Been there, seen it etc, there not fit to operate, try the direct email to the Cheif Executive, i was constantly ignored until i emailed him direct and when my MP got involved. I know its hard, but keep strong, there bullies at the end of the day !

Sorry to hear of your problems, Philips are known to haras and force people into making unrealistic payments, i would strongly reccomend you make you voice heard. Here are some usefull contact details: Philips Collection Services Ltd PO Box 152 Darlington DL3 9WT Contact: Mr N Bradley - Cheif Executive Phone: 01325 387 400 Fax: 01325 383 887 Email: [email protected] Link: www.philips.org.uk Office of Fair Trading contact details: Philips Collection Services Limited - Licence Number 0491286 [email protected] You can also find your MP and other info here: www.theyworkforyou.com Hope you get things sorted, keep us informed, take care.

Here is the response from the O FT following my recent complaint regarding Philips collection Services, including some usefull info: Telephone (O84) 5722 4599 Our Ref xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Fax (020) 7211 8877 Date xxxxxxxxxxxxx Email [email protected] xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the Act) Complaint Against: Philips Collection Services Ltd Licence No: 491286 Thank you for your email received on 3 June 2009. I apologise for the delay in responding to you. I am very sorry to hear about the difficulties have been experiencing, however, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has no authority to become involved in individual disputes between consumers and traders so we cannot advise you directly in this matter. I enclose a list of organisations which can offer you help and advice. For specialist, face-to-face assistance, or intervention, you may wish to seek legal advice either through a local Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) or directly from a legal adviser. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) can help with most complaints about consumer credit products and services if the consumer has failed to satisfactorily resolve the matter directly with the consumer credit licensee itself. I can confirm that the business you mention holds a consumer credit licence. Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the Act), holders of consumer credit licences must be fit and competent to do so, and the OFT has a duty to monitor the fitness and conduct of all traders who hold such a licence. The OFT has issued guidance to consumer credit licence holders engaged in the debt collection industry. The guidance is intended to ensure that debt collectors treat individuals fairly. Non-compliance with this guidance will call into question the fitness of licence holders and applicants. You can view our guidance at: www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/legal/cca/debt-collection We have therefore noted the details of your complaint, and we will consider this alongside any other complaints we have received with a view to any consumer credit licensing or other action we may decide to take. If we do take any action against this trader, it is likely that we would need to disclose your identity to this trader along with details of your complaint. I should therefore be grateful if you could sign the enclosed consent form and return it to me. Unfortunately, we cannot disclose any details about any action we may take, due to legal restrictions on the OFT relating to disclosure of information. We would like to thank you once again for writing to us and bringing this matter to our attention. Yours sincerely xxxxxxxxxxx Enquiries and Reporting Centre (ERC) Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Help and Advice You can contact the following non-profit making organisations for free, confidential and impartial advice. · Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) For advice and information on debt and other topics, visit your nearest CAB. Look them up in your phone book or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk For web-based information and advice go to www.adviceguide.org.uk · Community Legal Advice For free advice phone 0845 345 4 345 if you qualify for legal aid or visit www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk · Consumer Credit Counselling Service For debt advice throughout the UK – including Northern Ireland – phone 0800 138 1111 or visit www.cccs.co.uk · Consumer Direct If you live in England, Wales or Scotland phone 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.ukfor general consumer advice and information. Consumer Direct’s website includes information about credit and hire agreements and a fuller list of independent advice agencies. · ConsumerLine If you live in Northern Ireland phone 0845 600 62 62 or visit www.consumerline.orgfor general consumer advice. · Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) The FOS can help with most complaints about consumer-credit products and services if the consumer has failed to satisfactorily resolve the matter directly with the financial institution itself. FOS can be contacted at: Financial Ombudsman Service South Quay Plaza 183 Marsh Wall London E14 9SR Telephone: 0845 080 1800 Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk · National Debtline If you live in England, Wales or Scotland phone 0808 808 4000 or visit www.nationaldebtline.co.ukfor debt advice and information.

Hi Sorry to hear about your problems, having read through your many comments, bells are ringing in my head again, the points you have stated are repeated time and time again, its extremly worrying that this DCA continues to operate in this manner. Speaking from personnal experience i would suggest the following: Contact the original company regarding your debt, outline the problems your eperincing with Philips, see if they are willing to take the account back. Continue to exhaust the Philips complaint route, you can write or ring, but i would suggest the Cheif Executive email, whilst it still works ! by the looks of what you have written your doing fine. As Philips have been harasing you and not accepting reasonable payments, contact the Office of Fair Trading with your concerns, ive done this and recieved a reply from them - copy will be issued in separate thread shortly ! You could alslo contact your local MP, again, describe exactley what your going through with Philips, ive done this and my MP has asked some parlimentry questions with regard to this DCA, since my MP got involved i have received an in depth reply from Philips, basically appologising and enclosing a cheque, think this was to keep me quiet ! Here are some contact details: Philips Collection Services Ltd PO Box 152 Darlington DL3 9WT Contact: Mr N Bradley Phone: 01325 387 400 Fax: 01325 383 887 Email: [email protected] Link: www.philips.org.uk Office of Fair Trading contact details: Philips Collection Services Limited - Licence Number 0491286 [email protected] You can also find your MP and other info here: www.theyworkforyou.com I have also drafted a complaint for the Financial Service Ombudsman, this will be sent on the 24 June 2009 - DCA action day ! Hope you manage to get things sorted, keep us informed, take care.

Sorry to hear of your problems - to save invading this thread could you possibly paste your comments above into a new thread, i would reccomend you title it starting with Philips Collection Services, you will get more replys that way, ill also comment on your thread too ! Speak soon - take care.

Thanks for your advice - I was thinking the same thing, but was not to sure, in any event i would prefer the funds go towards my debt rather than in the hands of the banks etc - Just deciding on what action to take.

Hope your not meaning Philips by aquainted !

Hope these help.... Philips Collection Services Ltd PO Box 152 Darlington DL3 9WT Contact: Mr N Bradley - Cheif Executive Phone: 01325 387 400 Fax: 01325 383 887 Email: [email protected] Link: www.philips.org.uk Office of Fair Trading contact details: Philips Collection Services Limited - Licence Number 0491286 [email protected]

Sorry for the delay in replying - in your complaint form to Philips basically inform them what happened, be specific and described how they have harrased you etc, address it the Cheif Executive, by recorded delivery. I would continue communicating with the DVLA, but im not upto speed on the procedures etc sorry, as im a lease car driver. Also continue to exaust all other complaint avenues, including your MP, ive noticed lots of horror stories with the DVLA like yours, highlighting your concerns will help others also Keep us inform.

Thanks for all comments - after reading these, it looks like someone will be claiming there charges etc back ! Thanks again for your help, much appreciated.

Hi If a person has entered into an I V A, can they still claim there bank charges back, including P P I that may have been missold ? Also can the same person apply for a mortgage ? The Person has been in the I V A for aprrox 18 months. Many thanks for your comments.

No probs, exaust all the complaint channels, hope you get the matter sorted.

I would recommend sending a further email / letter to Philips, also copy in your local MP, so they know whats still happening. It was the council who brought my debt back from Philips following my complaint, proir to this i was told the same thing as you. Keep up the pressure.

Pleased to hear your update, and i am not surpirsed they had no joy contacting them, im pretty sure your MP will get a response whey they have written to Philips. Keep up the pressure - Caggers for justice !

People - lets try and keep on the thread subject, reading the bickering between users is not good for everyone.

Sorry to hear about your problems, its becoming a regular problem with Philips demanding payments. I would contact the DVLA first in an attempt to sort the matter out, request a complaint form from Philips, exaust both of these routes, if you feel Philips are harrasing you complain to the OFT. Ive listed some contact details below, that you may feel helpfull; Philips Collection Services Ltd PO Box 152 Darlington DL3 9WT Contact: Mr N Bradley Phone: 01325 387 400 Fax: 01325 383 887 Email: [email protected] Link: www.philips.org.uk Office of Fair Trading contact details: Philips Collection Services Limited - Licence Number 0491286 [email protected] Keep us informend !

Blonde moment - sorry, ill keep my letters for the OFT, FSO on the day.

Would it be ok to inform the relevent Cheif Executives of DCAs of this day ?

Well said - not that i look dodgy, but i have been followed round stores and stopped on more than one occasion, just waitng for it to happen again, now that i am up to speed on the ins and outs, thanks to this site.

Keep up the pressure on everyone, someone somewhere will back down soon i am sure. Any probs shout out and try to ignore Philips, there bullies of the highest standard, or so they think !

Pleased to see your progressing with your complaint, it is extremely stressfull, but dont stop till your voice is heard ! With regard to your council saying they wont bring the debt back from Philips, this is what i was told too, you may find that they change there minds when your complaint starts to progress and the relevent people get involved ! Keep us informed.

Just set up my CAG email address ( with the help of PS - Webmaster ) and ordered my CAG labels ( hint hint ! ) ready for the big event.

Correct Link : Wakefield Council debt firm under investigation - Wakefield Express

Correct links : Armley pensioner's ordeal with council debt collectors - Bramley Today

Thats good, you will most probally get an envolope through the post. with the House of Commans emblam on it, i did, i was real worried at first but it will be from your MP ! Here are some more horror stories that you may find of interest: Debt collectors? error anguish for widow, 91 : Express & Star You take care, keep us updated.