Buy As You View: Help!

[johnthefisherman]

Hi guys, last year my girlfriend and i made the mistake of ordering a tv and home cinema from Buy As You View. Everything was fine for a while until my girlfriend lost her job. In februay this year we found ourselves short of money and couldnt make any payment on the tv at all. When the collector came round we didnt answer, not sure what we were supposed to tell them...however, the guy outside started banging and kicking the front door more and more then started throwing snow- and iceballs at our upstairs window. Incensed by this my girlfriend phoned BAYV to complain and tell them she didnt want this bloke coming to our house again (which they seem to have ignored). Fast forward to now, and we still havent paid any more money to them, partly through defiance to their bullyboy tactics. We have heard many stories about other peoples dealings with this company and are wondering what our next step should be. We have been given some 'advice' that we should cut the coinmeter off, send it back to the head office and offer to pay them directly, not through the meter. We do want to keep the tv although we still cannot make the full payments, let alone the arrears. At present we have payed between £300-£400, which i realise is well below the 'third' i've read others talking about.

 

Any advice would be greatfully recieved. Thanks.

[Conniff]

You must contact them. In the absence of contact, they will just go to court and get a judgement against you which will give them extra powers to come and collect.

 

They don't want the tv back either and would much rather sell it, so explain fully what has happened. Work out your budget so you know how much you can afford and ask them if they will accept that amount.

 

You should do this by letter (recorded) and not on the phone.

Edited April 7, 2009 by Conniff
Typo correction

[gyzmo]

Just to add, make some form of payment to them - even if it's just a few quid. Witholding money is a case of trying to make a right out of two wrongs. It will not work.

 

Follow the rules and you will be better off.

[johnthefisherman]

Thanks for your replies. If we were to make a payment, should we make a payment to the head office as we really do not want these underhanded men in our house? It came to a head the other day when the area manager turned up on our doorstep demanding entry to reposses the tv. He wouldnt talk to me as the agreement is in my girlfriend's name. She tried to reason with him but he was adamant he was taking the tv and wasnt interested in making any payment agreement. We didnt give him access and eventually he went away. I might be clutching at straws but the agreement has the wrong name printed on it - it says 'Daniel' rather than 'Danielle' and it also has our previous address, we told them about the change of address but no updated or new paperwork was given. I must say that we are not looking for a free tv, and are willing to pay what we can, we just need to know our rights against what most of you will know to be a very unfair and bullyish company. Thanks for your time and input.

[gyzmo]

I wouldn't rely on the name and address being incorrect as some sort of defence. A court can easily satisfy itself that your girlfriend is the person stated and make judgement accordingly.

 

Like said before, write to them and in the interim make some kind of payment. You are within your rights to refuse entry to your property - don't let them think otherwise.

 

Given their tactics, I think you will be best off contacting your trading standards dept, as their behaviour is nearing doorstep crime - something TS are very big on at the moment.

[gyzmo]

Just as a by the way, one tactic I use when complaining about companies is to use their job descriptions as ammo, as well as other information that can be used against them. As such, you might be interested in these:

 

Buy As You View - Current vacancies Seems like their job description needs reading to them again!

 

This might also be of interest: http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/brighthouse/178450-buy-you-view-but.html

 

And this http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-debt-issues/87628-buy-you-view-help.html

[johnthefisherman]

*UPDATE* - have recieved this letter today:

 

 

Due to your failiure to maintain regular payments to BAVY, all your accounts have been passed to DUNRAVEN FINANCE DEBT RECOVERY.

 

There are now two options available:

 

1. Pay all arrears in full.

2. Return all goods and we will clear all arrears and monies owed.

 

Failiure to resolve this matter at this stage will result in further charges, costs and attendance by a County Court Bailiff where required.

 

.......................................................................................

 

It should be noted that the letter was signed by the area manager for BAYV, but this time calling himself 'Debt Recovery Officer'.

 

Now, i know that Duraven Finance owns BAYV, so they are trying to appear as if they've passed the debt on, another scare tactic. I also know that as they dont have any bailiffs on staff, what is the likelyhood of them turning up at the door with County Court appointed bailiffs? Would we still be able to treat them like any other bailiff - ie: not answer the door and wait for them to go away? If, in fact, they turn up?

[Conniff]

Can't order bailiffs without a court order. Have you been in contact yet ?

[johnthefisherman]

Posted letter today, but what with it being a Bank Holiday coming up it might not reach them until Tuesday next week. Any advice on what to do if the area manager turns up before then? I get the feeling that he will...

[sweets-on-the-move]

hi there as a customer of buy as you veiw. there customer service is poor indeed. they load u up with goods at exssesive charges. dont tamper with the meter its not your property.if u do they have a policy of going to the police.so please avoid .dont forget your not renting the tv your buying the item. if your not happy with the goods then u can send them back . u need to arrange collection through them .get a receipt to say they have picked the goods up though. dunraven finance is the finance co that funds buy as you view. yes the same company same head office ect. the bullyboy taticts is strange indeed but may be a new approach.then u must report them to your trading standards dept .u must get an agreement to pay them or to send the goods back this is the only reseloution here . remember the goods dont belong to you at all it is there goods .so they cant legally be withheld