Brighthouse wanting a months payment up front

[MBMB11]

Ok cut a long story short. ive been off work sick and for the past 3 months and brighthouse have been getting their payment from me 3 or 4 weeks overdue during this time. I let them know, and i pay up to date when i get paid (which has been haphazard due to my employers cocking up my pay). I am in the same situation again, and am going to pay what i owe again on friday (3 weeks payments). I have told them this. they are now saying that when i pay they also want me to pay a months worth in advance because of my payment history for the past couple of months. can they enforce this? i cant afford to pay a month in advance as well as what i owe! before this time id always paid on time every week. any advice would be most helpful.

[PGH7447]

what does it say on your terms and conditions?

[MBMB11]

i know that on most hp agreements you pay in advance, at the beginning of the agreement with brighthouse you pay a week in advance, in fact, you pay on the day you make the agreement and then weekly, even if the item doesnt get delivered to you until 2-3 weeks after. Im just wondering if they can insist on a MONTHS worth of fees in advance when my agreement with them is to pay weekly?

Edited March 25, 2010 by MBMB11

[Eagle Eyed]

Ok, on your Hire Purchase Agreement, in the section entitled "Key Financial Information", it states:

 

"D - Total Amount Payable £XXXX.XX, to be paid by XXX Weekly payments of £XX.XX commencing on ."

 

In black and white, that is a LEGAL document and does NOT say "Month in Advance" at ANY time.

 

Furthermore, in the Terms and Conditions For BrightHouse Hire Purchase Agreement, at NO TIME does it specify that multiple advance payments can be demanded. Section 5 - Payments and Section 9 - If You Breach This Agreement are the pertinent portions relating to this.

 

So, MBMB11, no they cannot demand a month's payment in advance.

[MBMB11]

thanks eagle eyed. i went in today, they demanded the months payment. i told them thats not what i owe, im only paying what i owe. they then said i had to pay a week in advance, again i refused. they then said they would only accept what i owed if i signed a form agreeing to forfeit my goods if i fell behind. again i refused to sign this. they then tryed to tell me that if i payed what i owed id be a week behind! i stood firm, told them that if they didnt accept my payment then they can take me to court. and guess what, they accepted the payment! thanks for the help. these people are really terrible bullies that tell awful lies to try and pressurise people into agreeing to things that really shouldnt be agreeing to. i am very greatful for all the useful posts on here and the wonderful advice given.

[Eagle Eyed]

Excellent.

 

This is the best way of dealing with them - stand your ground, be polite but firm, and do not take just accept what they're trying to get you to do.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Eagle Eyed

[PGH7447]

well done

[thereverend80]

Hi!

 

Im new to this forum so forgive me if im posting where i shouldnt be!

 

Ive been having alot of problems with brighthouse (who hasnt?) And i have taken alot of advice from this forum and i can honestly say that had i not read the advice given to other members i would literally be a nervous wreck trying to clear off my arrears.

 

I "bought" a sofa from Brighthouse at the end of last year and have had no problems paying until very recently.

 

I moved house and with the hassle and stress that brings i had completely forgotten to make my usual weekly payment.

 

But that didnt stop the "Account Manager" calling me the very next day demanding an immediate payment.

 

i pay £21 per week and with there charges added and the extra week i was suddenly asked to pay £68. He told me to come into the store on the Tuesday to pay the amount. Which i agreed do. HOWEVER! on the tuesday my payments didnt go in the bank and i didnt have the money to pay them. First thing in the morning i was contacted by brighthouse and after telling them that i wouldnt be able to make payment on that day but could pay on thursday i was told that they would be coming to collect the goods.

 

Someone did come out but to be honest i felt that threatened that i didnt answer the door. He posted a letter throught the door saying i needed to discuss my account.

 

The following day i recieved a stamped addressed letter saying my account was in arrears of £68 pound. THE VERY SAME DAY i was in receipt of more banging on my front door and then a letter through the door saying i now owe £168!!!

 

This is the point i started reading the forums and found that there was alot of people in the same boat as me!

 

With this new knowledge i felt alot better but everytime they called out i was out myself so couldnt give them a piece of my mind.

 

Today was the last straw when on my answer machine i listened to a message from brighthouse! Which went like this , and i quote, "Hello. This is XXXXXX the account manager at Brighthouse. You need to bring your account up to date by 12 oclock today or i will be out at 4 to collect the goods and if you are not in we will involve the police!"

 

Id had enough. I got the number for customer services and logged a complaint. Told them everything and now it is in their hands!

 

How can so many similar stories not be screaming at the top dogs like a fire alarm???

 

I read so many stories on here and really felt for them as i have witnessed first hand what they can be like. Interestingly though, this afternoon (before 4pm) there was another letter through my door saying they had come to collect the goods and i now owed £90??? Is it common knowledge that Brighthouse sometimes invent prices??

 

Many thanks for your time!