Worrying letter from Robinson & Way

[Candlelight]

Hi everyone

 

I'm wondering if anyone could give me any advice as My hubby has received a letter from Robinson and Way saying that they are going to come around to the house to secure arrangements for payment on a debt he owes. And they intend to recover the full sum. They say this visit will be in 7 to 10 days letter was dated 6 Jan we received it 9th Jan.

 

The worst bit is my husband is already paying Buchanan Clark and Wells for this debt, regularly each month. My husband phoned BCW up on the 9th when he received Robinson and way letter to find out what was going on and he was told that he was to continue paying them and to ignore Robinson and way letter but contact them again if we hear from Robinson and way. BCW said that they didn't know why Robinson and Way are doing this.

 

I'm really worried about this as i will be alone if they do call except for dogs.

 

Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated

 

Candlelight

[gizmo111]

Please don't worry. These people have no authority to do anything to you, and it is very unlikely they will visit you anyway. Their letters are designed to scare.

 

Could you please clarify if your husband has a CCJ on this debt?

 

More people will be along tomorow to help you in more depth.

 

Best wishes

[dx100uk]

firstly stay off the phone.........

 

NEVER discuss anything with a DCA if it is not in black & white.

 

as advised DCA's have NO POWERS, they are NOT bailliffs.

 

it puzzles me why another DCa has become involved/

is this a recent debt referred to them

or an old 'sold' debt that is being chased for DCA profit.

 

more info please.

 

dx100uk

[cerberusalert]

If I wrote to you & told you that I would be visiting within 7 -10 days in order to make arrangements to pay an alleged debt.......would you take me seriously?............NO!..........I thought not

 

BTW..welcome to CAG (the forum where people actually gain the knowledge to regain control).

[Candlelight]

Hi Thank You for your replies

 

gizmo111 as far as we are aware no ccj

 

dx100uk the debt is a 9 years old when my husband first got into debt he offered the company repayments but they wouldn't communicate but 2 years later we had a letter form Robinson & way saying that they had the debt we offered payment to them of instalments but after us paying them several instalments they weren't interested anymore and the debt was bought by Laidlaw Bruce and partners which is part of the BCW group there letter to us stated that bcw group plc now holds legal title to the debt. Then Buchanan clark and wells part of bcw group again have been dealing with the debt ever since they accepted the payments that we could afford and my husband has been paying them regularly and never had a problem with them.

 

We can't understand why Robinson and Way have wrote to us now saying they are going to visit us the last communication we had with them was in 2000. BCW also said that they don't know why. Could it be they were lying?

 

Hope you can understand all that

 

Candlelight

[Candlelight]

If I wrote to you & told you that I would be visiting within 7 -10 days in order to make arrangements to pay an alleged debt.......would you take me seriously?............NO!..........I thought not

 

BTW..welcome to CAG (the forum where people actually gain the knowledge to regain control).

 

 

Thank You and no I wouldn't take you seriously

 

Candlelight

[gizmo111]

Hi candle

 

Could you please tell us when you stopped paying the debt and wneh you startd paying it again?

[make them aktiv runners]

You also need to ascertain exactly who owns the debt as only one of them can. If I am reading correctly it was Robbinson Way then BCW but Robinson Way is now writing again.

[Candlelight]

gizmo111 Stopped paying debt to robinson and way in 2000 as they stopped sending payment slips and when we asked for more never got any replies.

 

Debt was bought by Laidlaw Bruce and Partners on behalf of BCW group plc there letter to us says that they have legal title to debt. This debt together with all rights and interests was assigned by deed of contract dated 25th June 2003.

Buchanan clark and wells then demanded full payment in December 03 we wrote saying we couldn't afford to but accepted our payment offer on the 25th February 2004 and we have been paying it to them ever since

 

 

make them aktiv runners - yes you are correct Robinson and Way in 2000 then 2003 passed to bcw group now robinson and way are trying again.

In my point of view BCW are the ones who own it.

 

We really don't know why robinson & way are writing to us again telling us they are going to visit and so bcw say they don't either

 

Candlelight

[clutchingatstraws]

If the debt was a loan or credit card I strongly suggest that you send a CCA request to BCW and Robinson Way to establish if any of them actually have the right to collect any debt.

 

Quite often debts of this age are devoid of the correct paperwork and legally un enforceable.

 

If any of them don't send back the correct paperwork within a short period you can legaly stop paying anything to them.

 

I had eight debts for loans and credit cards after I sent CCA's to all of them I now don't pay a penny.

 

I only discovered this after paying for 9 years and consider that the outstanding amounts are mostly illegal charges that were added by the companieas and the DCA's.

 

There is a template letter for CCA requests in the templates section letter N is the one

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-debt/20758-creditors-dcas-letter-templates.html

 

You'll find it here.

 

You must send a £1 postal order with each of them and keep the counterfoil or reciept, send it by recorded delivery. Make sure you keep all correspondence and get back when they reply.

 

They usually only have crappy application forms or microfiche copies, scan and post if they send anything making sure that personal details are covered up.

 

Good Luck

 

Cas

[Candlelight]

Thank You clutchingatstraws

 

Unfortunatly this debt in not from a credit card or loan.

 

Candlelight

[siobhan1234]

Hi Candlelight, it sounds as though RW are just chancing their luck, especially if BCW had legal title to the debt and don't seem to know anything about that changing. If you look through some other threads I'm sure you'll find some guidance on how to get RW to prove they should be trying to collect it. Am sure there will be others along who have more knowledge about these things . Good luck.

[Robdblynd]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collectors-debt-collection/71386-diskmandave-robinson-way-co.html?highlight=Robinson+Way

 

Have a read at that. It will take a while but is informative and at times hilarious. It will give you an idea of what to expect from Robinson Way and how to deal with them.

[Candlelight]

Thank You Robdblynd

 

I've had a good read it is very informative and funny Thanks for the link.

 

I've also looked at other threads which have been helpful getting information about them.

 

A few questions

 

Should We Ignore this letter from them and hope that they don't come around or contact us again. Ignoring them is what BCW told us to do,also as far as we are concerned bcw group own the debt and we have a letter stating that.

 

But Robinson and way say on there letter to us dating the 6th January that the debt has been passed to them and they are going to send collectors around. So does this mean debt is now there's?

BCW said on the 9th January that we are to keep paying them and ignore robinson and way.

 

Sorry if sound like I'm going over everything again.

 

Or should we send a letter asking them to prove that they own debt now as BCW say that they own debt.

 

I personally prefer not to contact them.

 

But advice would be helpful as to how to proceed

[make them aktiv runners]

Well you do need to know who you are supposed to be paying (assuming you are sure it is the same debt).

 

I agree, phone calls are no good as they provide no real evidence. Always deal with these people in writing only.

 

It is against OFT guidelines for 2 DCA's to be requesting payment at the same time. You can write to the OFT and ask them to investigate onyour behalf. Equally you can contact ConsumerDirect (internet site which is a central Trading Standards site) who will also deal with on your behalf.

 

You can send a CCA request to both, and/or, a letter stating who else is claiming to collect on the debt. The letter should be addressed as a formal complaint, include no actual signature and be sent by at least recorded delivery.

 

Robbinson Way are part of London Scottish Bank. The latter does have local agents collecting high interest rate loans so there is more chance of this company actually calling. Remember though, that you do not have to answer the door, talk etc. There is a letter you can use to insist they do not call on you.

[Tau]

Candlight

Can you tell us what the debt is for, if its not a loan or C/C as its possible that it does not fall under the remit of the CCA.

 

Thanks.

[alanfromderby]

Just to clarify - the only people that Robinson Way have available to call will be self-employed collectors working for London Scottish Bank. They have no legal rights to do anything other than ask if you would like to make a payment - anything else they may say will probably be wrong and most likely be illegal.

 

Generally, if you refuse to make a payment they will go away and not bother you again. It serves no purpose whatsoever for them to spend any more time at your property as they earn their money by making collections - not taking part in pointless arguments.

[Titch_76]

We are having exactly the same problem with both bcw and thames credit, who apparently are sister companys, we started to pay bcw for a burtons card from 1998 then thames said they had took over the debt and were demanding double the amount they told me to stop paying bcw and to pay them, so instead of sending bcw this months cheque ive sent them and thames a recorded letter for the cca they cant both own the same debt

[Titch_76]

if i hadn't had looked at this site i would'nt of had a clue what to do either but im going to stand my ground and wait to hear from both of them in the next 12 days

[Candlelight]

Tau - The debt is for a contract phone my husband used to have with Vodafone.

 

make them aktiv runners - It is for exactly the same debt. Also thank you for the other information.

 

alanfromderby - Thank You. I don't particularly want to discuss it with one of there collectors anyway so I think I won't answer the door.

One query though would they be allowed to discuss it with me as it is my husbands debt not mine? and he will be at work if they call in daytime.

 

 

iitch_76 - Sorry to hear you are having the same problems but at least it goes to show that we are not on our own and it happens to other people too. Good luck

 

In my mind BCW group are the ones with legal title to debt especially as we have a letter saying that from them. But I really am worried about this.

I would like to write a letter to BCW asking them to clarify who we are meant to be paying.

The only thing we have from Robinson & way is recent letter saying that debt has been passed to them. But BCW say it has not.

 

If we told Robinson and Way by letter that we are paying the same debt to BCW and will continue to pay bcw until such notice from BCW, and point out that in no uncertain terms we will not pay both of them for the same debt, do you think robinson & way will leave us alone or will they continue to pursue us?

[alanfromderby]

I really doubt that the person would want to discuss the issue anyway - but certainly if the account holder is not home then he cannot even say what the issue is that he has called about.

 

It may also be worth ringing Trading Standards, as it is a clear breach of the OFT guidelines for multiple DCA's to be involved. Clearly also, one of these companies is acting illegally, in that they have no legal right to be chasing the debt.

 

If nothing else, they should be able to establish who exactly does own the debt.

[Candlelight]

I've decided I'm going to contact Trading Standards over this, should it be my local one or the ones that are local to BCW and Robinson & Way?

[alanfromderby]

I would be inclined to contact your local TS, they will then discuss it with the relevant local offices.

[Candlelight]

Thank You I will do that

[Titch_76]

Trading Standards Central - Trading Standards and Consumer Protection information for the UK

use this link to report to trading syandards, i found yhis in the forums and saved it for when or if i hear from my cca requests, i sent for them on friday so i just have to wait to hear from them now, no phone calls yet, i can't wait for a responce

i feel a bit more confident now ive read the forums;)