O F T Response - Philips Collection Services

[Big Boss Man]

Here is the response from the O FT following my recent complaint regarding Philips collection Services, including some usefull info:

 

 

 

Telephone

(O84) 5722 4599

Our Ref

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fax

(020) 7211 8877

Date

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Email

[email protected]

 

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the Act)

 

Complaint Against: Philips Collection Services Ltd

Licence No: 491286

 

Thank you for your email received on 3 June 2009. I apologise for the delay in responding to you.

 

I am very sorry to hear about the difficulties have been experiencing, however, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has no authority to become involved in individual disputes between consumers and traders so we cannot advise you directly in this matter.

 

I enclose a list of organisations which can offer you help and advice. For specialist, face-to-face assistance, or intervention, you may wish to seek legal advice either through a local Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) or directly from a legal adviser. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) can help with most complaints about consumer credit products and services if the consumer has failed to satisfactorily resolve the matter directly with the consumer credit licensee itself.

 

I can confirm that the business you mention holds a consumer credit licence. Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the Act), holders of consumer credit licences must be fit and competent to do so, and the OFT has a duty to monitor the fitness and conduct of all traders who hold such a licence.

 

The OFT has issued guidance to consumer credit licence holders engaged in the debt collection industry. The guidance is intended to ensure that debt collectors treat individuals fairly. Non-compliance with this guidance will call into question the fitness of licence holders and applicants. You can view our guidance at: www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/legal/cca/debt-collection

 

We have therefore noted the details of your complaint, and we will consider this alongside any other complaints we have received with a view to any consumer credit licensing or other action we may decide to take. If we do take any action against this trader, it is likely that we would need to disclose your identity to this trader along with details of your complaint. I should therefore be grateful if you could sign the enclosed consent form and return it to me. Unfortunately, we cannot disclose any details about any action we may take, due to legal restrictions on the OFT relating to disclosure of information.

 

We would like to thank you once again for writing to us and bringing this matter to our attention.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

xxxxxxxxxxx

Enquiries and Reporting Centre (ERC)

Office of Fair Trading (OFT)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Help and Advice

 

 

 

You can contact the following non-profit making organisations for free, confidential and impartial advice.

 

· Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

 

For advice and information on debt and other topics, visit your nearest CAB. Look them up in your phone book or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk For web-based information and advice go to www.adviceguide.org.uk

 

· Community Legal Advice

 

 

For free advice phone 0845 345 4 345 if you qualify for legal aid or visit

www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk

 

· Consumer Credit Counselling Service

 

For debt advice throughout the UK – including Northern Ireland – phone 0800 138 1111 or visit www.cccs.co.uk

· Consumer Direct

 

 

If you live in England, Wales or Scotland phone 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.ukfor general consumer advice and information. Consumer Direct’s website includes information about credit and hire agreements and a fuller list of independent advice agencies.

· ConsumerLine

 

 

If you live in Northern Ireland phone 0845 600 62 62 or visit www.consumerline.orgfor general consumer advice.

 

· Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)

 

The FOS can help with most complaints about consumer-credit products and services if the consumer has failed to satisfactorily resolve the matter directly with the financial institution itself. FOS can be contacted at:

 

Financial Ombudsman Service

South Quay Plaza

183 Marsh Wall

London

E14 9SR

 

Telephone: 0845 080 1800

Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

 

· National Debtline

 

If you live in England, Wales or Scotland phone 0808 808 4000 or visit www.nationaldebtline.co.ukfor debt advice and information.

[alfwithhair]

Bog standard reply from the OFT. don't expect any miracles to happen because they have replied

[jon888999]

Bog standard reply from the OFT. don't expect any miracles to happen because they have replied

If anything serious is going to happen they'll be in contact with you for further information. Takes a while though. Seems to me that they have a hit list of organisations as some complaints get a lot quicker reply then others. Phoenix/Marlin seem to under particular attention at the moment. Getting an almost instant reply.

[Big Boss Man]

Bog standard reply from the OFT. don't expect any miracles to happen because they have replied

 

Im certanley not expecting miracles, ive just done my bit, the more people that inform the OFT of problems, something will have to be done !