Door stop collection - what do I do??

[sybtik]

Hi, I have 2 questions/issues really that I hope someone can advise me on...

 

I've posted before re: Mercers - they phone me constantly (recently 2/2 times a day but has been upto 8 in the past), changing numbers practically every time and have resorted to becoming quite nasty on the phone with me so I'll speak to them. I usually just answer it and walk away otherwise I'll end up saying something stupid . On Wednesday I spoke to them and said I would like everything in writing from now on - I dont wish to be contacted by telephone. Her reply was that they are a call centre based company so they cant send out any information in writing.....(rubbish as i've had letters in the past). Is there anything else I can do? Where do I go now? THey are still phoning.

 

Second issue is that Reliable Collections have sent me a letter this morning about a door stop collection to recover monies owed.....are they allowed to do this? I've already told both of these companies that I am dealing with CAB at the mo (financial advisor from CAB has also sent letters). Can I stop them before they come or once they're here can I tell them I dont want to speak to them?

 

I'm quite worried about this letter I received this morning. Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

Thankyou!!

[BankFodder]

1) get a Truecall

 

2) The Consumer Forums - Debt collectors (esp. article 21)

[ScabHunter]

What you should do in the overall situation you are in now depends on many different factors. To give any sensible advice, we would need to know a lot more than you have told us here.

 

Be careful with the CAB. They don't always give the greatest of advice although they are a genuine organization and do try. Too often, they operate from the position that whatever a big, bad financial institution says must be right, when we all know that all too often it isn't.

 

On to the specifics. How you handle threats to your communications security depends on your resources and your objectives. If you receive nuisance calls from any religious, political or commercial organization, I recommend that you follow the procedure in the British Telecom Phone Book. Do not even dignify the **** with a response of any sort. When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, he intended it to be used by human beings.

 

To stop the nuisance completely, I recommend you get hold of a trueCall. If that is outside of your price range, or if the telephone is not important enough to you for you to spend this money, there are other solutions. You can leave the plug pulled out of the wall, treat your landline as a throwaway number, and get a Skype number for your private communications. Or, if you are like me and absolutely never receive anything other than nuisance calls, you can just remove the plug and forget about it.

 

Doorstep harassment is another issue where the best procedure is to ignore the cretins completely. It is their fuel and time they are wasting. By all means send them the 'doorstep harassment' letter from the template library first.

 

How you should handle an actual visit depends on what security systems you have in place. Do you have CCTV? Do you have any monitoring equipment? Do you have a video camera or a cell phone which can record short video clips? Do you have a window through which you can shout to a personal caller?

 

In 99% of cases, these pests are relatively harmless. Once you tell them to disappear, they do. I have only ever said two words to doorstep pests in my life, and the second one was "off". The dickhead then stood outside the door writing on a piece of paper for a few minutes before inserting it through my letterbox. I simply wrote on the piece of paper - "Your operative appears to have dropped his litter through my letterbox", and sent it back to them in one of their prepaid envelopes.

 

It does have to be mentioned that there has been one incident reported on this forum recently where a thug did go way over the top, and actually violated the property rights of the alleged debtor. It is best if any "communication" occurs without you actually opening the door, if any occurs at all. Although there are no problems in the vast majority of cases, it is prudent to be as safety minded as possible.

 

You could deal with these cretins in the same way I dealt with the nuisance door-to-door salesmen who used to irritate this neighbourhood a few years ago. The first thing I did was go on to the Internet and find a very expensive affiliate program for a business course. The one I chose was a Forex trading course costing $997 a month! I signed up to the affiliate network, which is free, and then set up a website using a free hosting provider.

 

I then put up a sign on my door saying "Fed Up With Being A Door-To-Door Salesidiot And Being Ignored Like This? Visit to see how you can earn a fortune sitting at home in your pyjamas, and not have to deal with miserable residents like us!"

 

Next, I got an old stereo speaker and positioned it just inside my front door. As soon as one of the sales idiots knocked on my door, I would turn the message on, rather loudly. In my best fake American accent - "Fed Up With Being A Door-To-Door Salesidiot, And Being Ignored Like This....."

 

They never got to sell to me, but I sure as hell got to sell to them. It's just a shame none of the buggers ever bought the affiliate offer!

 

SH

[sybtik]

Thanks, does truecall work with mobiles aswell? Its my mobile Mercer's keep ringing me on.

 

I assume from article 21 I dont have to speak to them or acknowledge why they're there other than to give them the letter?

[mr.ton]

Stop talking to them on the phone & refuse to answer security questions if they phone you.

They have no legal powers over you whatsoever.

[sybtik]

In reply to Scabhunter - the CAB have been very good with me, I know a lot of people previously told me to forget them they bow down to the demands however my advisor has been very good (so far anyway!).

 

Truecall is a little expensive for me, I'm unsure whether it works with mobiles aswell as its mostly my mobile they are ringing.

 

As for the doorstep, I dont have any security measures other than an overfriendly lab lol. No CCTV, or monitoring equip, dont even have a chain on the door (not able to get one either) not able to see the front door from the window so I'm left to opening it to find out who it is....that being said I do have video function on my mobile so I can use that...

 

Thanks for your advice

[mr.ton]

They have no powers whatsoever..if anyone turn up (highly unliklely) then just tell them to leave & call the police if they refuse.

[sybtik]

Also the doorstop harrassment letter it mentions English law, does this letter still stand in Scotland?

[dx100uk]

you dont seem to have info on what these debts are all about in any of your threads.

 

have you cca'ed these jokers that keep chasing for your various debts?

 

if not

DO IT NOW

 

dx

[dx100uk]

scotland..

 

not allowed fullstop!

 

dx

[sybtik]

So because I'm in Scotland they can't enforce this at all??

 

Mercers is Barclaycard CC Owed £857. Reliable have now taken from Home shopping direct balance is now at £1400. I am going to sound pretty stupid but cca'ed????

[Blondmusic]

Thanks, does truecall work with mobiles aswell? Its my mobile Mercer's keep ringing me on.

 

I assume from article 21 I dont have to speak to them or acknowledge why they're there other than to give them the letter?

 

A lot of mobile phones have a call recording facility. Have a look at your phones manual or through the phone itself. If you have a large memory card in the phone (2GB or more) then you will be able to store long calls on the phone. Most Sony Ericsson phones have the call recording facility but i am not sure about other phones.

[ashmk]

But just to be safe you may want to move your doorstep away from your property in case they try to collect it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[dx100uk]

So because I'm in Scotland they can't enforce this at all??

 

Mercers is Barclaycard CC Owed £857. Reliable have now taken from Home shopping direct balance is now at £1400. I am going to sound pretty stupid but cca'ed????

 

didn't say they cant enforce it , but doorstep callers in scotland are i think not allowed.

 

have you fired off a CCA request on these?

 

dx

[sybtik]

What is a CCA request??

 

Will look for my phone manual - Thanks Blondmusic

[dx100uk]

i think you need to do some general reading up on a few things.

 

there is a search in the blue bar at the top of this forum page & also FAQ's etc etc on the homepage.

 

dx

[sybtik]

Thanks

[cerberusalert]

dont even have a chain on the door (not able to get one either)

Most Hardware shops sell them, even Poundland. Failing that have a word with the Crime Prevention Officer, some Police Forces have crime prevention schemes where they'll supply and fit security chains, door viewers etc.

[Blondmusic]

But just to be safe you may want to move your doorstep away from your property in case they try to collect it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder where they are storing all the doorstops they are collecting.

 

I would love to see them collect my doorstep. Not only will they have to get past my German Shepherd dog but my house is owned by the local council so if they collect my doorstep they will have the council on their backs PMSL.

[sybtik]

Lol Blondmusic....I dont actually have a door step as such - wonder how that works?!

 

In reply to cerberusalert - I cant get a chain on the door cause of the material its made out of....wouldnt be able to attach it but thanks for advice.

 

I've got letters printed and ready to send both to cca both, telephone harrassment for mercer's and the doorstop letters (thankyou all for templates). My next question - is it worth my while to pay a bit extra and send them all recorded delivery??

 

Thankyou!

[lee32uk]

Lol Blondmusic....I dont actually have a door step as such - wonder how that works?!

 

In reply to cerberusalert - I cant get a chain on the door cause of the material its made out of....wouldnt be able to attach it but thanks for advice.

 

I've got letters printed and ready to send both to cca both, telephone harrassment for mercer's and the doorstop letters (thankyou all for templates). My next question - is it worth my while to pay a bit extra and send them all recorded delivery??

 

Thankyou!

 

Yes send them recorded then you have proof of delivery If you dont they may deny receiving the letter

[sybtik]

Thanks for all the advice. Quick update and question....

 

I sent 2 telephone harrassment letters out (1 of which has *fingers crossed* worked) and 2 doorstop collection letters. I got a letter back from Reliable Collections this morning saying...

 

Dear Sybtik,

 

In response to your letter dated 6/11/09 we would like to take the oppotunity to inform you an appointment has been made to visit your home on Wednesday.

 

Are they allowed to just make an appointment to turn up?

 

Cheers

[lickthewallfatboy]

making an appointment with themselves

 

these people should be comedians!!

[sybtik]

Shall I take that as a no? lol

[ScabHunter]

A quick look at the OneLook Online Dictionary shows "appointment" as meaning "the thing arranged or agreed to."

 

What were those last two words again? That's right - agreed to.

 

Time to fire off the necessary complaints. Consumer Direct, OFT etc.

 

As far as the possibility of the thugs turning up on your doorstep, my own advice is always to keep the door firmly shut and locked. Ignore the idiot. It is their time and their fuel that they are wasting.

 

Much of the reasoning is due to psychology. Doorstep visits are designed to intimidate and provoke a reaction. If you give them no reaction whatsoever, you defeat their purpose to the fullest possible degree. Even if you tell them to something off they have still disturbed you enough to provoke a reaction, and at a deep level that will still give them some degree of satisfaction.

 

There is nothing more deflating to a bully than having to skulk away with the knowledge that the intended victim couldn't even be bothered to raise a fly-swat to get rid of them.

 

The reference is Dr. Eric Berne's "The Games People Play." - "It is amazing how many people stop throwing the ball when you stop making an effort to catch it."

 

SH