Hamptons Legal chasing OH's cat debt

[linzi2011]

My husband took out a catalogue a couple of years ago and thanks to the charges hasn't been able to afford the repayments.

 

 

The original amount was around £150

 

 

now Hamptons want £403.80!

 

 

He has been ignoring the letters that have been from lowell first

then on to Red

now it's gone to Hamptons Legal.

 

 

Just had a letter from them this morning about litigation from the litigation department

saying they have got a copy of his credit file from Experian to search to see what other financial commitments he has

and to search for his assets and overall ability to repay this account.

 

 

Can they legally get a copy of someone's credit file without permission from the person in question????

 

 

also it says once they have assessed the information they will then be in a position to commence with either litigation,

insolvency proceedings or instruct a home visit agent to visit our home,

 

 

can they do all these things or are they bluffing like they were with the other 2 names they go by??

 

 

they threatened court action under their other 2 names before passing them on.

 

 

He would have paid the debt but upon speaking to the catalogue they were unwilling to remove all the charges £24 a month.

 

 

We are now really struggling with debt as he is a plasterer and the building trade has ground to a near stop

and we've decided we will deal with each debt when it gets to the court stage,

 

 

just paying the priority bills on time i.e rent council tax utilities etc.

 

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[dx100uk]

stop worrying

usual threat-o-grams if might could maybe should etc.

 

how old is this?

 

dx

[twofoot]

Send them the CCA letter from here.

 

 

Use a £1 postal order or someone elses cheque and don't use his normal signature.

 

 

Do not ever talk on the phone to them.

 

 

If they phone tell them wrong number

 

 

or just put the phone down after telling them writing only.

[Tonster]

Interesting question though, can a company search through your credit file without your permission? DLC have done this to me and told me they have seen me paying off other accounts and so now have gone for an increase in their payments. Can they do this or does it go against Data Protection rules?

[harrassed senior]

Hi, first of all, don't panic, this is just a template threatogram of what they might, could, may do. Standard letter, so don't take it at all personally.

 

Does your husband remember signing any agreement or, more likely, if it was only 2 years ago, doing an online application.

 

With regard to your Credit File, if no Agreement exists then they do not have your husbands' permission to search it, however that is a 'technicality' to these people and I am afraid they (and others) do it all the time, so again, no panic. It does feel so personal doesn't it, but you are just one of hundreds of thousands and once you realise that, it does not feel as if you have been singled out.

 

Have you gone down the CCA route with any of your other 'problem debts' as you may be pleasantly surprised!.

[linzi2011]

Thank you for your quick response. I haven't sent a CCA yet.

 

 

He got the application form done online and i know they sent something for him to sign but i cant remember if he did,

i know i didn't with mine.

 

 

What happens if they do provide proof that they have the credit agreement,

will they then be able to enforce any of their threatened actions?

 

 

I don't speak to any of them on the phone so most companies have given up trying,

if they do decide to have another go,

when they say who they are i quickly hang up,

i've had too many nasty calls and have a go at me and try to scare me lol.

 

Thanks to this site i know what they are allowed and what they are not allowed to do with most things

 

 

but because they are called Hamptons LEGAL

 

 

i thought maybe they wern't a DCA and could do more!

[dx100uk]

na just the next desk typically or just the sec put a diff letterhead in the same printer!

 

ignore the fleecers

 

dx

[themadcap]

Linzi, have a look at the charges templates if the CCA turns out to exist as you are still entitled to reclaim all these £12 charges that have been applied by the catalogue company