roxborough about to strike?

[sexyscorpion1]

Originally Posted by sexyscorpion1

Hello all, I have just read through a thread re roxborough, with interest as I searched roxborough to find an answer to a phone call I received earlier today.

The caller said she was from roxborough and would I confirm some personal details? of course I refused and asked who was calling and what was it about. I couldn't get a sensible answer she just kept going on about data protection and eventually hung up saying I would get a letter.

I kind of put it down to a crank call or something.

Anyway finding this site and reading a thread about debt collecting agencies I am now slightly concerned.

The only thing I think it can relate to is not actually directly my debt/problem.

My mother is 79 years old and has dementia.

last year her kitchen flooded.

after a lot of trouble getting insurance quotes, a builder was eventually found, the work was done and my mothers insurance company paid the money into her account.

About 4 weeks later she received the bill. I helped her write the cheque and posted it myself. It was returned 2 weeks later having bounced.

My mother was confused about the payment process and thought the work had been paid for directly by the bank/insurer. in the meantime she had spent money which should have been for the building work.

Anyway to get to the point I had cause to speak to the contractor about the situation. He was aware mother had dementia and didn't understand what was happening. He agreed to being paid £1,400 immediately and we could sort out the remainder later.

To save another cheque bouncing I got mother to write a cheque to me less some £600 shortfall, paid it into my account and wrote a cheque myself for the builder.

I have told mother on several occassions that £600 is still owing. She doesn't have £600. neither do I.

The builder recently sent me a letter asking me to pay the remainder for the work that I owe him.

My mother hasn't received any such letter that I am aware of. On the one hand I am glad as she wouldn't understand and would just be distressed by the whole thing. but on the other hand I fear I am now liable for the debt.

Can he (the builder/contractor) do this? and am I responsible for the £600 owing?

I am now awaiting the letter I was threatend with earlier today.

Big mess, massive headache!

 

Thankyou in advance for any advise.

SS1

[maroondevo52]

Hi,

 

How did the cheque bounce in the first place, if the money was in your mums account.

 

So you have paid £1,400. but there is still £600 due on the bill.

Don't think it matters that you paid the £1,400 from your account, it's not your debt, so can't see how you can be asked to pay the remainder.

 

Regards.

 

Scott.

[sexyscorpion1]

Hey maroonedevo,

the insurance company paid approx £2000 into mums account.

A few weeks passed between the money going into the account and the builder/contractor sending a bill.

My mother is slightly deranged and is in the habit of trundelling to her nearest shop (one stop) on a regular if not daily basis, to stock up on things she doesn't need. she always pays with her bank card!

She was confused about the insurance Co way of doing things and believed (no matter how many times I explained) the insurance co paid the builder direct.

when the bill for the work arrived I told her she had to send a cheque, eventually writing the cheque for her and posting it myself. By the time it reached its recipient she had frittered away some of the insurance money.

I believe other direct debits and bank charges were taken from her account before her pension was paid in which caused a bit of a mess. Hence the cheque bounced. more charges were incurred which ate further into the money.

After speaking with the builder and explaining what was happening, and that she could only pay 1400 The best solution I could come up with to stop her spending any more of the money before the cheque reached the builder and bounced a second time was to get her to write a cheque to me which she did. I paid that immediately into my account. in turn I sent a cheque from my account to the builder.

I am not disputing there is still £600 outstanding. if I had it I would pay it to clear the whole mess up. But it isn't my debt.

My mother has had no contact from either the builder or roxborough as far as I am aware. if she has she will have forgotten within minutes passing and is blissfully unaware of all that is going on. Indeed yesterday I paid a visit with my daughter so as to scout around and see if there were any letters demanding payment, when mention of the new lino in the kitchen was made she believes it is the same lino as some 10 years ago and can't even remember any work being done. Lord help me!

I hope I haven't confused you too much. Thankyou for taking the time to advise.

SS1

Edited February 12, 2009 by sexyscorpion1
rubbish spelling

[cerberusalert]

What I can't understand is why Roxborough are chasing you for the monies. Just because you paid part of the account with your personal cheque it doesn't mean that you are liable for the alleged debt. The contract is between the builder & your mother, besides who's to say that your mother hadn't already paid him part up front anyway & in her dementia is unaware of it.