Door Step Collectors

[judi5060]

I need some urgent advice on the above please.

 

I have been advised by a company which I owe money to that the matter is now being

passed to a Third Party Debt Collector who also operate Door Step Agents.

 

Do these people just turn up - I am terrified that they will as I live with my elderly Mother

and the embarrasement this would cause will give me sleepless nights. Do they have to contact

you by letter or phone first to advise you when they are calling.

 

Thanks any help appreciated

[jimbo45]

Hi there

typical THREATOGRAM stuff.

DOORSTEP collections are NOT allowed unless you've specifically made an appointment --and I'm sure you haven't done that.

 

Complain to OFT, BBC and anybody else you can think of --and they can be had up for HARRASSEMENT.

 

These people have LESS powers than your Grandmothers Cat -- they are usually a TOTALLY PATHETIC bunch of imbeciles.

 

In any debt situation YOU take control -- send them the PROVE IT letter template on this site if you can even be bothered to reply to these muppets.

 

Cheers

jimbo

[judi5060]

Thanks for your reply.

 

The Finance company who have passed this on will not tell me anything - give me a name of

the company etc.,

 

Does it usually take long for these people to contact you.

 

Thanks

[snowy101]

First thing is to try & not worry, its highly unlikely anyone will come round & even if they do just shut the door on them. It would help if you could tell us more about the alleged debt. Is it a credit card / loan/ overdraft or some other type of debt. If you give us more information then we can advise on the best way forward. Don`t worry.

 

 

Middx

[Revenant]

Hi judi

Not a nice situation but try not to worry

They should in theory contact you first but we all know that they don't obey the rules "All the time"

If/should anyone turn up just tell them to go away and put it in writing as DCA's have no power to collect from you, there's a template letter that you could amend to suit, print off and keep by the door ready to hand them (http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?410-LETTER-USED-WHEN-A-DCA-THREATENS-A-DOORSTEP-VISIT)

There's also a thread you can have a read of . . http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?441-If-you-do-receive-a-doorstep-visit-we-give-these-suggestions-to-Members.

For now wait and see what their next move is but at the end of the day even though things aren't as you'd like them you're still in charge of your money

Good luck

R

[judi5060]

Hi its a small loan - approx 300.00 which I took out over the internet

 

Judi5060

[coledog]

Below is a link to advice and letter if anyone shows up. You can also write a 'prove it' letter to this DCA and add a paragraph about refusing permission for anyone to visit your home

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?441-If-you-do-receive-a-doorstep-visit-we-give-these-suggestions-to-Members.

[snowy101]

Hi its a small loan - approx 300.00 which I took out over the internet

 

Judi5060

 

Is one of these payday loan type companies?

[coledog]

Have you offered any arrangement to this company to pay back the loan or explained the situation? Is it a Payday loan or anything like that? Saying that they are passing to a collector could just be a threat

[judi5060]

it is a payday loan from a company called swift sterling. It was only for 200.00 originally

but now 318.00 - Have offered to pay in installments but they are not interested. Now it is being

passed onto a third party who are debt collectors but also operate door step recovery. He would not

tell me anything else.

 

Judi

[coledog]

Have you put this in writing? NEVER speak to these people on the phone. I would send them your offer of repayment in writing by post (recorded) and/or email, so that you have a record. State that this is all you can afford to do at this time and if this account is passed to a DCA or they engage in any harassment by phone or in person you will report them to the approprate authorities (OFT and Trading Standards). Request that they freeze all interest and charges to enable you to settle this matter in a reasonable period of time

 

Request that they do not contact you by phone - writing only and if they phone, refuse to speak to them unless you can record it. These people will tell you anything

[judi5060]

I have sent numerous e-mails to swift sterling but they are not interested in me making repayments

they just want the full amount. I suppose I will just have to wait until I get some correspondence from

the debt collecting agency. I will dread every knock at the door.

 

judi5060

[walkinthepark]

I used to be told a doorstep collector 'may' visit me but they never came. I know how upsetting it is especially when you live with your mum but it's usually a threat to get more money out of you. From experience don't talk to these people on the telephone because they will bully you into paying more than you can afford. After a while if you take the advice of expereinced people on here you will get stronger and stronger to deal with these people. You have more power than you think!

Edited January 25, 2011 by walkinthepark

[snowy101]

The advice from Coledog is excellent & spot on, do they [ Sterling] have access to your bank account, have you set up a DD or can they use your debit card / credit card to collect payments?, excuse my ignorance as i have never dealt with the payday loan thing. If they can, i would make arrangements to stop them. Its your debt but you must remain in control of repayments. Your living bills come first & only pay what YOU can afford.

[coledog]

Keep all copies of your offers. I would send them a final offer as I have outlined above. If they appoint a DCA they are responsible for their behaviour under OFT guidelines.

 

If you do hear from a DCA let us know. They are unlikely to send a Doorstep collector before writing to you or trying to ring you. Again never ever speak to them on the phone, try and change your numbers if possible and refuse all calls. You can send the DCA copies of the offers you have made and refuse to pay any collection charges.

 

Do this company have your bank and card details? If they do, get these changed even if it means opening a new account. They have been know to empty bank accounts.

 

If you do agree re-payments inisist that this is by Standing Order, never Direct Debit or Card.

[judi5060]

No - they have no access to my Bank Account - I have changed recently.

 

Thanks for the above advice I feel a bit better now. When Swift Sterling sent me the E-Mail today

they could not even tell me whether the Thirs Party would contact me first - which I find hard to believe.

 

Judi5060

[dpick]

Hi for a debt of some £300 they would have to use a DCA very close to you to make a doorstep call worthwhile to them just think of the cost in transport and wages for the caller.

 

dpick

[judi5060]

they have already told me that it would probably be one local to me - that was the only piece of

information I was given. That's what made me think they will just turn up being a local one.

 

judi5060

[snowy101]

No - they have no access to my Bank Account - I have changed recently.

 

Thanks for the above advice I feel a bit better now. When Swift Sterling sent me the E-Mail today

they could not even tell me whether the Third Party would contact me first - which I find hard to believe.

 

I would follow the advice of getting your offer of payment to Sterling either by email & or recorded letter, then lets see what happens & we can advise you further. Please don`t worry about some one calling .......... its a scare tactic, remember that YOU control this debt & the amounts to be repaid.

Let us know when you have a reply to your offer.

 

Good luck & try to relax.

[coledog]

I think that they are just trying to frighten you. If anyone does show up - give them the letter we have suggested above and say you will call the police if they don't go.

 

They are also breaking all sorts of rules if they harass your family or discuss the matter with them

[judi5060]

Thanks very much for your advice - I will try and relax and see what kind of correspondence I get.

 

I have already printed out the letter for Door Step Collector which I will keep on me at all times.

 

Judi5060

[Erica11 - Swift]

Should you be experiencing difficulty paying back your loan or have any other queries or concerns regarding your loan, kindly contact our Pounds Till Payday Customer Relations department on [email protected].

[ashmk]

I got a doorstep collector letter the other day from another DCA. I put it in the 'bullsh*t box' with the rest of the threats.