What to do when bank continually calls even though I have asked them to stop

[SwedeGirl]

Hi all,

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to look at this.

 

I recently moved from the UK as I was told that I would be made redundant and I had the chance to move to Sweden with a different role so I jumped at the chance. The problem was that the salary was less than i got in London but my loans, credit card debts are still the same.

 

I wrote to my bank which the cc and loan is with telling them of these problems and that i wanted to work out a payment plan with them but they have not answered me. I sent it recorded delievery so can see it was signed for. In the letter i also included the letter from the templates section on this site telling them not to call me, they call me atleast 10 times a day and phone my inlaws in the uk asking for me to call them.

 

Of course I know i am in the wrong for not keeping up on my payments but i did write to them in time and want to figure something out with them but is there anything i can do to stop them calling the whole time?

 

many thanks again and if you need more specific details then please let me know but i didnt want to post too much information

[blueda]

Hi swedeGirl and welcome to CAG, have you sent them the telephone harrasment letter ?.

Edited June 28, 2009 by blueda

[blueda]

Here is the link for the telephone harassment letter

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/letter-templates/131250-dca-creditor-harassment-telephone.html

[SwedeGirl]

yes thats the letter i sent them but they still keep calling.

The letter was recieved by them on the 25th June.

 

Thanks for the suggestion

[blueda]

Report them to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), it is a disgrace that they are calling your in laws.

[SwedeGirl]

Thanks I will do this then. HAs anyone ever complained to the OFT and does anyone have any ideas what to put?

Should i print off the letter that I sent to the bank and just send this with the proof of reciept and say that despite my letter they are still calling?

 

Thanks loads for you help

[blueda]

Yes report it as it is.

[SwedeGirl]

Thanks for replying.

 

Do you know if i just write to:

 

Enquiries and Reporting Centre

Office of Fair Trading

Fleetbank House

2-6 Salisbury Square

London

EC4Y 8JX.

 

I just noticed it says "Please be aware that the OFT cannot provide advice or assistance to individual consumers or traders. " is this still okay or should i be contacting someone else?

 

thanks for your help

[blueda]

Might be better if you phone them and ask whilst making sure of the cost of the call from Sweden, we need Ida in Fife to advise us here, hope she will be along soon.

[SwedeGirl]

Thanks i will give them a call!

[blueda]

Keep us posted SwedeGirl.

[SwedeGirl]

I spoke to the OFT and emailed them but they weren't veryy helpfull.

They told me that OFT has no authority to become involved in individual disputes between consumers and traders so we cannot advise you directly in this matter.

This was both on the phone and via email.

 

Thought the calls had stopped but they started again last night

[blueda]

I have contacted site team to give advice here.

[slick132]

Hi SwedeGirl,

 

1. Keep a log of all calls noting time, date and, if known, the number and DCA.

 

2. Tell callers that all calls are now being recorded (even if they are not) to back a claim for harassment.

 

3. Don't discuss anything with callers and hang up - they'll realise they are getting nowhere and will move on to cases that will get them results.

 

4. If they continue to call your in-laws, advise them to do the same as above.

 

Send out CCA requests to the CCard and Loan Co's. enclosing the £1 fee to see if they have valid Credit Agreements.

[42man]

I would also report them to OFCOM for good measure too....

[SwedeGirl]

Thanks for the replies and the suggestions. Is such a horrible feeling but makes it a lot easier having people around to help so many many thanks for this

 

I always refuse to speak to them but always try to answer the call just so they know that I dont want to speak to them oppose to them thinking I am not around.

[blueda]

Here is the link for the letter templates page, copy letter N for CCA request, enclose £1.00 postal order, print your name at the bottom of letter ( DO NOT SIGN IT) and post 1st class recorded delivery.

[slick132]

Blueda meant to include this link - http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-bailiffs-advice/20758-creditors-dcas-letter-templates.html

 

Letter N as confirmed above.

[moonshinebabe]

I had the same problem with HSBC.

They were phoning an incessant amount of times each day, which I ignored, and I sent them a letter from the template here asking them to stop the calls and to remove my telephone details on their system, and that I prefer everything to be in writing from now on, and I got a reply back saying they refuse to comply with my request and that they needed it for security measures!

I fixed it by changing my number. Pah to them! What is it with HSBC think they are above the law and regulations that they can do what they want.

[joeyv6]

What you can do is e-mail the OFT and cc your bank on the e-mail. The OFT will reply with the 'We can't become involved in individual disputes' line but it will be concrete evidence that you have now involved the OFT and should put the bank on the back foot.

 

I was having problems with a DCA who called everyday for 2 weeks and e-mailed them 5 times requesting the calls stop as per the telephone letter but the calls kept coming and no email reply from the DCA. So i emailed the OFT and copied in the DCA informing the OFT that I had logged details of the dates and times of the calls and put the details of the last 3 calls I had received from them in the email. SInce then (2 weeks ago) I have not had a single call from them.

 

Hope this helps you with your calls.

[SwedeGirl]

Brilliant tips! Thanks loads for those. Will of course keep people updated and no doubt ask for more help

[SwedeGirl]

Thanks for the tips and after sending the email as Joevy said the calls have now stopped.

 

Does anyone now what the procedure for trying to get a refund on charges to offset a negative balance on an account?

In my case I owe the bank about £900 but they have charged me over a £1000 in charges.

I have asked for these to be refunded under the finincial hardship rules but they just refuse saying that they are waiting for the test case to be over. I realise that the test case allows claims under financial hardship rules so thought it was pretty strange they do this.

 

thanks again for your help

[slick132]

Hi SG,

 

The bank is obliged to deal with a claim under the hardship rules.

 

If you think you would qualify as suffering financial hardship, see items 3, 7 and 8 here - The Consumer Forums - Bank charges templates (consumer)

 

List the charges on a site spreadsheet and send to Barclays with the hardship letter and enclose a schedule of Income and Expenditure which is linked at the foot of the hardship letter template.

[tosh1]

subbing