Link Financial have done a mass mailing of Default Notices re: assigned accounts.

[angry cat]

Hi All,

 

I sent Link a request for copies of the CCA 77/78 and got a letter from them yesterday and this is what they had to say:

 

You have recently made a request under Section 77/78 for copies of various documents.

 

As you are aware LINK FINANCIAL purchased your debt from CAPITAL ONE BANK (EUROPE) PLC on xx xxxxxxxxx 2008 and as such we do not always hold this documentation. We have requested a copy of the agreement and the most recent terms and conditions your account was operated under from CAPITAL ONE BANK (EUROPE) PLC and look forward to sending this to you in the near future, however please be advised that this can take up to 30 days to provide.

 

No administration charge has been applied to your account at this time and therefore any payment made with your request has been applied to reduce your outstanding debt. However where cost is incurred by Link for the provision of any statements by the Vendor we will pass these charges on to you.

 

Your account has been put on hold for the next 14 days for you to contact this office with further details as requested above.

 

Link Financial Limited

 

 

I was making a monthly payment of £20 to Capital One (i havent made any payments to Link so far) before the debt was bought by Link. Should I continue making that payment or just wait for the CCA.

 

Adam

 

Adam,

 

you should wait for the information that you have requested under s77/78 CCA

 

AC

[angry cat]

Hi AC, I have had several of these notes from Link, and I know exactly how you feel. I reported it to TS and they said it isn't harassment as they don't actually tell the person who they really are. I disagreed and said that they shouldn't be doing this at all and have absolutely no right to contact third parties to leave messages. The most annoying part of this is, that the first time it happened, I rang Link and they didn't even know why I had been asked to call! As usual though, TS are not even remotely interested. Will look out for your thread, Magda

 

Yes, I know MAGDA!

 

As you are aware, I to made complaints to Robert Gardner at Lambeth TS,

who appeared to be of the opinion that Link Financial were simply circumnavigating the OFT debt collection guidelines.

I, like you protested vigorously but at that time Lambeth TS would do nothing...?

 

Note that Gareth Thomas appears to have a different opinion re: debt collectors contacting third parties, his view appears to be that, such action could amount to harassment;

physical/psychological harassment.

 

My anger has against Link Financial is immense, they ride roughshod over consumers, even consumers with valid disputes against the OC.

 

One thing to be aware of is, that Link Financial have no idea, as to what occured prior to ones alleged debt being passed to them.

 

All that they are interested in is the $, commission, call it what you like.

 

Debt collectors chasing, hounding, harassing consumers. But they do not know who their prey are, why or, for what reason they are hunting down their easy income!?

 

AC

[MAGDA]

No, you are quite right AC, they cause a lot of harm to vast amounts of people, both financially and emotionally, especially those who are more vulnerable to their threats, and they really couldn't care less.

[underdog13]

Had a call phone from Link out of the blue, the other day - trying to link me to a debt of ex spouses (divorced over a decade ago, dead for a few years); someone else answered the call and naturally asked who was calling me. Link got very shirty, caller wouldn't give his name, only the company name and demanded to know the name of the person he was talking to! When I took their call he told me he had been instructed to call me but he didn't know why or what it regarded - he expected me to know; I'd never had any dealings with them before. This company simply beggar belief:mad:

[MAGDA]

Had a call phone from Link out of the blue, the other day - trying to link me to a debt of ex spouses (divorced over a decade ago, dead for a few years); someone else answered the call and naturally asked who was calling me. Link got very shirty, caller wouldn't give his name, only the company name and demanded to know the name of the person he was talking to! When I took their call he told me he had been instructed to call me but he didn't know why or what it regarded - he expected me to know; I'd never had any dealings with them before. This company simply beggar belief:mad:

 

yes, they are a bunch of idiots quite honestly. They are always taking people to court (myself included) and usually end up with egg on their face. Just ignore them and hopefully they will go away and annoy someone else Magda

[underdog13]

Hope you gave them a thorough egging, Magda:D

[the main man]

We had a call from Link last week. The guy started the call on first names under the guise of an obvious friend, who I don't know! coincidentally the name he used was the name of a poster on another forum ??

 

This was comedy threats and desperation all rolled into one phone call!!

[c_allen]

HI all, I've just spent several hours reading this thread so well done all and keep up the good work.

With regard to charging them for your time asked a couple of pages back, this was included in two letters I posted yesterday to two DCA's who are chasing the same alledged debt, which I know nothing about..........

 

"If this debt is found to be in error or to be unenforcable in anyway, for whatever reason, then there will be a fee for each letter/e-mail/phonecall answered/recieved, the fee will be a standard £9.00 per letter/e-mail sent by me, and £5.00 per phonecall made/recieved, also I will claim for postage/printing/paper/ink cost and the cost of any phone calls. I will also charge you for my time spent in research at the rate of £10.00 per hour. So please ensure that you are chasing the correct person and that there is an actual debt in the first place before contacting me again. If you reply, using any method, saying that you require payment, or that I contact you in any manner then that will be proof of your acceptance of these fees/charges".

 

I don't know whether it will work but it's worth a go:p

[underdog13]

Nice one - got to be worth a try:D

[AA99]

Good recent posts, Caggers:D Subbing with delight. My car loan with GE Money has just been sold to Link

[MARTIN3030]

There are different stages of measures for those whose CC licence is called into question.

They do not automatically lose their licence.

As regards issues of data protection between DCAs and defaults,there was ammended guidance issued by the ICO in 2007,its quite comprehensive and clear.

From my experience there are a number of problems trying to address issues that are two tied/multi tied between alleged debt/Consumer credit act breaches and Office of fair trading guideline breaches.

 

As has been said it can be a long frustrating process,but unfortunately its all we have.

 

The biggest problem is lack of resources and funding for the regulatory bodies,who are bulging at the seams with caseloads of work that they cannot deal with.

 

As has been mentioned,another reason is the apparant lack of understanding and knowledge by TS departments of their responsibilities and also the laws themselves.

The apathy in many instances is quite hard to believe.

 

There have been some results with the OFT,and the FSA,but the ways in which things appear to be prioritised beg a few questions.Where there is a case for taking action through the Courts,it should always be a consideration.

Theres also Local Government Ombudsmen and your local MP.Suprisingly there can often be good responses from here.

[AA99]

Tku Martin3030, confirmed my suspicions. I think if I could start all over again, I would write one letter to EVERYBODY !

[citizenB]

Approximately 18 months ago on a winters evening, one of my neighbours knocked on my door with a note in his hand.

 

He said somebody is trying to contact you, a friend, they have lost your telephone number, my neighbour then passed me the note:

 

"Angry Cat to call Alan on 020 7793 2683" (I kept the note for evidence)

 

Of course, I felt extremely embarassed as I knew who the caller was and I had only just moved in to my home!

 

Some time has passed since this event, but the feeling of embarassment and stress still haunts me...

 

There has been much correspondence between myself and Link Financial and recently I have been able to obtain copies of their

Activity and Memos Report;

Telephone Operators Notes;

 

Lo & Behold, the call made to my neighbour is clearly shown, correct date, operators ID number and a notation: result, neighbour.

 

So, now I have the note and the log to show the call was made.

 

I will be starting my own thread shortly.

 

AC

 

Hi AC, I have had several of these notes from Link, and I know exactly how you feel. I reported it to TS and they said it isn't harassment as they don't actually tell the person who they really are. I disagreed and said that they shouldn't be doing this at all and have absolutely no right to contact third parties to leave messages. The most annoying part of this is, that the first time it happened, I rang Link and they didn't even know why I had been asked to call! As usual though, TS are not even remotely interested. Will look out for your thread, Magda

 

So, what are TS saying here.. it is ok for Link to tell an outright lie by claiming to be a friend ??

[MAGDA]

So, what are TS saying here.. it is ok for Link to tell an outright lie by claiming to be a friend ??

 

Yes, apparently so, as long as they don't mention outright the name of their company and the real purpose of the call, it's absolutely fine!! beyond belief isn't it. Magda

[angry cat]

Apparently, if ones neighbour is an old age pensioner and he/she could fall over or, hurt themself whilst delivering the message to you, then that could amount to an offence.

[citizenB]

So, what are TS saying here.. it is ok for Link to tell an outright lie by claiming to be a friend ??

 

Yes, apparently so, as long as they don't mention outright the name of their company and the real purpose of the call, it's absolutely fine!! beyond belief isn't it. Magda

 

 

Sheesh, as you say.. beyond belief.

[cs320]

Does anyone know if link can put the following on their website

 

If you are a new customer of Link and would like to settle your balance please call us on our freephone number 0800 064 44 99. We accept payment by credit card, debit card, cheque or bank transfer. Alternatively, you may wish to discuss secured loan or remortgage options with us.

 

As i didnt think they could offer additional borrowing/remortgage (advising to extend borrowing)

[citizenB]

Does anyone know if link can put the following on their website

 

If you are a new customer of Link and would like to settle your balance please call us on our freephone number 0800 064 44 99. We accept payment by credit card, debit card, cheque or bank transfer. Alternatively, you may wish to discuss secured loan or remortgage options with us.

 

As i didnt think they could offer additional borrowing/remortgage (advising to extend borrowing)

 

 

OFT guidelines say that you are not to be encouraged to take out further borrowing to pay off debt. Not in those words however. I will try and find the exact quote.

[robcag]

Hi All

 

Slightly OT, but I feel relevant to what is being discussed here about Link.

 

I just came across this link; The Office of Fair Trading: OFT imposes requirements on 1st Credit over debt collection practices on another thread. It links to a page which describes how the OFT has recently dealt with complaints about 1st Credit, so things might be looking up a bit.

 

Lets hope they take similar action against Link, Phoenix Recoveries, etc. to name a few.

 

Cheers

Rob

[angry cat]

I know that the OFT are looking closely at 11 DCA's,

my betting is that Link Financial are one of them.

 

AC

[Kraken1]

I know that the OFT are looking closely at 11 DCA

 

Where'd you get that from? They've never in the past said who they are looking at...

[angry cat]

Where'd you get that from? They've never in the past said who they are looking at...

 

Only an assumption Kraken and

based on the amount of complaints from Consumers that have been sent to the OFT.

 

Do you know otherwise?

 

AC

[Kraken1]

Heh, I know nearly everything me. I bugged their offices one cold november day and listen in fairly regularly. Apparently Janice in accounts is having a thing with claude in HR...

 

I then nicked one of their laptops off a train at Euston when they weren't looking...

 

Or, if you think that the above might not be 100% accurate...shame on you!

 

It was just the 11 that threw me. I know they wrote to 13 cos last year so didn't know if you knew something else. I suppose there was the 1st credit thing but even if that was taken off then you are left with 12....

[AA99]

OOOOOOh Kraken, tell, tell, tell,

[Kraken1]

I['m waiting for them to post me a cd with all the names and addresses of all the debtors in the UK on it....