Hello all - need advice and support...

[chrysalis]

oh boy - where do I start?

 

I came here following a link on the Guardian blog (thank you to whoever posted that there) with a view to seeing how to go about claiming back bank charges. It wasn't long before I started reading a rather long thread about debt collection agencies...

 

I have an outstanding debt with Capital One, which seems to have been taken over by a DCA. Long story - but I had telephoned them about a year ago to dispute some charges they had put on my account (late payment charge taking me over my limit, so they added over limit charges too) My argument was that the payment was only one day late and I'd not had any problems before with them. They agreed to remove the charges but according to my next statement, they hadn't. I telephoned them, and the person I spoke to said they "would look into it". I did get letters from them, but they were about arrears, not the disputed charges. Eventually, I got letters from a DCA which (stupidly) I ignored as junk mail. Fast forward to a couple of months ago, and a card was put through the letterbox. Some company I'd never heard of were sending someone to the house the following day. There was an 0870 number on the card.

 

I should state at this point, that I have had agoraphobia and panic attack disorder for the last six years. The threat of someone strange coming to my house leaves me physically sick - debt collector or not. I was so worked up, that when I telephoned the number to tell them not to send someone round, despite me explaining as best as I could about my health problems, the person hung up on me. I can't even explain what it took for me to be able to make that call in the first place. Eventually, I was able to call again, and established that they were a DCA on behalf of Capital One. The debt had somehow escalated from the £600 I thought I owed to nearly £1000. I was so desparate to stop them sending someone to the house, that I agreed to pay £20 per month. Just to nicely complicate things, at the time I wasn't receiving any benefits at all, thanks to failing a stupid medical with the benefits agency. (this has since been overturned, and I'm now in receipt of full IB) I told them that I wasn't getting any money at all, and the only household income was my husband's salary, and they told me that the only way I could stop them from coming out to the house was to set up a regular payment. I'm pretty certain that I set up a direct debit or standing order with them, because I remember telling them that I had problems using the telephone because of my illness.

 

This morning, an envelope was put through the door marked "delivered by hand". I am utterly terrified of opening it - especially since I just checked with online banking and no direct debit has been set up. I really don't know what to do. I know my illness exaggerates the anxiety, but I feel utterly sick. I am shaking like a leaf just typing this out. Reading the other forums, it looks like I should have disputed this anyway, seeing as though I had an ongoing dispute with Capital One. Although I'm a bit more clued up on bailiffs etc (my biggest fear) it still scares the cr*p out of me...

 

Any advice would be truly appreciated (and thanks for taking the time to read this long post)

[welly]

Hi

 

First of all if they turn up again DONT LET THEM IN!! they are **** and will not care what your situation is and will do everything to get into you home and get you to sign something.

 

Keep doors and downstairs windows closed and only talk to them though the upstairs windows and tell them they cant come in and you want the debt passed back to capital one.

 

Goto the DCA/Balifis forum and post a thread there as more people who have dealt with DCA's will help and tell you what to do.

 

Open the letter and read what it says they will not go away if you just stick you head in the sand ( As many of us have!! like me!!) and give the name of the DCA and what charges they have put onto the account up until now.

 

Any probs send me a PM and I will send you the link for the forum and DONT get stress with this as people will help with advice and support

 

Welly:)

[chrysalis]

Thanks, Welly.

 

There's no way I would even consider letting them in - my illness means that I wouldn't even answer the door (and all the downstairs doors and windows are locked all the time)

 

I have opened the letter. It's not from them - it's from Philips Collection Services regarding unpaid library fines of £58. I don't believe this - it never ends.. They say I have 48 hours to pay otherwise "further recovery procedures may commence" I don't have £58.

[welly]

Hi

 

Make youself a cup of tea and have a read of this:

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-consumer-issues/8732-philips-bailiffs.html?highlight=phillips

Phillips are **** but DONT OWN YOU!! Also can you start your own thread in here:

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collectors-bailiffs/

 

And let us know who the other DCA is and someone will help you I will also find a site that may help as well.

 

Welly:)

[chrysalis]

I'm ahead of you, Welly

 

I've posted in the DCA-bailiffs forum, and found the thread on Philips. I guess on that front, I need to know whether library fines are enforcable in this way.