Hi All Has anyone ever said to a DCA, "OK I want to deal with this but I need a face to face meeting". I have done this with HRMC and they have been much easier to deal with when not hiding behind the phone or letters. Cheers Sk1ppy

Was just listening to "Fix You" by Coldplay. Quite poignant when I think of some of the stories I have read about here

Hi Before I went on holiday my insurance broker called me up and said you insurance is due in July-2011. He wanted me to pay over the phone, and how insurance had gone up etc etc. but I said no to paying over the phone, send me the policy docs and I'll look at it and pay by cheque. Well I got the docs after I came back and as he was sensitive on the increase in premium I got some quotes, pretty much £100 less. So now I have constant calls and received a recorded delivery letter saying that I owe the insurance payment. I may have to pay and use this insurance but it's to expensive. Cheers

OK I just had a call from my mother. Sandander have stopped a check for £6,000 for security reasons or so she has just found out. To the presenter of the cheque it looks like it's bounced they have a letter from HSBC saying the cheque is being re-presented as it was not honoured She had call the other day (she's not exactly sure of the day) where she gave all her details over the phone to apparently a Santander employee. They said it was nothing to worry about it was just routine. so far it still remains uncleared and there more than adequate funds in the account to cover the cheque. Well nothing to worry about, we have a window company virtually accusing her of bouncing cheques. My experiences with this bank, to name a few. If you request a new card due to it being damaged the card is immediately cancelled leaving you with no means of paying for goods. The call centres response well you can visit a branch and draw cash. It's 4 miles each way you cant park and they will only give you a maximum of £400 without prior arrangement. There is an extra level of Santan****e security when you use a card on the internet. They have tried to reset mine but I effectively I cannot use this card to buy goods on Amazon etc. I could request a new card etc but as in the past they normally take about 5 working days to get a new card with the old one cancelled. A few years back I had to ask twice for a new card, so I was a couple of weeks without a Visa Debit card. I was in my local garage earlier in the year, it was Sunday morning and really busy. The transaction was refused and the garage phoned the banks number as requested. It was a routine security check that would only take a few minutes There are probably 10 pumps at the garage and a queue of customers waiting to pay that is starting to go outside the entrance. Luckily I had cash but I could not use the card until I phoned them. The debits from you account come out before the credits go in. I had a fistful of bank charges that, were refunded, due to DDs bouncing. It was close to the wire on the payments but surely you would put money in an account on the day before taking monies out. Not sure if it still operates like this now tho. Late last year we found some old £20 notes at my mother's house. under the bed so to speak. We took them to Santander who said we cannot change them you can take them to another bank who will. Sorry scratching my head I thought you were a bank ..... Ah I see ... you mean take the notes to a proper bank ... NOT RECOMMENDED TO USE AS A BANK ... As I found out from a Santander member of staff ... They are not a proper bank Cheers

I would give you the analogy: Tax avoidance is the legal utilization of the tax regime to one's own advantage, to reduce the amount of tax that is payable by means that are within the law. By contrast, tax evasion is the general term for efforts not to pay taxes by illegal means. To me this applies to debts as well. it may not be morally right, but that's what my Priest is there to sort out. A lot of people on here want to avoid paying there debts through whatever legal means. Only my thoughts and do not represent the opinions of the site admins on this site. EDIT: i have gone for bankruptcy twice under the shelter of Limited Liability. The official receiver actually said to me when I tried to justify why, for the second time, I had sheltered behind bankruptcy QUOTE "That is what Limited Liability is for" Not quite the same as personal bankruptcy but I would not have a moral issue with going strategically bankrupt if it was in my best interest. 2nd EDIT Agreed with the above post the Brig is not a Troll

Got a NatWest current account today, including a Visa Debit Card. I think the only issue would have been if I had not been on the Electoral Register. Cheers

Yea, but it's considered very serious. I know the phrase makes Payroll Manager shake in their shoes. I IT contract in a payroll capacity and have heard the phrase before in a meeting with a payroll manager in attendance. The whole fabric of the PAYE system would be undermined if this was allowed to be common place. Cheers

Hi there This sounds like 'Unlawful deductions from wages' speak to ACAS Monday morning. ACAS Webby CAUTION If there is a clause in you contract says they can deduct they can. If they changed your contract to make the deduction it needs to be discust/negotiated between parties of contract and agreed in writing. I Think this is failure to comply with a legal obligation may even be criminal. (subject to your contract) Good luck QUOTE The protection given to workers in relation to deductions from their wages under the Employment Rights Act 1996. Sections 13 to 27 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996) set out the provisions that protect workers from unauthorised deductions from their wages.

Phone ACAS ACAS Webby You don't have to take their advice but it's free. They may be biased towards arbitration though if you purse an employment claim. Cheers

I think HRMC have been listening to the salesman.

Hi Nope don't own a property now we now live in privately rented accommodation for the time being (we have taken a view that property will fall in value over the next few years ... bet we are wrong ). Not sure if any assets could could be taken into account that go back until 2007 when we bought our last house. We lived in our last property for 4 years (until this year) and it was all in her name. The house before that was joint names. I went self employed and did not want to own property in case I was sued. Cheers Sk1ppy

Wow Thanks for getting back to me. This really is not a debt crisis so please don't treat it as such. Only answer if you have time, there are people on here with much more important issues than mine. OK My debts are with the back end of an old car loan £1,100, Credit card £7500 and a bit with a charge card. I am a typical business man in my 50s now currently working as an IT contractor. I wear Armani and Paul Smith suits the whole 9 yards. For 10 years I was a functioning alcoholic (in this I mean no one ever really noticed) my wife did in the last year. I have undergone counselling this year for some of my issues, 6 weeks of drug (alcohol) counselling (last year) and have stopped drinking for the past 13 months. I take anti-depressants (millions do) and as I don't drink now these actually work for me. I think I was just self medicating by using alcohol. So that's me. About 18 months ago I received a letter from my Car Loan ppl (a bank) saying I had not paid and they had trashed my credit rating (or words to that effect) and I should pay all the £1100 now. Well I thought then, there is not a lot more you can do to me, is there, so """" off. So once trashed I thought the other 2 can go take a run to. This was all just before I started to sort myself out. I pay most of the bills and my wife pots her money. We did have a joint mortgage but this has finished. Currently in the process of getting me off her credit file as we have no other financial links. The mortgage (paid up) and all other bills are/were all squeaky clean. I can't/won't ask my wife to clear the debts as its my problem. So as I said not a priority on this forum but I am just currently strategizing about what to do next. I may think about a strategic bankruptcy as is done in business. Yours Sk1ppy

Hi All If I have no income and will have no income at all in the foreseeable future, no assets to speak of. What would a creditor make of an income expenditure statement that said income zero outgoings zero. You may think this unusual but it may be my circumstances next year. I currently have unsecured debts for around £10,000 but my situation may/will change next year. I am actually thinking of taking the year off. Everything is in my wife's name and I have been slaving away for 40 years and need a break from it all. (The anti-anxiety tablets help !!) Cheers

Hi all Just a question on NCO Calling cards. Obviously there are designed to intimidate people. If you type in NCO Europe Ltd as per the company name on the card it pretty well comes up Debt Collection Agency on the 1st page of Google. I have had, approaching a dozen cards so far, mostly received via Mail forwarding to my parents house, but also sent to previous addresses. I thought debt collectors were not supposed to advertise your situation to all and sundry. Does not worry me but for some people it's a big issue. Cheers PS Only 1830 days to go now

Hi Spikey As to whether you are guilty or not, it is your perogative to appeal against their decision - which you have, and if you are still unhappy with that, they take it up via an employment tribunal which you are preparing to do. If you haven't already, contact ACAS and seek help from them. Your other alternative is to go to a no win no fee solicitor. In the mean time, write down everything you can and be honest. If you choose to attend tribunal without representation the panel will take it on board that you are unrepresented and without specialised advice and treat you accordingly. If you have a case then keep trying they will settle. Good luck!!

Hi brig Don't worry I won't mess with hrmc other than disagements on tax returns. I know who the big boys on the block are. Cheers Skip

Hi all My mother had her her monthly payments put up to £99 per month from £60 so I phoned up the gas suppliers call centre. Cut a long telephone story short the guy said would go off and check it out. 10 minutes later he came back and said the account is not in my name. It's actually in my Step Father's name. Told them he was in a home, so he told me get a letter signed by him saying I can act on his behalf and send it to an address he gave me. Said it looked very much like they may owe monies back on the account but need his authority to do undertake my instructions. Fair enough. I'll get the letter signed on Friday but as he's not all there it could be signed "Captain Kirk from the planet Nog!!" Anyway good news for my Mum. Cheers PS My 77 year old Mum phoned up and got nowhere !!!!!!

My dog got to this RMA card first. Actually it might have been addressed to Fido better check don't want any CCJs they may Levy him !!!!

Is this 'Vexatious Litigation' where they have brought about the action regardless of its merits, solely to harass or subdue an adversary. They knew they never had a case a solicitor told them.

And what about Professor Plum and Colonel Mustard don't forget them !!!

Just had a word with the wife on the phone. Unfortunately she said - her words 'They can sack him on reasonable belief !!' She'll post up tonight on what can be done by way of appeal etc.

Post #5 Post on reply from 'This from Lord Freud' This has the Latin abbreviation 'Et cetera' that means "and other things", or "and so forth", "and the rest (of such things)" Exactly who are my records available to Why are solicitors 'official' ? If they are acting on the instructions of some court documents then maybe. I am changing my address to a rented PO Box Number. They say I am not paranoid, but I know what they are really thinking

Hi Just a quick question. Is possible to trace some one through the Inland Revenue. If it is how is it done. Cheers Sorry in advance if this post is in the wrong forum

Hi sorry to hear of your plight. This work is notifiable under Part P (as it is a domestic electrical installation) of the building REGS but if the Electrician is a paid up member of the NICEIC, ECA, NAPITS (these all have no teeth) then he is self notifying and must inform Building Control, usually via the internet, that the work has been carries out, if he is not then inform building control. This work is not of a minor nature (for example; adding a socket to a single circuit) so a Full Installation Test test certificate will be required as he may be working on existing unsafe electrics. This should (rarely is) on site for inspection. Also the work is subject to the 'The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989' effectively health and safety. if you fancy annoying the landlord then this is the way to go i don't know anything on your rights as a tenant but the above is an outline of the electrical regulations. O and very very importantly make sure he leaves the electrics in a safe condition when he leaves, even if he nips out to the local electrical factor. someone could get killed if he's a cowboy/mate of the landlord. cheers Sk1ppy

Shocking My wife has gone to bed but I'll ask her in the morning to go through what you have written. She has answered one other post on here before. As stated in the previous post she is a Chartered Member of the IPD (Professional HR Institute) and has 14 years experience in as a senior HR Manager. For what it's worth on hearing her talk you should contact ACAS . They offer free advice on your rights. They wont tell you what to do just what you can do. This service is also open to employers as I understand. http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1410 My wife hates injustice, as much as I do and will not tolerate bullying in any form. Anyway hold tight and don't go trying to sort it out personally, if you get my drift. Cheers Pete