Dispatches: A letter to my MP

[tomterm8]

Greg Clark MP

Tunbridge Wells

 

Tuesday 21 July 2009

 

Dear Greg Clark,

 

I would like to draw your attention to the disgusting behaviour of some companies in the debt collection industry. In particular, to the recent Dispatches program aired yesterday on C4.

 

In this show, channel 4 sent an undercover reporter to a debt collection company named Marlins. They showed:

 

1. Flagrant disregard to the OFT Debt collection guidelines

 

2. The company repeatedly and intentionally misled debtors, sent threats of bankruptcy where it did not intend to carry them out, harassed people who had just had their young child die, harassed people who were dying themselves, ignored the data protection act by informing a persons employer that they were in debt, and committed several acts I consider to be in breach of the protection from harassment act.

 

As someone who has volunteered in the past, and helped people with debt problems, I do not think these are unusual tactics limited to only Marlins.

 

I am particularly concerned about the ongoing lack of regulation in this sector. Unlike other sectors, the government does not do mystery shopping, and it seems hundreds of consumer complaints about companies like 1st Credit, Connaught, and Mackenzie hall are ignored.

 

I carried out an freedom of information request with regard to the number of debt collection companies that had their license revoked by the OFT. I was shocked that the number of complaints to individual trading standards offices were not reported to the OFT. And apparently not considered when granting licenses. Despite that, the OFT directly received 2,582 complaints or enquiries about licensed traders(see http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/annual_report/438243/hc532b.pdf ). This suggests the actual number of complaints was much higher, since debtors are correctly referred to trading standards rather than the OFT.

 

Given the number of complaints, I was surprised that in total the OFT issued notices that they were minded to revoke or refuse renewal of 64 credit licenses during that period. In all 125 notices were served on CCL holders. There were only 54 adverse determinations by the OFT. These, in general, were against only small one man bands or highly disreputable companies. Very few of these were against debt collection companies.

 

In the program there is the quote that the OFT shows its teeth, but doesn't bite. I worry that cases like the recently reported on the BBC of a grandmother that committed suicide as a result of harassment for a debt that she didn't even owe will continue. The OFT was established to protect the public. I don't think it is doing its job.

 

 

Can you help?

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Can I suggest other people might want to write to their mp's too?

[PriorityOne]

It certainly highlights the kind of back-scratching that goes on between the so-called regulatory bodies and the finance industry... but I wouldn't be surprised if certain members of the Gov. turn a blind eye as well, Tom.

 

Anything to do with money tends to send morals and decency flying out the nearest window in my experience...

[babybear39]

Can we pinch and ammend that letter please tom?

[citizenB]

Well said TT

[Craftygirl42]

Great letter Tom, I am a victim of Marlin and was invited to appear on the programme last night, but after long chats with the producer, I decided I couldnt hack it. I am still fighting them, and was wondering what could be done, so will cut and paste your letter and use some of the points to write to my MP too. Who knows it may work and it wont be for want of trying

[tomterm8]

Can we pinch and ammend that letter please tom?

 

Yes of course you can, although I do think if you can writing it yourself - so it doesn't look like a template letter - is a good thing. More people writing to their MPs is a good thing, especially if they are Tory / liberal democrat, because Tory policy at the moment is to introduce a consumer protection office:)

[Craftygirl42]

I was thinking about putting in more about my own dealings with this company, especially as we are only down the road from their offices, under the same County Council!!!!

[tomterm8]

I think that's a good idea, Craftygirl. I certainly think that if you can personalise it, it will go down better. I haven't had any personal dealings with Marlin, so I had to write a more generic letter.

[angel_1]

hiya all and especially tom fab letter

 

id come on to see what i could use for ideas but it looks like some of the points are in your letter, so i m going to use some of your points if i may pls and put in my own words so it doesnt look like a standard template letter

 

i totally agree that the more people who do write to their mp's and include the conservatives has to show all the political parties the people of britain are fed up - and write from your own experiences it shows more impact well thats how i see it

 

so who knows maybe it might just hit the spot for changes

 

laters all and keep positive

 

angel x

[Craftygirl42]

will direct some of the peeps on here that I have had contact with, who are/have been dealing with Marlin to this thread and am sure they will also join in with this.

[angry cat]

Very Good Letter!

 

Members should IMO be sending this out to their MEP's also.

 

The ball is in your Court Guys, Strike whilst the Iron is, HOT.

 

AC

[zazen.warrior]

Sent one to my MP.

[dcakiller]

Good letter but we need to keep up the presure on our mp's and make them put presure on the oft and ico to enforce the rules against the dca's and not just have tea and scones and a cosy chat, where the dca's blame keying error or rouge staff and promise to do better just to do exactly the same latter on

[Halifax Hell]

I'm tempted to write to my MP, but that would be Hazel Blears.

 

Not sure which is worse - the DCAs, or the corrupt MPs.

[izzitme101]

dont just send them to oyur local mp, send a copy to each opposition party in your area, and make sure to cc it, so your mp can see its been sent to the other parties.

If you can make the parties fight about it among each other, its more likely that something will be done, specially with a general election on the horizon.

[tosh1]

I'm also going to one to my mp and oppositioon parties. well done.

[angel_1]

dont just send them to oyur local mp, send a copy to each opposition party in your area, and make sure to cc it, so your mp can see its been sent to the other parties.

If you can make the parties fight about it among each other, its more likely that something will be done, specially with a general election on the horizon.

 

 

hiya have clicked on your scales too, good idea, so any party that may be trying to get our vote in our area you mean?

 

cheers angel x

[Uptotheneck]

Hi Guy's

 

 

 

Can you only write to a specific MP? or could I write to all the MP's in Sheffield?

 

 

 

Regards

 

David

[babybear39]

The more the merrier but try not to make it look like a template letter

[Uptotheneck]

Thats brilliant

 

 

Thank you

[the main man]

Andrew MacKinlay MP for Thurrock is a good point of contact, he has raised the issue of DCA's behaviour in Parliament several times.

 

http://www.andrewmackinlay.co.uk/news.htm News release 24th April

Edited July 23, 2009 by the main man

[t-star]

Slightly amended copy has been sent to my local MP.....Lets keep it going and see if we can get them to really listen to the electorate....

 

 

t-star

[alfwithhair]

Done. Sent to local MP and all MEP's for my area.

Added a few other companies to the list like Crapbot and Robbersway

[citizenB]

Vince Cable, LibDem is another good one to write to:D

[alfwithhair]

is a problem with the link in that letter

all you get is

Error - page not found

 

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