I don't understand how AIC make their money... I've explained to iSupply that I'm signed off and in receipt of ESA and PIP, so have a very limited income.  I'm also classed as a vulnerable person.

I don't see how AIC are making anything off this?  It's a very strange system, I suppose they get results from people they manage to harass into paying out?

Just an update... I am now getting letters from AIC(Allied International Credit).  It seems that it has been passed on to another debt collection agency.  This seems to be a familiar pattern, I've had this in the past when a debt just goes around different agencies.

Strangely enough... I also had an email from Shakespeare Martineau asking me to get in touch about the same debt.  I blocked the email as recommended here, as I've already asked for everything to be sent by post.

Can anyone answer this - the original dispute was in 2016, when I got my DRO and they took the wrong meter reading.  I have since disputed the debt.  So I know it'll be statute barred after 6 years, but is that from the date of dispute or the date I moved out of the property in 2019?

They have my correct address, that's for definite.  Like I said above they wrote to my home address.

I've also been to visit the new tenant and given him my contact details should they try to write to my old address.  I don't know why the address is the issue here, I'm really looking on advice on how to deal with them chasing me.

Well I've definitely informent them.  They just don't seem to care.  Just pushing on demanding money, not understanding that they're trying to get blood from a stone.  I don't want another CCJ as it'll set me back years, and I'll also have to deal with bailiffs.

Put ismart to strict proof?  What does this mean?

Yeah I can see the advantage of getting all of the data to see what they have on me.

When is the debt from? 

That's the tricky part...

I had a DRO in 2016 and they wrote off some of my bill from the meter reading I gave... but they took the wrong reading. 

I contested it, and they asked for photos of the meter after several weeks.  The problem of course is that I can't go back in time and take pictures of the meter. 

I left the property at the end of 2018, and owe them money up until then. 

 would the debt be from when I last acknowledged it? 

Which would be when I disputed the reading in 2016? 

Or would the debt be from the end of 2018 when I moved out?

Also, they're supposed to take my financial circumstances into account, and offer a payment plan.  The only thing that ever happened was that iSupply went through my budget, saw that I was in a deficit and said they can't legally enter into a payment plan.

I'm also currently registered disabled, receiving PIP and ESA, and classed as a vulnerable person.  Having mental health issues such as ADHD, OCD, Anxiety and Autism.  I have told them this and asked them to stop harassing me.

By law they're not supposed to put pressure on me to pay more than I can afford. 

And I can't afford to pay them. 

I don't know where I stand. 

Really wanted to know if anyone here has dealt with these people before?

Yes, I've just looked up the law on disability and discrimination.

They should have made special allowances due to my mental health problems. 

They have a duty to make reasonable adjustments. 

Instead they are just sticking firm - pay us or face the consequences. 

No offer of a payment plan, just a threat of action if I don't do as they say. 

Ok, but they're writing to my home address, how would this help?  I've asked them to do everything in writing from now on... just want to know what next steps they might take, and what can help me?

What does that have to do with anything?  They're posting to my address and threatening me, what would a SAR do?

Ok, an update on this situation. 

The solicitors have wrote to me at my current address. 

They have claimed that iSupply are still claiming the full amount unless I can provide a photo of the meter reading on the date I took it. 

Obviously this is impossible, as I don't have a way to travel back in time.

They have also said that I was offered a payment plan but didn't have any money.

Where do I stand here? 

As far as I'm aware, my financial circumstances are supposed to be taken into account, and also that they are supposed to offer a payment plan, instead of demanding the amount in full.

Also, it's not my fault they took down the wrong meter reading. 

But I have no way of proving this. 

Lastly, I'm currently receiving benefits, on PIP and registered disabled. 

I am Autistic and am classed as a vulnerable person. 

I have told them this but they are very persistent and keep writing to me. 

Should I just ignore this letter?

Any advice would be appreciated.

On ‎11‎/‎09‎/‎2019 at 12:46, dx100uk said:

you've been here since 2006 and should know these things as part of your self help reading on like issues.

I may have been here a while, but that doesn't mean I come on every day to read up on various subjects just in case it happens to me. 

I've only had a handful of posts over the years, and if I knew these things, I wouldn't be asking for help.

DX - why do I need to write everything? 

Can't I email them? 

That way there's an electronic copy of everything? 

Is there a reason to use post? 

I haven't done it yet, been putting it off but need to deal with this. 

Haven't heard anything from them yet, also checked post at my old address the other week and nothing.

Hi, I hope someone can tell me where I stand here. 

A couple of weeks ago I was stationary in traffic, when a van drove into the back of my bike.  It was a non fault claim and my insurers(MCE) put me onto a company called Plantec Assist.  Plantec dealt with my claim, picked my bike up and dropped off a hire bike. 

After a few days, they told me my bike is now a Cat B write off.  It was valued at about £2500 and they have taken out payment for about £300 for the salvage value.  They say this is what the bike is now worth as salvage.

They seem to expect me to sell the bike myself to a salvage dealer?  What are my rights here?  I've been onto the third party insurer and complaied both about the valuation, which they have now put to £3000.  And about the salvage.  I do not want a Cat B bike on my property, I have nowhere to store it, I've bought a new bike so it's no longer insured, and it's not able to go back on the road.  Shouldn't the third party insurers(QBE) have to pay me and deal with this?

I'd appreciate any info on my rights and where I stand with this.

Thanks.

Hi, it's iSupply. 

I've tried emailing back and fourth but they refused to budge on their position. 

They say the meter reading was correct and that I owe that amount in full, and asked me to provide a photo of the meter on that date(which is impossible as I don't have a time machine).

They also say they record calls when you ring them, but couldn't provide a recording of my call when I gave the meter reading. 

They have also added late payment charges, and I asked them to provide details of these(what it cost them) and they haven't.  Generally they took a couple of months to reply to an email, it was frustrating as they're impossible to deal with.

They managed to get a court order to fit a pre payment meter at my old property. 

But the meter couldn't be installed due to regulations(it would have been too high) so it went back to them. 

Now I have Shakespeare Martineau chasing me on their behalf.

33 minutes ago, London1971 said:

That could just be a phishing letter.

 

I'm not sure I follow.  The letter has all details of my debt so how would it be phishing?  Do you mean like an email [problem]?  Or just to see if I reply?

I'll send them a letter as you suggested, just to make sure they have my current address.  I did provide it to iSupply when I moved, so it should be on file. 

Yes they do. 

I emailed them after recieving a letter at this address, as I wanted to explain that I couldn't pay.

Yeah it did seem like they're trying to coerce me. 

The email ended with "we look forward to payment in full",  after I'd told them about my dire financial circumstances. 

I was worried as they seem to be a solicitor firm, who don't usually mess around. 

Haven't come across them before so wanted to know what they're like. 

Thanks.

Hi, thanks for the reply.  

I've not spoke to them on the phone at all, I emailed them so that I could keep a record of all responses. 

May I ask why you say to do everything by post? 

Surely email is just as good or better, as I have a record of everything?

they have to send me a PAP letter before they can take me to court? 

That's good to know. 

I'm very worried about this as I just can't afford to pay them, and don't even have enough money coming in to pay my bills.

Thanks.

Hello. 

I have Shakespeare Martineau chasing me for a debt at the moment.  I have looked them up and can't find out much about them, has anyone here had experience in dealing with them?

The debt is for electricity from a previous property. 

I had a DRO, they asked for a meter reading and I gave one. 

They wrote down the wrong number, and didn't write off all the debt. 

I have been in touch several times, and even asked for a recording of the call to prove they wrote down the wrong number, but they didn't have it recorded and refused to acknowledge the problem. 

Now, it's a couple of years later and I have Shakespeare Martineau chasing me for the full amount. 

I'm receiving ESA and waiting to hear from my PIP claim. 

I have mental health problems and am also in a deficit each month. 

My savings are going down to nothing as my rent is too high, but due to the DRO my options for rental are limited as I have bad credit.

I'm worried that Shakespeare Martineau will take me to court and I'll get another CCJ. 

In the past, some debt recovery companies have offered payment plans and reduced settlements. 

Do Shakespeare Martineau ever offer this?

I have written to them to complain about their tactics. 

They have not taken my mental health condition into account. 

They are bullying me asking for full payment or else action will be taken. 

They have not taken my limited financial circumstances into account. 

They have ignored me when I tell them I do not owe that amount. 

Classic bullying tactics...

what can I do?

Thanks.

Bear in mind also that where there is a double WHITE line system in place down the centre of the road, it is illegal to park on either side, whether there are yellow lines or not

Thanks for the info. There's nothing like that here, it's just a narrow road with a dead end. Wide enough for cars to pass, but when I park here I always fold my mirror flat as it gets pretty tight.

In principle, the yellow line restriction only extends to the centre of the carriageway, so yes you can park on the other side without contravening them.

 

You would have to decide whether there are other issues to consider, like visibility, proximity to junctions, etc. Also, there's a reason why yellow lines are installed and if parking there is causing problems to others, getting around the regulations that way might not be the most considerate course of action. How's access for fire engines for example?

Thanks for the reply. The road is wide enough for cars to pass, so I should be ok to park there as I'd definitely not be over the middle. It is a narrow road though, so heavy goods vehicles would struggle to get past. Although it's a dead end here, we don't get much traffic.

The yellow lines have mainly gone up due to the inconsiderate parking of others. They park too near the end of the road, where it narrows even more, causing people to scrape their cars when they go past. As usual, the inconsiderate few ruined it for the rest of us.

If I were to park here it'd be as a last resort, when I couldn't find a space anywhere else. And it'd be on the wider part of the road, so I'm not causing an obstruction. I just wanted to know where I stood, in case I got a parking ticket. I've fought 3 so far and won 2, so I'm not afraid to go the full distance should I get a ticket. Our local council are ****, and have added in new regulations that are killing the town centre trade. So part of me feels like parking there and getting a ticket every day for a year, just so that I can fight it and cost them. But I'm not that petty, I just wish that councils would make it easier for shoppers to park, as it'd boost local businesses.

Hi, in my area the council have just painted double lines on one side of my road. The road is fairly narrow, but there was room for people to park close to the wall and other cars could still get past. However, they've now put double yellow lines down the side where people used to park.

It dawned on me that I could simply park on the other side of the road, would I be correct in assuming this? Or do the lines apply to both sides?

I've been looking everywhere to try to find out this regulation but can't find any info at all. So if any of you know the answer that'd be great. I can provide photos if that'd help?

Thanks.

I think the 'goodwill' ship sailed the moment you referred to someone as a joke.

 

The best you can hope for is some response under the details given by Bankfodder as I'm sure that they're unlikely to want to do anything more than comply with the law and their own terms and conditions now.

It had already reached the position of deadlock by then anyway, and the guy refused to escalate it any further. So I emailed his boss and complained about him. Seems fair to me. The guy in question seems to be the head of the "lose customers as fast as possible" department.

All I asked for was a reasonable amount off the upgrade fee, or for the cost to be spread out as it's unexpected. After 10 years with them, and the fact that my phones fallen apart, you'd think they might offer something. Still, it doesn't matter now, I've gone with another provider.

20 months.

To be honest I'd rather avoid court action.

I just wanted to either get my phone back quickly, or get a good deal from them seeing as how my phone has fallen apart due to no fault of my own. They are charging me a fee to upgrade early, which I refused to pay. So I'm going to switch providers.

I've been speaking to their head office via email, and they say their position is final and they won't discuss it any further.

I made comments about their manager being a joke, and they threatened to terminate my account with immediate effect and add charges! Unbelievable. I have kept all emails from them in case of future legal action, it's hard to believe they'd tread me like this after 10 years.

I don't plan on giving them any more money, and they'll probably chase me for what I owe them. I will settle for a lesser amount due to the inconvenience I've had. Would this be a good idea? I believe that they should offer some form of compensation for the time I've had without a phone, it only seems fair.

Hi, I'm a customer of Three and am currently on contract. My Sony handset has broken, and through no fault of my own. The screen has literally just come away from the frame, without being dropped or anything.

Three do what they do best - wash their hands of the situation and refer me to Sony. Sony are taking ages to sort it out, it's been almost two weeks since I first called Three and they referred me.

All this time I'm paying for a contract and I don't have my handset! Where do I stand from a legal point of view?

The sale of goods act covers me, as the phone was bought before the newer laws came into effect. And from what I understand, it's the responsibility of the retailer? And they should do it in a reasonable time so as not to cause me inconvenience?

It's causing me inconvenience. I don't have my phone, which I need for many reasons. So would I have a strong case to take Three to court via small claims? I'm really sick of these large companies, and would love to be able to send in the bailiffs.

I did try to upgrade early, but Three want a fee to do so, which I'm not willing to pay out of principle. I only have 3 months left, and it's not my fault my phone has fallen apart. From what I understand it's a design flaw with the z3 compact.

Any advice would be appreaciated.

nope not unless its the new type of mobile agreement

its not covered by the cca

there are some around whereby you sign a loan agreement for the phone

and then take an airtime package that is not part of that

 

 

imho I'd go pay as you go.

 

 

giffgaff

Ah I see, thanks for the info.

I can't go PAYG at the moment, I don't have the spare cash for a new phone.

A phone is not credit

But it's a credit agreement surely? I'm getting an expensive smartphone without paying for it immediately. And they do credit checks, so how is it not credit?

I wouldn't be able to get one with most providers, but BT have offered me one as I have broadband with them already. I just want to be 100% certain that it's ok before making any decisions.

Hey, I currently have a DRO in place. The conditions say that I have to notify any creditor that I have a DRO if it's for more than £500.

My phone contract is coming to an end, and I want to upgrade my handset. I can either stay with my current provider, or go with another. But my question is - do I need to tell them about my DRO? Either if I stay with my current provider or move to a new one.

I can get a phone for about £30 per month, on a 24 month contract. So that means I'd spend £720 over 2 years. Does this count as a £720 loan?

I don't want to jeopardise my DRO, that's more important than a new handset. So just wanted to get some advice, thanks.