EGGS pet DLC ~ Direct Legal Collections ADVICE PLEASE!

[HoneyBunny69]

Hi folks!

 

I've read many threads here on the wonderful and charming company DLC, but nothing quite matches my problem with them.

 

Where to start!

Years ago now i defaulted on purpose via Egg as i was ill, couldn't work and they were piling on charges so fast my head was spinning!

With that done i arranged a payment plan, unfortunately my financialcircumstances got far worse, i had other debts and Egg being the most expensive to pay per month, well i failed to pay.....So in come DLC

 

This is where my story starts to differ, i already knew my rights to a degree and quickly and easily sorted out another payment plan which i have paid faithfully for sometime now, and every 6 months or so they call to raise the payment in line with when the benefits DWP increase, Very Sneaky but i can't blame them and to be fair i'm getting extra and so should they

 

BUT the usual fella i spoke to suddenly changed, i now have a woman (i like to call her nasty cow) and i've had problems with her, BUT i have dealt with it as again no my rights to a degree and already had a long faithful payment history with them, however it all changed in Feb this year when i had a letter from solicitors to say i was receiving inheritance.

Now this is from someone i hardly know, an Auntie of sorts i believe, that part of the family are largely estranged. I did not know how much i'd be getting and it has gone to probate.

Stupidly, in my excitement i rang a number of my debters to see what amount i'd have to pay back if i could offer a bulk payment, the offers ranged from 10% 20% off the total debt! All were happy to talk to me about this "possibility" Note the possibility, because when i rang DLC the Nasty Cow took it upon herself to not hear the word possibility and decided i was getting the money soon and a lot of it, despite saying it might be £50 for all i know, £20 even!!

She apparently drew up an official document/agreement.

 

Now, here's where it gets really sticky..... I have not received this inheritance yet, but i have found out it probably won't be much. BUT i already informed DLC i didn't know how much, i just wanted to know what percentage they'd be able to take off the debt!

 

Yesterday 4th Nov 2009 i received a call from nasty lady, who was well......Nasty! She claimed i'm on record (as all calls are taped apparently) as agreeing this and agreeing that and have defaulted on the agreement, she says she gave me 3 months grace (last i was told she just said she'd call in 3 months to see if i got paid the inheritance and to find out if it was a good sum of money) AND that Egg are not happy with my account and no longer agree with the amount i'm paying.

She now wants proof i receive benefits, AND the letter i had from the solicitors saying i will be receiving inheritance!!!

 

Now i certainly don't mind providing proof of benefits, or any other financial details that are relative to my debts and how they would effect payments to themselves, BUT this solicitor thing seems...well really strange and to be honest she was such a bully when i got off the phone from her i just sobbed.

All this because i rang in Feb asking a simple question! She's also un-amused because she wants a payment increase. Well my debt is now approx £2500 (i say approx because i do not receive a regular statement from them) and i pay £50 a month.

 

I'm just wondering if i have any rights here, it just seems too much and i cannot afford to pay anymore. If i send proof of my benefits without the solicitors letter, will she have the right to not honour my long standing payment agreement and thus get me in hot water with Egg, which is what she's threatening?

 

Also, when she wants to get hold of me, she calls my home regularly, speaks to my Mom usually (she has been told to call my mobile by myself and my Mom) and tells me to call urgently with no explanation of why, and is often very "off" with my Mom.

 

Can't think of anything else to add, phew!

 

Any advice greatly appreciated!

[Mistermind]

It is evident the nasty cow is also a nasty bully, pushing for as much as possible on spec, making empty threats and causing distress to no purpose until the inheritance materialises. Such debt chasers are set targets, some with bonuses, and some chasers get over-zealous and overstep the line in the sand drawn by the OFT. There are other Forum rooms here specialising in such situation.

 

The worst a DCA can do is to take you to court for a CCJ. Living on benefit you will not be assigned a repayment scheme steeper than what you are on now. If this did go to court, if your inheritance turns out to be a surprise windfall, and if the judge demanded full disclosure of said windfall, then partial repayment terms for full settlement could be imposed upon you. So a court appearance could cut both ways.

 

It is unfortunate that the bully in her imagination has fixated on this bone. If her foaming at the mouth cannot be contained, go to www.companieshouse.gov.uk. For a price of maximum £5 you can search for her company and obtain the full name and private address of the Company Secretary legally answerable to the law. It may be possible with a little digging to find the phone number of said C.S.

 

If the bully will not listen to reason, you could contact the C.S. direct by letter and phone, to demonstrate that two can play this game. It would be very unlikely the C.S. will be equally foolhardy jeopardising the DCA's licence renewable annually by the OFT.

 

Once you have the name of the C.S., simply mentioning this name and your intended next step may be enough to turn a mad cow sane.

 

Good luck.

[HoneyBunny69]

Thank you, i will try that!

I know i'm not supposed to get rattled or scared, but blimey she's a hard nut to crack!

[meols cop]

Were there any charges on your account? And if so have you reclaimed them?