The money shop send lovely black and yellow postcards

[fairclaire]

I may have mentioned this on some other threads....

 

I had a long running loan with the money shop....same as lots of others I've read on here.....spent months and months paying nothing but the rollover fee until at xmas I just couldnt do it anymore. I reported my chequebook as lost ( as they were holding 3 x £100 cheques). reported one debit card lost and got a replacement, had a fight to get my other debit card replaced and gave up...the money shop have both debit card details as I have paid the rollover fee using both.

 

I wrote to them immeadiately making an offer of payment (35/month) and also asking for contact in writing only. Since I defaulted I've recieved several phonecalls everday. The highest is 14 on my mobile. They have called my work 7 times in the last week, despite my boss (lovely, understanding chap) asking them kindly not to ring back.

 

Yesterday i recieved a lovely postcard.....yes the kind where the postman and whoever else has seen it can see it's from the money shop. It had black and yellow stripes around the edges and blatantly said 'We have tried unsuccessfully to contact you regarding your outstanding debt. We have now arranged for an agent to call on you on 22nd january (the day before I got the lovely postcard) please call us on blah blah to avoid a visit from our agent'

 

I got a letter the same day with the usual threats of court action, passing debt on to DCA etc..

 

What I'm absolutely mortified about is the postcard. Can they do this?? it's like advertising that I owe them money. Does anyone know if this is legal?

 

I have replied with a telephone harassment letter sort of merged with a threatened doorstep collection letter. And have sent a second letter again offering the repayment I can afford.

 

If anyone else has had any dealings with these people would be glad of advice. But would just be glad of any advice on that vulgar postcard

Edited January 25, 2010 by fairclaire

[MARTIN3030]

Its in blatant breach of OFT guidelines on debt collection.

I would also say its a breach of further regulatory codes.

Can you say what date you informed them you was in difficulty with repayments ? Did you keep a copy and proof of posting ?

We may need some more info-please keep your eye on your post here.

[fairclaire]

i sent the first letter stating my difficulties and offer of repayment on 21st dec (recorded....have had help from peeps on here bfore:|) allowing for xmas post etc they should still have got in the new year.

 

I did expect hassle of course. The postcrad thing just threw me as i found it...well vulgar, as i said before

[MARTIN3030]

Yes understand.

Do you still have this postcard ?

Would be interesting to see it.

I am sending you message.

[fairclaire]

Might be repeating myself here? I will scan and post to you tomorrow. Scanner is in the bedroom where my other half is asleep....he would be well chuffed if i started faffing about with equipment at this time of night.....he thinks CAG stands for Caire Always Gets (what she wants:):))

[MARTIN3030]

Ha Ha...well lets hope he can say that in this situation its what Claire needs to do.

Edited January 25, 2010 by MARTIN3030
after thoughts.

[42man]

Most disturbing story....I would without fail report them to Trading Standards, the OFT and your local MP...it is clearly a multiple breach of the OFT's guidelines...and write down all the dates and times they call...

[fairclaire]

[fairclaire]

Sorry for the delay in posting the postcard....late home from work.

 

This is the lovely postcard. I am still fizzing about it and have decided to report it to OFT and Trading Standards.

 

I had been working away most of last week and my boss told me this morning they have rung work at least 6 times on thurs and fri despite being told I would not be there. They rang again today and I answered myself. I told them that fairclaire would be unlikely to be at work for the forseeable future and could they kindly stop ringing.

 

They should get the telephone harassment letter tomorrow so we'll see

[MARTIN3030]

Ok Thanks for this.

I am in the middle of putting something together for you also.

[nonymouse]

subbing to this thread as I have had a similarly revealing postcard today from 'McKenzie Hall trading as Connect' and I'd like to take action against them - letters is one thing, but a bright red postcard advertising to my postman and my housemates that I have 'an outstanding debt' is quite another...

[MARTIN3030]

Looks like we will have to start a thread for these not-so-Traditional and welcome postcards.

[fairclaire]

Things are getting worse with this lot! The postcard was bad enough...

 

Have checked royal mail and they recieved my telephone harassment/doorstep threat today but it obviously has yet to find it's way to the correct person.

 

They have been plaguing my work phone with calls. I'm not at my desk an awful lot so my colleagues have been picking up the calls. It got so bad today that i had to come clean to my manager (he picks up most of the calls) and give him a rough outline of what was going on. Luckily he's a lovely, understanding chap but it was humiliating nontheless. They have been told several times that I won't be there but it's not making any difference! have assured my boss that I'm dealing with it....so I do hope they take notice of the letter and at least stop calling work. I can ignore mobile and home calls.

 

They haven't given any details when they've left messages but they have said where they are calling from so I'm sure everyone in my office knows by now i have some sort of money problems:mad:

[fairclaire]

Looks like the telephone harassment letter worked. I had 2 calls to my mob early this morning and 1 at work......then nothing!! I imagine the letter found it's way to the collections department, well i like to think so anyway.

 

Am now in the process of sorting out complaints about the postcard.

[MARTIN3030]

Good.First I think you should give them opportunity to explain why it was sent (or specifically why they thought it appropriate to add the wording which drew attention to its purpose)

 

I have a letter which will address not only this,but the other issues too.

Once they have given a response,I would then look to making the official complaint to the regulators.

[Sneeqz]

I had one of these cards come through my door, i live with my parents and as you can imagine i was not happy! - I furiously contacted The Money Shop and complained to their "customer care team" and to be fair they did handle my complaint well, have you thought about complaining to The Money Shop? - don't ring the number on the card though as you'll just get one of their debt advisors.

[fairclaire]

I recieved another of these postcards on saturday. No wording added this time and was in different handwriting. Apparently I will now be visited tomorrow (9th Feb)

 

I am still recieveing phonecalls as well although the frequency has died down.

 

All this despite a letter about the calls and threats of a visit and a further letter reminding them that they are still calling me despite my first letter!

 

I have also sent them a budget sheet and offer of repayment to which I've had no response at all.

 

I am going to write to them tonight asking about the postcards and specifically why the extra wording was added to the first one. If I get no response or an unsatisfactory one then it's trading standards.

[robjam1969]

Hi Claire

 

If they turn up just tell them to go away. If they won't phone the police (not 999) you are under no obligation to talk to them.

 

I would be tempted to just refuse to pay them and ask them to take you to court. Most of these companies won't and those that do just chicken out when it gets to the AQ stage (Tower/DCL etc). I would certainly make life difficult for them in view of their behaviour.

 

It really depends if you havethe stomach for the fight and to ensure they get what they deserve (nothing). Assume you have lodged those complaints

[Sneeqz]

When i complained i addressed my complaint directly to their compliance department to ensure it didn't get passed the department who sent the card - i was then contacted from their customer care/compliance department.

[fairclaire]

Hi Claire

 

If they turn up just tell them to go away. If they won't phone the police (not 999) you are under no obligation to talk to them.

 

I would be tempted to just refuse to pay them and ask them to take you to court. Most of these companies won't and those that do just chicken out when it gets to the AQ stage (Tower/DCL etc). I would certainly make life difficult for them in view of their behaviour.

 

It really depends if you havethe stomach for the fight and to ensure they get what they deserve (nothing). Assume you have lodged those complaints

 

i would certainly tell them to go away! have no problem with that.Incidentally I was at home all day on the 9th...and guess what? no-one did turn up. I wasn't surprised in the least.

 

Have no problem either with making an arrangement to pay what I owe.....but these goons want it all in one go and if they can't have that they are not willing to listen to anything else. Have tried to be reasonable but it's got me nowhere.

 

As for stomach...mine is cast iron these days:D. Have gone into financial meltdown in less than 3 months just because life stinks sometimes...I'll cope:)

[kingpin88]

At least you're keeping high spirits!

[fairclaire]

high spirits? well you have to don't you

 

have just reported this lot to trading standards and ofcom over the telephone harassment...i had enough.

 

they ignored every offer of payment and today sent me a default notice for the amount owed plus a whopping £275 in charges

[MARTIN3030]

Thank you Marc-I have a better idea.

Like Magic we will make you disappear instead.