Mercers Not Cashing Cheques

[MoneyOne]

Hi all - I work for a small debt management service, we're having an issue where Mercers are suddenly refusing to cash cheques for Barclaycard accounts - are they under an obligation to?

 

Thanks!

[42man]

It's a good question. I would suggest that it goes someway to saying that the debtors have at least made an effort to pay, but it probably screws up the balance sheets / taxation position. It must be a nightmare for Mercers, although I thought they were part of Barclays/Barclaycard....I presume you have spoken to Barclaycard ?

[MoneyOne]

It's a good question. I would suggest that it goes someway to saying that the debtors have at least made an effort to pay, but it probably screws up the balance sheets / taxation position. It must be a nightmare for Mercers, although I thought they were part of Barclays/Barclaycard....I presume you have spoken to Barclaycard ?

 

 

In the past I've found that Mercers are OK with cashing cheques - today's refusal is unusual, we've been told by a rep at Mercers to transfer everything over from Mercers to Barclaycard, a not-impossible task but still some time out of my day! I've noticed Mercers haven't cashed any cheques sent from us on behalf of our clients in November?

 

I suppose what I'm asking is, is there any specific legal obligation for Mercers themselves (not Barclaycard) to cash these?

 

 

Thanks!

[Bazooka Boo]

Mercers are Barclays.

[MoneyOne]

Mercers are Barclays.

 

Barclaycard surely?

[Bazooka Boo]

Barclays & Barclaycard, both use Mercers and Credit solutions as their DCA's, when really they are their own In-house Collection Agency.

[MoneyOne]

So should we switch over all our accounts from Mercers to Barclaycard? The irritating thing is, this has obviously put dozens of clients accounts out of whack as they refused to cash cheques last month! Nice one Mercers! After years of cashing OK...

[Bazooka Boo]

So should we switch over all our accounts from Mercers to Barclaycard?

 

I'm certainly in no position to recommend this course of action, your dealing with them, I'm surprised that a Debt management service wouldn't know who they are dealing with, after all, they only use 'alleged solicitors/collection agencies' to intimidate the debtor and exploit their lack of knowledge.

 

I would like to think that if I ever needed the services of a DMC they would at least be more savvy than I?

[MoneyOne]

I'm certainly in no position to recommend this course of action, your dealing with them, I'm surprised that a Debt management service wouldn't know who they are dealing with, after all, they only use 'alleged solicitors/collection agencies' to intimidate the debtor and exploit their lack of knowledge.

 

I would like to think that if I ever needed the services of a DMC they would at least be more savvy than I?

 

 

Cheers! OK, I'll put it more simply - I'm very much aware that Mercers are the collection side of Barclaycard - the issue is that we print cheques out to 'Mercers' which has been fine for many years, and we've today been told by Mercers that they will no longer cash cheques made out to Mercers - does anyone helpful know if there is specific legislation that forces Mercers to cash these, as they have now made a lot of trouble for our clients by not cashing them.

[Deb T]

Cheers! OK, I'll put it more simply - I'm very much aware that Mercers are the collection side of Barclaycard - the issue is that we print cheques out to 'Mercers' which has been fine for many years, and we've today been told by Mercers that they will no longer cash cheques made out to Mercers - does anyone helpful know if there is specific legislation that forces Mercers to cash these, as they have now made a lot of trouble for our clients by not cashing them.

 

 

I doubt there is any legislation that requires a person/body to cash cheques sent to them but what is the problem with simply making out cheques to another party? i.e Barclaycard direct? presumably the debts are still being paid to you and your'e passing them on (minus any fees you may take)

 

There may be something in here that may apply

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

 

Under section 2.8 Section C, E & H

 

Is is your Debt Management Service alone or is it a block policy that Mercers have recently introduced?

[MoneyOne]

I doubt there is any legislation that requires a person/body to cash cheques sent to them but what is the problem with simply making out cheques to another party? i.e Barclaycard direct? presumably the debts are still being paid to you and your'e passing them on (minus any fees you may take)

 

There may be something in here that may apply

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

 

Under section 2.8 Section C, E & H

 

Is is your Debt Management Service alone or is it a block policy that Mercers have recently introduced?

 

 

The main problem is, Mercers (wearing their Mercers hat) will expect us to send financial statements to them, not Barclaycard - but will then expect cheques to be made out to Barclaycard & sent to a different address - not the most efficient way of doing things.

 

Cheers for the info!

[PGH7447]

well contact mercers and ask them why the sudden change, dont want to be rude but a Debt management agency should at least know what is going on with Thier Clients payments, because if you dont it is not you that gets it in the neck but the poor debtor, who is after all paying a fee for what they could in effect do themselves for free

[MoneyOne]

well contact mercers and ask them why the sudden change, dont want to be rude but a Debt management agency should at least know what is going on with Thier Clients payments, because if you dont it is not you that gets it in the neck but the poor debtor, who is after all paying a fee for what they could in effect do themselves for free

 

 

Couple of points;

 

1) Speaking to Mercers will guarantee nothing but me spending ten minutes speaking to a slack-jawed moron who will tell me black is white to get me off the phone

 

2)We very much 'get it in the neck' from creditors - they are every bit as rude & obnoxious to us as they are to our clients, and in many cases more so!

 

3)I'm noticing a trend here to demonise DMC's! Yes, people can certainly 'deal themselves' - the vast majority of our clients do, after a few months, after we have shown them the way forward, advised them in detail of how to deal with their creditors, advised about this forum, how to write SAR requests, asked their creditors for CCA info, filled in court forms for them, reassured them, asked if they have spoken to CAB (and heard the reply many times that yes they have spent three weeks now attempting to get a five-minute appointment!), mopped up after CCCS have flopped... I could go on! And all for less than many of them pay for their Sky TV...

 

I could fix my car myself - I don't, I pay a fee to get it fixed, because I am busy working all day for a living - the same reason our clients pay us a fee!

 

DMC's aren't the bad guys here - let's leave that role to the DCA's please!

[PGH7447]

Couple of points;

 

1) Speaking to Mercers will guarantee nothing but me spending ten minutes speaking to a slack-jawed moron who will tell me black is white to get me off the phone - agree with ya there:)

2)We very much 'get it in the neck' from creditors - they are every bit as rude & obnoxious to us as they are to our clients, and in many cases more so! - true they can be we do get a fair amount on here who take the advice and run

 

3)I'm noticing a trend here to demonise DMC's! Yes, people can certainly 'deal themselves' - the vast majority of our clients do, after a few months, after we have shown them the way forward, advised them in detail of how to deal with their creditors, advised about this forum, how to write SAR requests, asked their creditors for CCA info, filled in court forms for them, reassured them, asked if they have spoken to CAB (and heard the reply many times that yes they have spent three weeks now attempting to get a five-minute appointment!), mopped up after CCCS have flopped... I could go on! And all for less than many of them pay for their Sky TV...

 

I could fix my car myself - I don't, I pay a fee to get it fixed, because I am busy working all day for a living - the same reason our clients pay us a fee!

 

DMC's aren't the bad guys here - let's leave that role to the DCA's please!

I think the demonise thing is that you came on asking a question that many would on here assume you would know the answer to

 

IMHO - tell mercers they are the ones chasing so the cheque is made out to them, you never know maybe sharkleycard are cutting back and mercers are getting the boot, well we can all live in hope:lol:

[PGH7447]

Also we do get quite a few DMC "Trolls:rolleyes:" on here trying to sell their wares

[MoneyOne]

Also we do get quite a few DMC "Trolls:rolleyes:" on here trying to sell their wares

 

 

I'm not in the sales line, and I've got all the business I need!

 

Of topic of this thread, but... if everyone was a machine, then the only thing needed would be this excellent site. But people are people, and in many cases a voiceless website is just too intimidating - people want a voice to tell them that everything will be OK - all respect to CCCS etc but they are stretched to capacity (I speak from experience of working there) - I work for a smakll company that is able to take the time to inform AND reassure - and I recommend this site to all.

[PGH7447]

good, however we are a friendly bunch really, and a lot of people prefer a faceless forum

[Bazooka Boo]

Now I'm a little less weary of you...... Why not ring up Barclays, and ask them why their in-house collection arm has informed you to make out cheques direct to Barclays and not Mercers?

[the_shadow]

There was a thread on here, quite a while ago now that asked a question about Mercers... because its a "dormant company" in the eyes of company house then officially it couldnt file accounts, hence if cheques were made out to mercers and then cashed and passed to barclays then the accounts should be filed at the end of the year. As this has not been happening this was thought to be an offense under the companies act I believe.

 

I believe the OP made a complaint/query to companies house who said they would look into it, not sure if it IS connected but could be a reason?

 

S.

[MoneyOne]

Now I'm a little less weary of you...... Why not ring up Barclays, and ask them why their in-house collection arm has informed you to make out cheques direct to Barclays and not Mercers?

 

 

Sure enough, when I spoke to one of the monkeys (after being asked for my account number about 18 times)I was told I would need to speak to the accounts department who only speak to customers! Unfortunately this company is one we've never had a DPA agreement with, so its next to impossible to get someone in authority on the phone.

[MoneyOne]

There was a thread on here, quite a while ago now that asked a question about Mercers... because its a "dormant company" in the eyes of company house then officially it couldnt file accounts, hence if cheques were made out to mercers and then cashed and passed to barclays then the accounts should be filed at the end of the year. As this has not been happening this was thought to be an offense under the companies act I believe.

 

I believe the OP made a complaint/query to companies house who said they would look into it, not sure if it IS connected but could be a reason?

 

S.

 

 

Now that's interesting... I wonder if that's the cause of this stoppage.

[the_shadow]

Found it at last.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collection-industry/215612-i-think-i-may.html

 

S.

[MoneyOne]

Found it at last.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collection-industry/215612-i-think-i-may.html

 

S.

 

 

Ah! Many thanks!

[MoneyOne]

Checking today, and they've cashed Decembers - after reading that thread I thought maybe Barclays had jumped on Mercers & asked them to specify no cheques being sent in their name - but if they've now started cashing again, I've no idea...