Campaign to the OFT against unfair CRA practices.

[BEC01]

Petitioned signed, letter going as soon as I can get my goddam printer to work lol, and link being passed to as much of the world as i can.

 

As for the scheme legalpickle suggests - not a bad idea at all. When all is over, there will need to be something long term and workable in place top regulate the CRA's properly but....

 

I am not up for raising the report fee at all. We have apparently have no choice that these files are kept on us, they can then dictate an awful lot in your life, you have to watch it like a hawk and pay to do this....without choice as I said.

 

How about taking the funds from the huge amounts of money the CRA's make on the side selling our info for marketing/statistical analysis, all the other services they package it up and use it for? If the CRA have to help fund the regulators costs - they may behave a bit better to keep those costs down, no?

 

But then we have the old conflict of interest chestnut, hmmmmmm.

 

I also think that as we have no choice but for the CRA's to hold our info, we should not be forced to pay for access to it - their fees should come from the profits they make selling access to it.

Have to agree with you Dipply.

Although, I have to wander how valuable all this information will continue to be. Our economy, and lifestyles, are experiencing massive problems.

 

What is this down to?

 

Misuse of technology in the pursuit of increased profits.

 

Instead of using technology to streamline unskilled tasks, it has been used to replace skilled tasks (i.e. assessment of credit-worthiness) with disastrous consequences. It is really sad to see so many people being hurt by this. But, if we all work together and stand our ground, the banks are the ones that will ultimately feel the most pain.

 

Imagine if we got groups of people under the same lender to take a stand at the same time. We could cause total and utter destruction within them!

 

But, there are more subtle and effective means...

[legalpickle]

Petitioned signed, letter going as soon as I can get my goddam printer to work lol, and link being passed to as much of the world as i can.

 

As for the scheme legalpickle suggests - not a bad idea at all. When all is over, there will need to be something long term and workable in place top regulate the CRA's properly but....

 

I am not up for raising the report fee at all. We have apparently have no choice that these files are kept on us, they can then dictate an awful lot in your life, you have to watch it like a hawk and pay to do this....without choice as I said.

 

How about taking the funds from the huge amounts of money the CRA's make on the side selling our info for marketing/statistical analysis, all the other services they package it up and use it for? If the CRA have to help fund the regulators costs - they may behave a bit better to keep those costs down, no?

 

But then we have the old conflict of interest chestnut, hmmmmmm.

 

I also think that as we have no choice but for the CRA's to hold our info, we should not be forced to pay for access to it - their fees should come from the profits they make selling access to it.

 

 

Dippy: I understand what you are saying and expected it.

 

But, the CRA's and DCA's will do their utmost to try and make sure something like this does not kick off the ground. If the consumers are also paying for it transparently [as otherwise we'll pay for it in other not so transparent ways] it is more likely to succeed.

 

Whilst I understand the frustration with the CRA's, I am more against the DCA's as they are the ones who refuse to tell the CRA to remove the info, knowing it is incorrect and in a lot of cases put it there know it was incorrect. The CRA does not know anything about the case other than what's written in the credit record, so I wouldn't hold them responsible in such a strong way.

 

The end result will be that if anything like this kicks off it will be funded by the consumer. Either by upping taxes, increased expenses from businesses in other ways or other things. If we have a transparent funding mechanism in place this is less likely to happen in a worse scenario.

 

Let's also say - and I know you don't believe it can happen, but the chances are - that a consumer loses their claim. Should that specific consumer pay? Not directly, because if that consumer would have to pay, he/she would most likely not take it to the scheme.

 

That's what happens with parking tickets. If you fail in your representation to the public authority, it goes to an adjudication scheme, unless you pay. If you fail in the adjudication scheme your parking ticket has doubled - i.e. does not get put on hold for the adjudication, only for the first representations. Because of that less people take it to adjudication - even though in those cases the odds show that people would win.

[citizenB]

 

I would therefore do a mass complaint to the Information Commissioner - Richard Thomas.

 

 

Letters sent Recorded delivery yesterday:D Are we to send copies to the Information COmmissioner as well ?

[finlander]

if you wish;)

[Hadituptohere]

Petitioned signed, letter sent

 

Hadituptohere

[veester]

letter sent - email sent - petition signed - sent to Info comm to..

 

i really dislike the Student Loans Company...and the banks atm!?!?!?

Edited August 13, 2008 by veester

[citizenB]

if you wish;)

 

 

Done

[sosumi]

Signed - letter(s) in tomorrow's post.

- will catch up soon.

:)

[citizenB]

Letters sent Recorded delivery yesterday:D

 

 

Both letters signed for yesterday.

[veester]

Had a response back - did mine eletronically:

 

 

Ref: XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dear XXXX

Thank you for your email to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). Your complaint has been logged for our records and will add to our understanding of this UK market.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) cannot usually take action on cases brought to us by individual consumers. Our primary duties include the enforcement of competition law, the regulation of the consumer credit market through a licensing system and the application of consumer protection legislation in respect of matters that adversely affect the collective interests of UK consumers.

The OFT can also investigate markets that do not appear to be working well for consumers and complaints or information received may be forwarded to one of our market investigation teams for their further consideration.

For more information on the work we carry out, please feel free to visit our website at www.oft.gov.uk

You may wish to contact The Information Commissioner’s Office. The Information Commissioner enforces and oversees the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Information Commissioner's Office also handles queries on information held by credit reference agencies. They can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545 745

Fax: 01625 524 510

I hope this information proves helpful to you.

Yours sincerely,

Nabiha Aden

OFT Enquiries

[finlander]

First response... wonder what it will be like when the letters really start pouring in?. keep the presure up people.

[Misterzeus]

We will sign the Petition and get a letter off soonest.

 

Mr & Mrs Z

[finlander]

mods,

 

Is there anyway we can get this moved to the front page so all visitors coming on to the forums see it and maybe sign/send the letters and stengthen the case to the oft? This is one of the most important areas of CAG as the CRA's are the ultimate punishment for most DCA's and lenders when they have no where left to go and turn vindictive.

 

It may not affect all people but one day it might and it's in our intrest to start making them accountable.

 

please please please:p

[finlander]

This is interesting........

 

Why don't the banks look after loyal customers? | Mark Piggott - Times Online

[finlander]

this thread is getting quite discouraging now... the pettion has reached 56 signatures and we can't seem to get this moved to the front page. Im beginning to see why these people get away with this when such inaction is show by those so at risk from them. Thanks to those that have signed but I am beginning to get the feeling we are banging our heads against a brick wall. shame really

[knoxvillain]

Why don't banks look after loyal customers? because this isn't their main source of income. I suspect they are more interested in big business customers, although I heard from a large newspaper printer that they seem to have similar issues to consumers from their bank dispite turning over millions each year. Seems banks make so much money they don't care if they lose a few customers. But then why bother moving banks except out of principle? They are pretty much all the same.

[Dipply75]

Hey Finlander, come on, don't you of all people lose heart!

 

That little trickle can easily become a flood, you'll see. Would there be any benefit putting the letter as an 'open letter' in some of the relevant newspapers etc with an invite for everyone to send a copy to ?

 

Is there a letters section in Credit Today you could send it to? PMSL

Edited August 19, 2008 by Dipply75
monkey fingers

[sosumi]

this thread is getting quite discouraging now... the pettion has reached 56 signatures and we can't seem to get this moved to the front page. Im beginning to see why these people get away with this when such inaction is show by those so at risk from them. Thanks to those that have signed but I am beginning to get the feeling we are banging our heads against a brick wall. shame really

Finlander, these petitions take time. DannyBoy660 had a petition going for ages, less than 50 signatures I think, but the lovely lovely (not!) CSA deemed it important enough to refer to it in their ridiculous 'Debt Manifesto'. The problem with these petitions is that, because they require signatures and identification of signatories, many people are hesitant to give this information. That's the nature of the beast, I'm afraid. But, as DB660 proved (and he was tempted to pull the petition due to poor response) people are watching - and they do have an effect.

This stuff feels like banging your head against a brick wall sometimes. We're not just fighting debt and the misuse of information, we're fighting the stigma of 'debt' - and also the very real fear people have of the Debt Collection Industry. It's therefore scary to identify yourself, even for a just cause. Keep going!

[Hadituptohere]

Hi guys

 

Had a responce, which im sure others have hed the same too but as it is slightly different to the email responce here it is, the forms were signed and returned

 

 

Hadituptohere

 

 

 

 

 

 

[babybear39]

I had exactly the same letter this very day and will be returning the consent form this afternoon

[citizenB]

Yep, OH and me received copies exactly the same. Consent forms have been returned.

 

Interesting that they cant disclose any information to us.. but they can disclose our information to the CRA's

[sosumi]

yes we had the same arrive today!

- addressed to hubby, so hopefully another to me is on its way.

It's a start.

Edited August 28, 2008 by sosumi
checked letter received!

[babybear39]

Even the OFT has template letters

[SURFBOY]

I have had the same letter today also, my they have been hard at work haven't they?

[biggeorge]

Petition Signed, Letter off tomorrow

 

George