Personal Data disclosure by Marstons

[sillygirl1]

Another Marstons masterpiece email - totally breaking the consumer credit laws yet again - this time it is the police who will be receiving these. I've also sent this to Watchdog and Trading Standards and the OFT and the Information Commissioners office.

We do not accept debt management programmes that take in excess of 6 months to clear he debt.

 

You cannot withdraw rights for our officers to attend your address. Should the account not be paid, we will attend to asses the situation and advise our client accordingly.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Daren Simcox MESA

Marston Group Limited

Executive Director

Corporate Services and Group Sales

[sillygirl1]

I've had a stupid email from them telling me I cannot revoke their authority to visit and that they only accept DMPs for 6 months or less... email below.

 

We do not accept debt management programmes that take in excess of 6 months to clear he debt.

 

You cannot withdraw rights for our officers to attend your address. Should the account not be paid, we will attend to asses the situation and advise our client accordingly.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Daren Simcox MESA

Marston Group Limited

Executive Director

Corporate Services and Group Sales

[geministar2007]

I have not heard anything from the organisations i have complained to. I have had no further emails from Marstons either or any other correspondance for that matter.

[geministar2007]

hi silly girl are marstons actually dealing with your DMP? As i discovered that the debt in question was still being handled by Credit Resource Solutions and i am to continue paying them? How on earth can Marstons be chasing the debt also???

[geministar2007]

Also has anyone actually received any actual letters through the post or phone calls???

[sillygirl1]

I've had letters from Meritforce about this debt...

 

Please everyone text Watchdog today between 7.30 and 8.30 - WD 81938 about Marstons, then they might sit up and take action.

 

geministar2007 they are in clear breach of debt collecting guidelines which state (will find the link to the clause) that they cannot chase a debt in dispute or a debt which regular payments are being made through a third party.

 

I'd take the email to your local police station and see what they are going to do about it.

[kerrywba]

Now I'm no expert on the law but even I know that without a Court Order NOBODY has the right to enter your home - and even then you don't have to let them in. They cannot force entry - only use a form of entry that is deemed 'peaceful' - or so I am told!

[geministar2007]

Ok i have text the watch dog number (seems to take forever to send....?). I have now also emailed marstons stating i am on a DMP and CRS still have my debt, have not sold it to them or anyone else, blah blah blah.I have given them CRS number and told them they are more than likely to contact them to check the authenticity of my email. I have also said can you now remove my details from your database and discontinue your harrassment.

[sillygirl1]

Bet you will get the second and third emails like I did... if so take it to the police.

[geministar2007]

probably, i just dont understand how they have my details when another DCA is dealing with this debt, how can i be paying one and then all of a sudden a different DCA starts chasing me? Has anyone ever heard of this?

[sillygirl1]

Yes, it is very common, just read some of the other threads on this site. Unfortunately there are parts of the debt collection industry who think they can operate outside the law and get away with it.

 

Try looking at MrTons thread on 'Cheekiness towards a DCA', it will take time and come back and let us know the outcome.... it's how to deal with this type of behaviour.

[geministar2007]

do you have the link to that thread? Thanks

[geministar2007]

Anyone heard anymore today? So far i haven't no emails, no letters, calls.

 

You know what i don't even think these idiots will even visit most people, are they really gonna travel so far south/north for a loan in my case that was for £150, now at just over 300 thanks to fees, in which the individual is actually on a DMP paying another DCA for this debt in which they are currently hunky dorey!. Only to find that when they do arrive at someones door, they will not be granted access told kindly where to go, whilst i call the police and have them arrested for trespass and harrassment. In which i will produce the shoddy email they sent to 100's and also the email i have from the other DCA stating i should continue to pay them and ignore this blanket email..... it makes me wondered how these people survive in their own lives.... ?

 

Does anyone have any background on wonga/samedaycash? I.E their financial situation someone mentioned somewhere that they were having some problems??

[kerrywba]

I've had the following apology email this afternoon:

We understand that you may have recently received an email from the Marston Group regarding an unpaid debt to Same Day Cash/Wonga.com.

We wish to apologise for the distress that may have been caused with the release of your email address to a large group and for any difficulties that this may have caused you. We are currently investigating our email processes and upon completion our staff will undertake any necessary training to ensure that this inadvertent release of group email addresses does not happen again.

However, you should make contact with ourselves about the outstanding matter if you have not already done so, to prevent further action.

Yours sincerely

Marston Group Limited

[geministar2007]

oh how very nice of them. Bit late hey!

 

Like i said earlier i have this debt being handled by Credit Resource solutions, so i have no idea why they are emailing me anyway.

 

Losers

[sillygirl1]

Maybe they ought to train their staff in the Data Protection Act and the Consumer Credit rules, the moron who wrote the other day told me I didn't have any 'right' to stop them making their visit. I've not had their 'apology though'

 

Further to this my DMP people got hold of both Wonga and Marstons and explained the situation - explained that Wonga HADN'T told Marstons I was in a DMP (note to Wonga - try not to bite the hand that feeds you in future...even though it can't always feed you as much as you want). Also it seems the contact at Marstons wasn't their usual person and it was one of these 'round the houses' calls they had to make to find out which department was responsible... interesting isn't it?

 

Again adds fuel to the stories that Wonga may be experiencing 'cashflow' problems... (my personal view - not the view of this site).

[clarkyac1]

Hi, received an email from marstons today with an apology, its says sorry for distress and inconvenience caused. I suppose this is all that they will do. I understand if i did want to take marstons to court and claim damages for distress caused to myself that i would have to send a letter advising them that i will be taking them to court, in the letter i must outline what action they must take to prevent such action, what could be put in this letter, anyone have any advice?

[sillygirl1]

clarkyac1 one - you are on the wrong track with detailing what action they must take - it ISNT the same as a default notice.

 

The laws for damages and distress are different to the ones when a default has been issued in error. I'm not the expert on this subject but somebody else will be round who is.

 

All you now need do is report them again to the OFT, Trading Standards and Consumer Direct. This apology is a joke, their employees need training in the law, not just in email useage!

[geministar2007]

still awating my appology. I have also emailed samedaycash asking exactly what they are playing at, attempting to sell my debt under a DMP to another DCA. Will see what response i get from them.

 

I still don't think we should all sit back and go arhhh thats ok they have appologised. Something has to be done to stop these idiots!

 

I agree with sillygirl - train your staff correctly! I mean did this person just get a slapped wrist? It's ridiculous.

 

Has anyone heard from Watchdog or the like yet?

[clarkyac1]

Hi everyone, just thought i'd let you know I received a reply from trading standards, my complaint has been passed to the duty officer for pursual. So we know that at least one local trading standards office are investigating.

[geministar2007]

hi i had email from office of fair trading stating my complaint has been logged and thanks me for bringing the matter to their attention

[BankFodder]

A bailiff group has apologised for the "accidental release" of hundreds of e-mail addresses to the recipients of a debt-chasing message.

A message was sent by the enforcement recovery section of the Marston Group chasing the overdue repayment of loans.

But attached was a list of more than 600 e-mail addresses.

A spokeswoman for the Information Commissioner said the subject of the e-mail was sensitive and the case was a potential Data Protection Act breach.

 

BBC NEWS | Business | Bailiff admits to privacy blunder

 

IC not aware of any complaints yet!!!???????

[ohoh4312]

BBC NEWS | Business | Bailiff admits to privacy blunder

 

They haven't exactly been put through the wringer on this, but they should have been I reckon!

[ohoh4312]

Doh - too late as usual!!

[cerberusalert]

The spokeswoman at the Information Commissioner's Office said she was not aware of any complaints as yet, but the case could be a potential breach of the Data Protection Act.

 

No doubt she will be made more than aware over the next few days

 

https://www.Information Commissioners Office.gov.uk/Global/contact_us.aspx