Argos Credit accounts NOT showing on credit report

[masjntt]

Hi my mom obtained her credit file yesterday via equifax, all was as it should be except details of two credit accounts are detailed anywhere and we were wondering why.

 

She has two Argos cards but they are seperate accounts, she has had them for about two years and she owes money on them but the account isnt or hasnt been in arrears.

 

She receives monthly statements for the accounts so was just wondering if anyone can shed some light on why they are detailed on her credit file?

 

Cheers x

[gizmo111]

Did she get a copy from all 3 agencies? Providers use different agencies.

[masjntt]

Hi, thanks for your reply, no she just got her report from equifax, thought they all showed the same info re "credit accounts" etc didnt realise that it differed from agency to agency x

[masjntt]

hi, i have been making regular payments to moorcroft for an argos card - i have been unwell and have missed the last 3 months payments.

 

a representative came round on monday uninvited but i was out at a medical apt, he left a calling card with my daughter who is viisting with his name and contact number but the card had moorcroft debt recovery ltd printed over it so was obvious to my daughter that this was a debt visit.

 

when i got home it was early evening, i made a payment {not th full arrears} via moorcrofts website and sent them a secure message explaining why i had missed the repayments and asked if it would possible to return to our initial agreement. I explained i wanted all contact to be in writing and included the spiel regarding doorstop visits being unfair under OFT guidance etc, as yet i've heard nothing.

nOut of courtesy i contacted the representative to update him but as it was late i had to leave a message rather than speak direct.

 

This morning my door knocked again but due to the rain by the time i had gotten there the peson was driving off, my daughter said it looks like the same man, who coincidently is the father of my daughters old school friend. My husband is unwell and has mental health problems so is unaware of what is going on and i wish to stop these visits and just return to paying the monthly amounts. I know its my own fault re the arrears but how can i get this man to stop coming around, its starting to make me feel on edge and nervey.

 

any advice appreciated, thanks x

[masjntt]

pls delete double posted in error - sorry x

Edited November 17, 2010 by masjntt
double post in error

[unclebulgaria67]

Send Moorcroft a recorded delivery advising them of your health situation and that these visits are having an adverse affect on your health. Request that they communicate in writing only and that they provide details so that you can set up a standing order for the regular repayment amount.

 

You don't have to answer the door, neither does anyone else at your property. The chap from Moorcroft does not have any legal right to visit you. Just ignore him.

Edited November 17, 2010 by unclebulgaria67

[Spit]

Yes, ignore and inform the company with a recorded letter that you are unwell.

[Guest Cartaphilus]

Up to you entirely, but I'd stop payment via their website, also stop phoning the PAYG ape from Moorcroft whom by some sheer coincidence is the father of an your daughter's old school friend. I think I'd be asking more questions here the first being is he actually a debt collector? Given the circumstances. Now, I know they employ people who usually aren't exactly 'intelligent' ... But even so, this person happens to be what you say he is. Hmmm. Have no further contact with the rentanape, call the police if Mr Parmeceum returns.

[masjntt]

thank you, i will send letter recorded delivery as suggested, though i have already sent this via "my account" within moorcrofts website but maybe i should have done this in writing in the first place. xx

[Guest Cartaphilus]

thank you, i will send letter recorded delivery as suggested, though i have already sent this via "my account" within moorcrofts website but maybe i should have done this in writing in the first place. xx

 

Yes, good idea. Would you like to know what happens to parasites who are nothings in life, will do anything for money and come to my door from a DCA?

[fuzzybobble]

As you say Moorcroft are chasing you for an Argos card, then the easiest way for you to get rid of them is to send them a CCA request. Argos are well known on here for not having agreements, or the ones they do have are unenforceable. Moorcroft will soon vanish once they realise they're chasing the impossible.

 

After a few months Argos will farm it out to other DCA's, but they are then easily dealt with by sending the Account in Dispute letter template.

 

Had to deal with them on the same Argos thing for the last 3 years, and I get rid of each DCA that pops up every 3 months or so with one letter now.

 

I can promise you Moorcroft are nothing to be scared of whatsoever. There isn't a single recorded case on this site of Moorcroft ever taking anyone to court. They can't because they don't buy debts, they only collect on behalf of the original creditors, and only the actual owner of the account can start any legal action, and to try that, they need enforceable paperwork. Which is why it's always a good idea to do the CCA request to see if they have any legal rights to be asking you to pay them anything at all.

[masjntt]

Thank you x I opened the Argos card about 3 years ago & did sign an agreement so I presumed that with it being so recent that a CCA would be easy to produce & to be fair I do owe the money & i do want to clear it, i just got bogged down with ill health and got behind, however i should have contacted them and not ignored them but easier said than done when not 100%. xx

[DonkeyB]

Handing that card to your daughter is a serious breach of the OFT guidelines on debt collection. Complain loudly to Moorcroft and copy in the OFT and Trading Standards. Here’s where they have transgressed:

 

Physical/psychological harassment

2.5 Putting pressure on debtors or third parties is considered to be oppressive.

2.6 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:

i. disclosing or threatening to disclose debt details to third parties unless

legally entitled to do so

j. acting in a way likely to be publicly embarrassing to the debtor either

deliberately or through lack of care, for example, by not putting

correspondence in a sealed envelope and putting it through a letterbox,

thereby running the risk that it could be read by third parties.

 

And once you tell them you are unwell, make sure they don’t fall foul of this:

 

Debt collection visits

2.11 Those visiting debtors must not act in an unclear or threatening manner.

2.12 Examples of unfair practices are:

b. visiting a debtor when it is known they are vulnerable, for example, when

a doctor's certificate has been provided stating that the debtor is ill

g. not giving adequate notice of the time and date of a visit

[masjntt]

Thank you donkeyb - i think i just might !!

[Guest Cartaphilus]

Going to put this to you: it is the person coming to your door like this should be apologizing to you for doing it. I hope this makes sense to you. As you may have surmised, I have no time for those who make a living out of the misfortune of others, that is something I will not reconcile myself with and will always ... say something about, because when people are in difficult circumstances, like yours, the last thing they need is this.

 

So, if anyone should feel bad it's this person ... Certainly, as DonkeyB points out it most certainly is an offense to be handing such cards to a child. So, if anyone should be apologizing it's the person whose apalling disregard or lack of knowledge (or even wanting to know, as they do nothing without purpose shall we say, then say it was an 'error' ... yeah, right) it's this fool. Problem is, I know they won't feel bad.

 

You most certainly should - you are doing nothing wrong, but everything right in doing so - report them as it seems to me from what you've posted there is a potential conflict on interests as this person is known to you and, I think, they are potentially taking advantage of that situation. But you must report them, to put an end to what they are doing as you have described things.