or they can apply to make you Bankrupt. They DON'T NEED TO GO TO COURT AGAIN TO GET THE MONEY. Making you Bankrupt however costs the DCA's money so its usually more of a nasty threat than a real possibility -- still an SD is a LEGAL document and YOU MUST DEAL WITH IT -- fortunately in the few cases where people actually get presented with these there are plenty of grounds for getting them squashed since the delivery of an SD has to be carried out by quite strict and correct legal procedures. In your case if you can't realistically defend the CO just let them go for it and hope they make a mistake of allowing Interest to accumulate to the amount on the CO -- then you can say "Little round objects" to them and get the CO lifted. If they do it correctly just sit there for say half a year -- don't pay them anything -- pay off any other pressing creditors or try and build up a cash reserve. Then offer them a full and Final -- You are in a better haggling position than you possibly realize here. As I said these companies got SO GREEDY they thought getting a CO would be a sure fire way of getting their full debt paid back quickly -- they wrongfully assumed everybody moves house every 5 mins. In the current state of the housing market they will have to wait a VERY LONG TIME INDEED to get paid. If they send nasty letter about "Forced Sale" just laugh -- No court would allow an entire home to be forceably flogged of for less credit card debt than the value of a fairly mediocre used car. Cheers jimbo

Hi there Howard - Cohen --what a suprise --another of CL Finance / The Lewis Group / Cattles so called henchmen. I don't know why DCA's etc are still going down this pointless route of a CO for these types of debts. First since your debt is covered via the various CCA's then NO INTEREST can be added to the amount on the charging order -- Note here NO INTEREST CAN BE ADDED TO THE AMOUNT ON THE CHARGING ORDER AFTER ITS GRANTED. Interest between CCJ and date of Charging order can be allowed if its in the CCJ. After CO it STOPS DEAD. If they attempt to say the CO allows interest to continue to accrue then the CO sn't been properly executed and can be SET ASIDE. In any case there has to have been an initial CCJ which has then itself been defaulted on before they can go for CO's. However if you defended a CCJ then presumably the CCJ does NOT exist. If it does there must be conditions on it that you have not complied with. BEFORE OFFERING ANY MONEY TO THESE PARASITES CHECK THE STATUS OF THE CCJ --does it exist or not. If it does and there is no fixed amount to be paid then you can't have broken any agreement so no CO. Do if you have grounds for defending the CO do it . Others on this Forum can advise on defending in this case or if its too late having the CO set aside. After the Interim they have to go back to court and make it final. Now on a 1900 GBP they would be TOTALLY LAUGHED OUT OF COURT if they took any further action -- they will just have to sit this one out until you decide to move or sell say in 30 years time --meanwhile the debt is valuless -- inflation etc having taken its toll. If they do have legal grounds for a CO then I'd just let them do it and THEN offer them a full and final of say 800 GBP -- some of these companies would rather have the 800 GBP in a short space of time than wait 20 years for an ever diminishing debt. The courts these days in any case don't really like the use of CO's for CREDIT CARD and other "smallish" bits of Consumer debt-- although currently its still within the law so a judge has to comply if the conditions are valid. Moves are afoot to ban this practice for debts of under 25,000 GBP but we are still waiting on this one. Don't get scared of a CO -- in most cases whilst its annoying at least it stops INTEREST. A properly executed SD is a far more potent weapon which while can be tackled needs a LOT more work on your part generally so at least be thankful they haven't gone down this route yet. Incidentally CL tend to buy whole parcels of debt - you can estimate what they paid for your debt by estimating the value of the "debt" in the portfolio against the value they paid for it and then break down the mean value. I would be very surprised if your actual "1900" GBP debt cost them any more than about 25 GBP -- if even that. Sometimes these debts are sold for literally Pennies in the pound -- a totally EVIL and IMMORAL trade -- and its usually the lowest of the low who end up in these types of businesses. I really have been totally surprised at how I've seen the so called Debt Collection "Industry" treat people who usually though no fault of their own have got into these circumstances while the Banks etc have been benefiting HUGELY at the taxpayers expense. Cheers jimbo

Hi there I think DCA's now who used to GREEDILIY go down the Charging Order route have decided that issuing SD's is much more likely to get results for them. First CO stops INTEREST stone dead for any debt covered by the CCA's. They've finally realised that getting a CO is not the Cash Cow they thought it was. Secondly they can often have to wait YEARS until you move or sell the house before they get paid -- often by then inflation will have eaten away the debt to almost nothing. Thirdly -- there is displeasure in various govt circles at this mechanism for turning unsecured debt like Credit Card debt into secured debt especially for amounts of under 25,000 GBP. Finally -- a forced order of sale will almost NEVER EVER be granted-- only a handful of these are ever granted and then for really extreme cases so it really isn't a solution for them. Getting an SD means that YOU actually have to take some sort of action --meanwhile Interest and other charges pile up. The best thing in this case IMO is to offer either a full and final amount or try and make some payment arrangement - even though paying ANY slimy DCA goes 100% totally against the craw. SD's actually are a better weapon for DCA's than CO's although a lot haven't changed yet --expect more to do so as the CO process becomes more discredited. Note of course Doorstep calls are NOT allowed unless you want to make an appointment -- you can have such callers removed by Police and charged with trespass if they don't go away and as for Bailiff's -- the less said about these obnoxious vermin the better. But before these can be used a Court judgement has to be obtained --say a CCJ and then this not complied with, The creditor then has to go back to court to get a warrant of execution and I doubt that a typical house these days have enough saleable items to make this a worthwhile option -- and in any case Bailiff's for civil debt can't force their way on to your property either. Cheers jimbo

To get a charging order they first need to go to court at least 3 times - once to get a CCJ. You then have to default on this and they have then to get an Interim and a FINAL CO. Although others might disagree here the whole CO process is grossly overdone these days and is unlikely to give the creditor back any money quickly. I'd actually let them go for a CO as this actually stops ANY interest on debts covered by the various CCA's of ANY amount . So you would have stopped any further interest being added STONE DEAD. Others might say let them attempt a CCJ and then at court offer them say 1 GBP a month depending on your circumstances -- however this won't stop interest and you will NEVER EVER clear the debt. Courts also don't really like this "Back door" step of turning Unsecured Debt into Secured debt and there is pending discussions by the Coalition govt to review this whole process for debts of less than 25,000 GBP. In any case a Forced sale of your property will almost NEVER be sanctioned by a Court --however aggressive the creditor is. You certainly won't have to sell for example if the outstanding debt is only a tiny fraction of the value of the house for example if Sleazebag DCA gets a CO for 3,000 GBP but your house is worth 300,000 GBP then they would be laughed out of court for even attempting to go down this route. Really you are in a better position here than people realize since you can easily say to the DCA hey -- I could sit here for 30 / 40 years before I move -- meanwhile this NO interest debt is being eaten away by inflation etc. Why don't you accept a Full and Final of -- make your own offer here but I'd start at around 10%. CO's actually are a scare tactic -- If these greedy DCA's really want their money a more effective route is going for SD's -- although you can get set asides interest can Still be charged as per the original CCA. The CO route while it looks nasty is actually more of a problem for the Debt chaser than you since INTEREST is stopped and there is almost ZERO possibility of a forced sale. AS always in this whole rotten stinking industry it's fear and ignorance that allows these vultures to operate. Just look at the rules and follow the usually sound advice you see on these Forums. cheers jimbo

Hi there the fact it has even been passed to a DCA is indication in this case that it is indeed game over. You should be 100% in the clear now. Any further actions on this debt is just pure harassment and you can use the entire legal system without any risk as they have ZERO chance of any further action. Don't be surprised at some DCA's grasping at the *pssible" chance for them to make some money -- most of these DCA's assume that 99% of their "victims" have never heard of CAG and will probably pay up. Cheer jimbo

Hi there Check you have in writing an agreement that 20 GBP a month was OK and also check the original amount and conditions you agree to pay. If these clowns want to change the rules during "the game" then you can legitimatly say "We'll let a COURT decide if payments need to be increased". From what I read on this Forum a Court would probably in most cases actually REDUCE payments. Interest over the original CCA CANNOT be added by any of these disgusting low life debt buying vermin -- a debt of around 4,000 GBP believe it or not is actually *bought* by these companies for around -- don't die of horror here -- 67 PENCE yes 67 PENCE -- although this is averaged out since they buy a PARCEL of debts rather than individual ones. What I've done here is to take the MEAN of the TOTAL cost of the "portfolio" they've bought against the number of debts in it. Not necessarily 100% scientifically accurate but it just shows you the "profits" these squalid businesses think they can make. Check the CCA for interest charges allowable and if necessary SAR either the OC or HFO. cheers jimbo

Hi there This whole issue of "Doorstep Collection" or "Field agents will Call" should really be stickied ("Mods please") since -- I can't remember the exact link but there is good case law here in saying that without invitation only The Postman and people asking for directions can actually visit your property. (Exceptions are of course The Police in conjunction with crime including Terrorism and a legally appointed High Court Bailiff but for civil debt collection its unlikely these exceptions will apply) . Remember they have NO right to visit your property --if they turn up just tell them firmly to FOXTROT OSCAR and call the Police if there are any issues. Please also complain to the various trading standards orgainsations as well about the behaviour of these people representing some of the more disreputable companies operating in this whole murky area of Debt Collection. Most DCA's (not all unfortunately) but around 80% of them have about as many rights to collect your debt as your Grandmothers Cat. Cheers jimbo

Hi there Why not add an "Administration Charge" for your time spent in dealing with this matter -after all if Banks and Solicitors can charge up to 35 GBP a time for a 5 second letter that ANYBODY can write why shouldn't you do this too --after all if it's THEIR debt they need to GET THEIR FACTS straight before bothering people. If THEY don't have the info -- well little doggies round objects as you shouldn't have to do THEIR work for them as other have posted too. Cheers jimbo

Hi there Ist and 2nd Visit fees are legitimate -- even if they didn't actually do the visits unless you can categorically PROVE they didn't attend -- and that's not so easy as it sounds. Now provided you haven't let these ****bags in to your property and they haven't levied anything all other charges ARE ILLEGAL --VAN FEES, WAITING TIME etc etc etc. If they DID levy a vehicle there would have to be at least a notice on the vehicle --these days it would either have been removed or have a wheel clamp fitted. Only pay the 2 visit fees --around 42 GBP in total -- that's ALL you have to pay by law. It's about time the Councils saw the real pointlessness of using Bailiff's for Council Tax enforcement -- a typical property probably wouldn't have enoough saleable goods to cover typical debts these days anyway apart from Vehicles and jewellery . Note that these Bailiff's have ABSOLUTELY ZERO RIGHT to enter your property without invitation AT ANY TIME and I'm sure you won't let them in yourself. If they come to yout door just politely tell them to Foxtrot Oscar. Incidentally seeing off the Bailiff doesn't stop you from having to pay the Council tax but at least if everybody told these thugs to Foxtrot Oscar the Council might consider better methods of collection --especially these days where most families budgets are under SEVERE Pressure. Cheers jimbo

Hi there I HATE RESTONS with a passion -- these scumbags are NOTORIOUS for adding humungous charges on to any dealings they have with anybody. Anybody from Warrington Lancashire if you know anybody who works at this horrible outfit just tell them that "What goes around Comes around" eventually and they will be the recipients of their victims displeasure. The Charging order can ONLY be based on the CCJ and THEY CANNOT ADD CHARGES SUCH AS INTEREST (other than Court Fees and even here I'm not 100% sure --any litigation Sols can you check on this please). A CHARGING ORDER is based on the amount due on the date that it goes to court when the CCJ hasn't been satisfied. Even if a CCJ allowed interest until judgement a Charging Order stops this -- you only are liable for the actual amount ON THE DAY OF THE ORDER. If the original CCJ included a huge collection charge then this is grounds for a set aside and the Charging Order would be nullified. Debts subject to the various CCA's CANNOT have interest added to charging orders. Other debts under 5,000 GBP NOT subject to CCA's also cannot have interest added either. If extra charges etc are added its good grounds for getting the whole thing set aside. But I warn you -- RESTONS are in almost the same league as CL FINANCE probably one of the NASTIEST FIRMS you will ever have to deal with but their achilles heel is the sheer greed of their "collection charges" where they can be beaten on these. You could get a sympathetic hearing from a Court -- say you were out of the country for XXXX and once you got back you got all these orders from RESTON'S without any chance of defending them -- although 3 years is along time. I'd DO almost ANYTHING to see this NASTY firm forced out of business. I'd attack this more on the amount of the charging order if it doesn't agree with the defaulted CCJ. Cheers jimbo

Hi there just TELL THEM that 1 GBPO is waht you are offering and THIS is ALL you can afford and thats ALL you are paying. If THEY don't like it you can see them in COURT which they won't usually do since the COURT will almost invariably give you a bettere deal than ANY SLEAZEBAG DCA. Once YOU take control the problem is 99% solved.As stated by the previous poster only a COURT or a JUDGE can demand an I&E. Offer your 1 GBP a month with a takle it or leave it note. You probably won't be bothered again since once a DCA knows that you know your rights they will run so fast their feet won't even touch the ground. Cheers jimbo

Hi there CL Lewis are part of the same outfit as CATTLES which trade in human misery by basically "buying" debts for PENNIES in the pound from the OC and then trying to get the debtor to pay the FULL AMOUNT oftern with HUMUNGOUS charges and Interest added -- often illegally. The last thing people need when often through no fault of their own is NASTY THIEVING IMMORAL companies like this trying to extort even more. CATTLES themselves were a "Sub Prime" lender -- lending to people that generally would have problems paying ANY debts so really shouldn't have been lent the money in the first place. Of course CATTLES were unsustainable in the original business model after the banks went belly up. The whole EVIL practice of selling on debts etc and making money out of people who have got themselves into serious difficulty should be BANNED which is great that sites like this exist so people can do everything possible to get these leeches of your backs. I really cant understand how solicitors such as COHEN can really work for these types of outfits and then sleep in thie beds peacefully knowing that they might just have pushed another person who gets utterly scared of this stuff into Suicide. I thionk if I saw these guys crossing the street my Car might get a sudden case of break failure. If this whole business was ever managed COMPASSIONATLY by the ORIGINAL CREDITORS they would get MORE money back and the whole business would operate properly without some really nast characters getting involved such as our own favourite B.C Most people believe iot or not DO want to come to some sort of arrangement but the sheer INFLEXIBILITY of the whole system especially in these days where people's income can change rapidly at short notoice making the sort of Long Term agreements the creditors seem to want is IMPOSSIBLE - especially as more and more people become self empoyed often with NO INCOME for lengthy periods. So well done the CAG and do everything legally possible to stop some of these really VILE companies in their tracks. Cheers jimbo

Hi all Maybe I missed something here but ignoring the issues of "Licenses" if you went into liquidation aren't ALL debts at the date of liquidation terminated and its up to the receiver to dole out any funds that they can salvage from the liquidation. For PERSONAL debt if you are on benefits you can just tell them you are paying 1 GBP a month and if they don't like it THEY can go to court --which they won't do since the Court will agree with the nominal payment anyway. So just tell them to Foxtrot Oscar as you are not paying anymore than the minimum amount. (by YOU I mean the person who is being chased for the debt of course). Cheers jimbo

Hi there actually if you read the small print it hasn't really been saved --it's going to be wound down gradually. It shows that this is a VILE business model and hopefully as consumers become increasingly aware on the pitfalls of getting into debt and the realisation that we CAN often live decently without credit then the future for these types of companies is BLEAK. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/businessnews/Cattles-avoids-administration-as-creditors.6708487.jp We have to accept the fact whether we like it or not that some people in ANY POLITICAL SYSTEM will always be either wealthier or more privileged or both. I'm sure if I had just a fraction of Mr Abramovitch's (Chelsea FC owner) money I could do all sorts of things -- but IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN so just try and do the best you can. Since joining CAG I've been totally amazed at the sheer EVILNESS of the whole Debt collection business which seems to thrive on attacking people when they are at their most vulnerable. You couldn't even MAKE up some of the horror stories you read about on these forums. Whatever you might think about companies such as SHELL and MICROSOFT for example at least they conduct themselves in a "reasonable" manner even if to some people their profits might be bordering on the Obscene. At least they don't charge the nearly 3,000 % interest (Yes thats no typo THREE THOUSAND PERCENT) that companies like WONGA do and IT'S STILL LEGAL. Cheers jimbo

Hi there OH DEAR there is a bit of "dubious advice" here. The problem arises when you try and classify debts as "Priority" and "Non Priority". For Property owners debts need to be looked at differently. These days even CREDIT CARD debts can be turned into SECURED DEBTS by the nasty mechanism known as a "Charging Order" which effectively secures your HOME against originally UNSECURED Credit card debt (for which the Banks were already charging a much higher rate of interest). Nowhere on the original CCA does it even mention this possibility but unfortunately its legal. They do have to get a CCJ and go back to court 2 times more to make this stick but it IS a factor and although a Court is unlikely to force a sale of your property some DCA's such as CL_Finance etc have been known to threaten peope with the loss of their home for really smallish amounts of Credit Card debt that they purchased for pennies in the pound anyway. So if you have money it's better IMO to pay off the debts that have higher interest -- and provided you don't leave it too long let the Mortgage arreas mount up for a few months as the interest on these is usually of AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE LOWER than credit cards etc. However if you DO use this strategy ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH TO PAY OFF ARREARS if you get snotty letters from Banks solicitors. This tactic won't suit everybody but in general unless you can get the debt wriitten off it pays to clear the debt with the highest interest first so long as you don't lose your home of course. You might be able to arrange with your Mortgage company a "Mortgage Holiday" or very reduced payments while you are clearing off other debt. Whilst I'm no friend of Banks they usually DO look more sympathetically to people who are realistically trying to pay off debts and have some sort of plan in place so you will at least get a considered hearing on this one. Note that COUNCIL and INCOME TAX MUST be dealt with FIRST -- these DO take priority over everything else but Councils can usually be accomodating PROVIDING YOU DEAL WITH THE ISSUE BEFORE GETTING LIABILITY ORDER / BALIFF NOTICES. Cheers jimbo

Hi there I think SnottyCall get stuff from Buchanan Clarke and Wells --- In the case of ANY DCA chasing a debt ALWAYS MAKE THEM PROVE 1) It really is your debt and 2) unfortunately the other part which is usually overlooked is that THEY HAVE THE POWER TO COLLECT IT. It's no good them saying XXXX has empowered me to collect YYYY on their behalf wihout stating their CLEAR LEGAL authority to do do (even if you actually do owe the money). My Grandmothers Cat has more powers than most of these tinpot DCA's and as for "Doorstep Collections" etc -- I think any CAGGER would have a field day with these "agents" before telling them to Foxtrot Oscar. Whenever I say RESTONS, SCOTCALL,BUCHANAN CLARK &WELLS or MOORCROFT the Rotweilers start foaming at the mouth in anticipation of a nice Early Dinner. NEVER TOLERATE DOORSTEP CALLERS -- as well don't let BAILIFF's in either except for very specific circumstances. Cheers jimbo

Hi there Politics aside -- and I suspect that representatives of the 3 main parties are pretty much about the same when it comes to the Banking Industry, it surely is the job of any Govt to keep this stuff in order. Remember it was "Gordon Clown and Phony Tony's" policies that decided that UK PLC would be funded on Consumer Borrowing on rediculously cheap credit, and trying to get 50% of the population on useless degree courses -- meanwhile you can't get a plumber at a sensible price on a Sunday Morning and even our food seems to need such things as EGGS from Germany -- Why we need to import this sort of stuff I just don't know -- and soon it looks like even our Nuclear Industry will be owned by the French. OK the Tories aren't good either -- I'm reasonably apolitical on this lot but PLEASE bring back SENSIBLE education such as the old OND, HND, HNC and even City&Guilds courses and lets start MAKING things again or at least GROWING them. It's about time we weren't so reliant on The Financial sector --- when this crashes at it regularly does it's the ORDINARY people who suffer not the Bankers. A good start would be to regulate the whole DCA stuff properly --it's a FAILED business model as more and more people begin to discover their rights. Cheers jimbo

Hi there Getting into debt can happen to ANYBODY and believe it or not the VAST majority of cases are NOT due to reckless / feckless behaviour on part of the debtor. Redundancy happens -- for example loads of the UK I.T industry has been decimated by jobs being off shored to India -- thankfully that trend is now nearly over as businesses that did this have realized that the savings they expected to gain just didn't materialize and inevitably customer service suffers HUGELY as a result. People die, get divorced, get ill etc etc. Banks take the risk when they lend money in the first place so they should be sympathetic when the borrower gets into difficulties. That's why interest on these types of loans is around 27% when to BOE base rate is still around 2%. They got bailed out HUGELY by the taxpayer and are STILL taking us to the cleaners too. As I said before this whole STINKING,ROTTEN, VILE industry is based on LIES, DECEPTION, EXTORTION etc. I see nothing wrong in attempting to pay off something since presumably the money was borrowed in the first place -- but the attitude of some of the lenders just beggars belief. It's when people who can least afford it get threatened with Statutaory Demands, Humungous Collection Fees (RESTONS are big on these- often over 1,000 GBP on 5,000GBP debt) and humungous interest charges so that you WILL NEVER be able to pay off the debt that make people decide enough is enough and use any mechanism available to stop these people in their tracks. Incidentally if people handled this stiff more compassionately they would get a HUGE amount more money. BTW if ever I get threatening letters from Solicitors I always reply back to them and say " How dare you right in this sort of tone to me -- if you want to collect / or whatever please do it in a civilised manner such as "It looks like you might have a bit of a problem with account xxxx. Maybe we can arrange some sort of solution to this......". I WILL NOT REPLY TO LETTERS SAYING DEMAND WITHIN XXXX DAYS ? COURTS etc etc -- and usually ask them to say how long they would actually survive on a Public Street if they spoke to people using the same type of Language as they do in their letters. Most DCA's and their ratbaggy solicitors aren't even worth using toiletpaper to reply with. However if you DO reply to these outfits then always use RECORDED DELIVERY and NEVER EVER pay by direct debiit. Cheers jimbo

Hi there Don't worry about "Field Agents". These people have no more right to visit you without making a prior appointment -- which I'm sure you'll have your own views on that-- than a Venusian dust fly mite. If they hassle you or turn up uninvited you can 100% legally tell them to Foxtrot Oscar in no uncertain terms and call the Police as well. There's a case on this site -- you'll have to search it -- which establishes apart from the Postman and people asking for directions who can actually visit your property. In any debt situation no matter how hopeless it looks YOU must take control -- not the DCA. With the people who won't agree to anything just first check that the debt is legally collectable -- get the CCA etc and then if it is enforceable challenge the DCA's authority to collect it. It's amazing how many people just pay up when they see a letter from some ****** DCA saying XXXX has empowered me to collect YYYY on their behalf. Maybe I should start sending out random letters to people on the electoral roll saying My Grandmothers Cat says Barclays has authorsed me to collect xxxx GBP from you. Most of these DCA's are just like 3rd world tinpot dictators -- full of grand ideas but ZERO powers. Incidentally for another time NEVER EVER send an Income / expenditure form to a DCA -- this is information best left for a COURT. If a DCA refuses your offer of payment just tell them well let a COURT decide -- you will 99.99% of the time get a better deal --maybe as low as 1 GBP a month and then when your finances pick up you could offer say 10% of the outstanding balance to clear off the debt. Most DCA's think people are in total fear of Courts -- actually often for this type of stuff hearings are quite relaxed and informal -- don't think of it as like standing in the Dock at The Old Bailey. Once you show some aggro the DCA's will either melt away or comply. This is a whole Nightmare Industry based on LIES, THREATS, EXTORTION etc. and the sooner it was SERIOUSLY and PROPERLY regulated the better with the nr 1 priority of BANNING all selling on of DEBTS for pennies in the pound while the buyer of these debts tries to get the TOTAL amount owed back. The real nasty ones in this business are CL LEWIS plus their various offshoots although one of the firms in this portfolio -- CATTLES has finally passed its sell by date, RESTONS who call themselves solicitors and usually collect on behalf of HFC etc -- old marbles accounts -- and CAPQUEST. You'll see LOADS and LOADS of threads about these particular organisations on these sites. Cheers jimbo