Channel 4 Dispatches to air debt collection exposé

[maybelline]

I would like to know what is going to be done to make sure that people in debt know their rights, assume they may not have access to the internet, what are local authorities doing to make information available to those who need it the most, is it in librarys and do we know that, is it on the radio, posters at bus stops, or good access to debt advice with legal advisers available to the most vulnerbale in society????? obviously people do not know their rights so what is being done about it????

[SURFBOY]

I would like to know what is going to be done to make sure that people in debt know their rights, assume they may not have access to the internet, what are local authorities doing to make information available to those who need it the most, is it in librarys and do we know that, is it on the radio, posters at bus stops, or good access to debt advice with legal advisers available to the most vulnerbale in society????? obviously people do not know their rights so what is being done about it????

 

I think that is a good idea for a campaign, i think people should be made aware of their rights and i think that they should be made aware not to fear DCAs . After all "fear" is a powerfull weapon to a DCA.

[the_shadow]

I thought the ending might be a cop out and I was right, the couple at the end said 'once they come into your house they don't leave' which is daft as they don't have any rights to come into your house... another misconception left in place.

 

It was clear that couple had severe financial problems just by the list of debts she rolled off, one of those was ctax arrears and hence bailiffs can come into your house for that.

 

I think the difference in debts should have been pointed out tho.

 

S.

[HFwho?]

It was clear that couple had severe financial problems just by the list of debts she rolled off, one of those was ctax arrears and hence bailiffs can come into your house for that.

 

I think the difference in debts should have been pointed out tho.

 

S.

 

Got to agree with that, always pay council tax and utilities before CC and loan debts!!!!!!

[mjc007.5]

Still stuck at work but slowed down a bit (for a nice change) so working my way through the posts - very interesting as always. Will watch the programme when I get home. Seems like it was a good start, hopefully will build a critical mass now and the government will kick the OFT into acting.

 

Said it several times but rings true - the vast majority of us are can't pay (at least on their terms) and when they start from a presumption that we are all "wont pay" (together with the general arrogance and disregard that the programme sounds like it showcased the tip of the iceberg of) then we have this perpetual stand off and struggle.

[photoman]

When they were doing the team building session, trying to hype them up with the cheesy rendition of "When the going gets tough", I really was expecting Ricky Gervais to pop out at any moment !!

 

If I had been the reporter, my cover would have been blown there and then, due to my rolling on the floor in tears of laughter !

 

 

On a more serious note.

A shocker of a programme, and all publicity of such practices is well and good, but I do think C4's motives and bias was bit too much on the sensationalist journalism side, and it should have been balanced out by dropping in some more practical advice.

More suggestions of where and how to get advice and help (and also bear in mind that there are a lot of people in need who either aren't computer and internet literate, or simply can't even afford the hardware or broadband costs).

[dx100uk]

its a real SHAME that just one slot of one of the experts could not of simply said GET A CCA! before you pay anything. so simple so effective.

 

it really needed to have gone into more about displaying to watchers how NOT to fall foul of the underhand tactics.

 

i also though the bit at the end with the couple who suffered after a bK was very wrong too.

 

get in contact with these people and start paying, don't do what we did.

 

very very wrong to put this at the end as some sort of conclusion that people might take as being the thing to do.

 

we've shown you what DCA's are like ,this is what happens if you don't pay them.

 

 

hang your heads dispatches team.

 

dx

[Spamalot]

A big friendly HELLO! to all you lovely CAG people

 

I can't tell you how pleased I am to have discovered this site - We actually kept the children up til 9pm this evening as a last minute channel-hop revealed the Dispatches expose of those Marlin sharks.

 

I am just about to tackle some DCA's head on to sort out a few debts we have and no doubt will be asking you all some questions along the way. Our debts were not accrued for frivolous reasons and we've been paying substantial regular amounts for a long while but I am fed up with these greedy B's and their bullying tactics.

 

Thank you in advance for all your priceless advice and talk to you soon!

 

Welcome 'Newbie' you are amongst friends.

[Having_A_Knightmare]

Whos the first to ring Marlins this morning and speak to the "Best collector in the office" or do you think he is having a day off!!

[Having_A_Knightmare]

Again there was no imput from any goverment person or body..

 

Its about time the OFT got some BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!

[F_DCAs]

Great comment by 'expertcollector' - 'As a collector, I asses'. Never a truer word spoken...

[postggj]

hello guests

still awake

now ime helping a pal in court at the moment with marlin and mortimer clark

 

ime debating to give them a ring and ask how do i address them

marlin or clark

[paulson1985]

I watched last nights programme, It was no surprise to me to see how these people work.

 

The sooner this industry is properly regulated the better.

 

They broke the rules on so many occasions, the trouble is these are just guidelines set out by the FSA, they should become law, and heavy fines imposed and License's removed if these are broken.

 

Shame on the lot of them.

 

Making money out of peoples misery.

 

Have a nice day Mark , I am sure you will no doubt ignore everything that is said, But mark(LOL) my words, Time will tell.

[Undercover-Elsa]

I just watched it on 4OD, to mixed feelings.

Overall, great that they have been exposed for what they are..and in reality I feel more research would have unearthed much worse behaviour and scenarios.

However I agree with dx100 and others in that they left the programme hanging with the impression that there was nothing you could do about it, which could leave many people feeling even MORE frightened of them than they were before.

For a balanced journalistic view alone, the programme should have included advice on consumer rights and how to deal with these companies. I was waiting for a "if you have been affected by the issues covered in this programme...." announcement at the end, with helpline numbers. Nothing came up on 4OD...I take it nothing came up live either..which is rather shocking.

Hey ho, good and bad publicity for CAG, hopefully many new genuine people in need of help will find us through the Dispatches website...but watch out for fakes as their ire has been raised, and no doubt there will be trolls in abundance, so beware of PMs or requests for email addresses etc dressed up in any form.

Elsa x

[PGH7447]

Emailed the OFt this morning lets see if they respond:)

 

Good Morning

 

I watched with what can only be described as outright disgust that a firm of Debt Collectors called Marlins can be allowed to get away with such contempt of the guidelines and legalities laid down to govern this industry.

 

I also noticed with dismay that the OFT either were not approached to comment of these practices or if they were approached did not deem it their responsibility to address the points/issues raised.

 

I would hope that someone within the OFT will be contacting Marlins and discusing with them the obvious lack of any kind control over their staff, in particular the person (Mark) showed such distain to the people he was dealing with.

 

Also can you please explain how an employee of one company can then answer the phone under the guise of another, i.e. a Marlins Debt collection agent suddenly becoming a Solicitor for Sechiari Clarke and Mitchell?

 

I hope that you will sit up and take notice of how this industry is being run and do not as was said last night "show your teeth but not bite" but actually take these firms to task

[mr.ton]

So has anyone tried to speak to Mark this morning?

[Beck1968]

Emailed the OFt this morning lets see if they respond:)

 

Good Morning

 

I watched with what can only be described as outright disgust that a firm of Debt Collectors called Marlins can be allowed to get away with such contempt of the guidelines and legalities laid down to govern this industry.

 

I also noticed with dismay that the OFT either were not approached to comment of these practices or if they were approached did not deem it their responsibility to address the points/issues raised.

 

I would hope that someone within the OFT will be contacting Marlins and discusing with them the obvious lack of any kind control over their staff, in particular the person (Mark) showed such distain to the people he was dealing with.

 

Also can you please explain how an employee of one company can then answer the phone under the guise of another, i.e. a Marlins Debt collection agent suddenly becoming a Solicitor for Sechiari Clarke and Mitchell?

 

I hope that you will sit up and take notice of how this industry is being run and do not as was said last night "show your teeth but not bite" but actually take these firms to task

 

post an email link up ......please

[postggj]

pgh

 

they answered mortimer clark

 

mind you

who else do they impersonate

[paulson1985]

I have heard a DCA in my town has been laying people off work.

 

Could this become a trend ?

[lickthewallfatboy]

I have heard a DCA in my town has been laying people off work.

 

Could this become a trend ?

 

we can but hope so!!

[I've got no money]

Emailed the OFt this morning lets see if they respond:)

 

Good Morning

 

I watched with what can only be described as outright disgust that a firm of Debt Collectors called Marlins can be allowed to get away with such contempt of the guidelines and legalities laid down to govern this industry.

 

I also noticed with dismay that the OFT either were not approached to comment of these practices or if they were approached did not deem it their responsibility to address the points/issues raised.

 

I would hope that someone within the OFT will be contacting Marlins and discusing with them the obvious lack of any kind control over their staff, in particular the person (Mark) showed such distain to the people he was dealing with.

 

Also can you please explain how an employee of one company can then answer the phone under the guise of another, i.e. a Marlins Debt collection agent suddenly becoming a Solicitor for Sechiari Clarke and Mitchell?

 

I hope that you will sit up and take notice of how this industry is being run and do not as was said last night "show your teeth but not bite" but actually take these firms to task

 

I thought that the Solicitors were Mortimer Clarke

[postggj]

so meny names

its hard to keep track

 

ignm

 

as we are dealing with this shower at the moment in court, ho can we exploit this biz of marlin answering the phone as sols, i mean in court

 

interesting times

 

complaint ready to the sra also

[angry cat]

The solicitor is Mortimer Clarke:

The Law Society - Find a solicitor

 

Same office as Marlin;

One solicitor;

No Wheel chair access;

No Legal Aid;

No Fixed Fee internview.

Pretty much No Nothing.

 

I thought of you IGNM, when one of the Marlin collectors pretended to be a solicitor when on the phone to a debtor;

outrageous behaviour;

if the solicitor condones this sort of deception, then he should be struck off!

 

We all know this goes on, but this sort of bad practice needs to be stopped.

[mr.ton]

Just phoned them up & played "When the going gets tough"...she didnt sound impressed

[lickthewallfatboy]

could people with recorders actually call them up and post the files up somewhere?

 

Marlin....the first DCA to become a NATIONAL laughing stock