Wescot Credit Services

[CrimsonB]

Hey everyone,

 

Wescot have been sending letters to my old address (my parent's home) and hassling them over the phone. To calm my parents down, I rang Wescot up and gave them a new address to contact and told them not to call any more. When I was speaking to the gent on the phone he said the debt was for a loan taken out in 2004 which defaulted in 2005. I didn't make any payments or acknowledgement of the debt, just told him just to send a letter explaining the situation to the address I'd provided and that I'd take it from there.

 

What's the best way to deal with this? I'm not sure whether to ask for a credit agreement or a subject access request to find out when the last payment was made. As far as I understand, the timer on the statute barring begins from the last payment and I believe that would have happened already, or at the very least in the next couple of months.

[Mr Worried]

Welcome crimson, and hello to all 6 guests.

 

Crimson just sit tight till the dafties write to you, other than that ignore them, when you have comms from them let us know and we will assist.

 

Guten Nacht guests ( thats good night to you )

 

Cheers crimson

 

Mr W

[Arkhipov]

Echoed. I have had personal dealings with these guys. I suggested a seriously tiny monthly repayment scheme via standing order with them about 5 years back, and in spite of their arrogance- they agreed to grant me 'the right' (!!!) to do this, even though they have no more 'right' to extend 'rights' to anyone than you or I do- they were no hassle from then on. They strike me as 'settlers' if you see what I mean. Now, in *your* case, it sounds very much a 'statute barred' kind of deal, ie not enforceable. A good route to go down would be to consider sending them a request to see the original consumer credit agreement. There are letter templates on the site, and hopefully someone more in the know than me can clarify things better. That said- compared to many DCAs out there, Wescot never struck me as bona fide nutjobs, and were mostly hassle free in my case. Can't imagine they'll be hammering anyone's doors down, so above all don't worry! Hope this helps in some way.

[twofoot]

String it out as best you can. When they send their demand let them have aCCA request. That will stall them long enough to be sure of the SB. Make sure your letter is headed with I do no acknowledge......

[Mr Worried]

Yip, agree with the above, as I said, await their threatogram, then act.

 

Mr cuppa time now

[CrimsonB]

I got the letter today. I haven't got a scanner, so I'll just type it up.

 

****

 

FINAL NOTICE

Dear (me)

 

Despite previous correspondence a balance remains outstanding on the above account. Unless you make contact with us and agree repayment of (balance) within the next 10 days, collection activity will continue on the account. This may lead to:

 

• A door step collector being instructed to visit your property to collect payment; or
  
• Court action being taken for repayment of the outstanding balance. If legal proceedings are issued and a Judgement or Decree is obtained against you, court fees and legal costs could increase the amount you owe.
  

 

Call us now on (number) to discuss repayment of this debt. Details of the different ways you can pay are given on the back of this letter.

 

PAYMENT DUE BEFORE: 28th March 2011

 

****

 

So I'm guessing this is meant to terrify me out my wits and scare me into paying without question (I'm certainly scared, I'll give them that), but this is the first time I've heard from them by letter and there has been no "previous correspondence" at all. Apparently they are acting on behalf of Arrow Global Ltd, which Google tells me is a debt purchasing company, and not the original creditor.

 

I went back and looked at my timeline and I'm pretty sure that I didn't make any payments (and definitely no written acknowledgements) since December 2004, as I had lost my job and couldn't pay my rent, let alone anything else. Should I just send them the statute barred letter straight off the bat and be done with it?

[firstship]

Crimson Hi,have you had a look at your credit file? As 6 years have expired it should not show the debt in question unless Westcot or Arrow have been making doubtful additions.

 

You need to be sure about the dates before going for Statute Barred letter as date wise its very close,to the 6years

 

Their Final Notice Letter is pretty standard.May I suggest you write to them and state you have no knowledge of the debt,perhaps they would like to send you a copy of the agreement,and also confirm who Arrow Global is,as you have no idea who they are, dont send any money by way of a fee,as it will appear as payment

 

good luck FS

[firstship]

Crimson Hi,have you had a look at your credit file? As 6 years have expired it should not show the debt in question unless Westcot or Arrow have been making doubtful additions.

 

You need to be sure about the dates before going for Statute Barred letter as date wise its very close,to the 6years

 

Their Final Notice Letter is pretty standard.May I suggest you write to them and state you have no knowledge of the debt,perhaps they would like to send you a copy of the agreement,and also confirm who Arrow Global is,as you have no idea who they are, dont send any money by way of a fee,as it will appear as payment

 

good luck FS....sorry entered twice

[dx100uk]

pers knowing wetcloths they are just chancing their arm they have found a mug

arrow global are just another DCA, wetcloths often use this tactic to give their threat-o-grams an air of officialdomness

 

pers id ignore them

 

dx

[InsideSPY]

Hi! bit of inside info for you..........when they next contact you just tell them the acc is in fact SB and you will not be deling with them. working for them I know this is enough fo them to get the acc withdrawn if the information they hold does not show any payments or writen corespondance accepting liabilty x

[CrimsonB]

Honestly, I think it might have been me checking my credit report that brought me to their attention in the first place. There are no defaults at all on my record and I've had no problem getting credit for a couple of things recently. I found this statue barred template ( debtquestions.co.uk/debt_forum/viewtopic.php?t=19030 ), which seems to say that unless they can provide proof that the debt isn't barred, they need to stop contacting me. I'm just worried that sending this would constitute acknowledgement (even though it quite clearly says multiple times that the debt is not acknowledged) if the time has not yet run out.

[InsideSPY]

They can still atempt to collect the debt but 99.9% of the time will write off as its a waste of time and money trying to collect as no action can be taken and it can no longer make an impact on your credit file (explaining why you are not having any propblem gaining credit)

to be honest most that work with wescot are normal average people like myself doing the best we can to support our familys and do understand and apreciate peoples situation and its not money you personaly owe us and dispite of what people may think wescot staff do not work on commision bassed and bonous are not actualy based on collections but on our call content and quality so it actualy benafits the advisor more to give you correct relavant info x

[dx100uk]

pigs fly as well

 

dx

[rockwell304]

pigs fly as well

 

dx

 

 

:flypig: :flypig:

 

Also seems to have a bit of a problem on the old grammer and spelling front! Is this an industry trait???

[InsideSPY]

I do suffer form dyslexia and did not think a place like this forum would be so discrimanating

[rockwell304]

I do suffer form dyslexia and did not think a place like this forum would be so discrimanating

 

In that case will you please accept my sincere apologies, it was only meant as a dig as I assumed from one of your posts you worked for Westcot Debt Collectors.

 

You are right, the vast majority of people on here are extremely helpful and kind to everyone.

[CrimsonB]

So... what should I do? Fire off the "prove it" letter? Then go to CCA request and then the SAR, if they can provide the stuff?

[firstship]

CrimsonB my page8 of your thread,last paragraph,just a simple letter without paying any fee.."no knowledge of the debt perhaps they would like to send you a copy of the agreement,and who is Arrow Global.

 

See what this produces,or just ignore them(dx100k) they are just chancing their arm

 

Regards FS

[CrimsonB]

So something like this one? Should I send it recorded, so that I have proof they received it, in case they keep sending demand letters with no proof being offered that it is actually a debt that belongs to me?

 

****

 

My Address

My Postcode

The Date

 

Their Address

Their Postcode

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Reference Number: 123456789

 

You have contacted me regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself.

 

I would point out that I have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to Arrow Global Ltd.

 

I am are familiar with the CPUTR 2008 and the Office of Fair Trading's Guidance on debt collection, which states that it unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

 

I would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. AND in not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

 

Furthermore ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

 

I would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above account unless you can provide evidence as to my liability for the debt in question.

 

I await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to Trading Standards and also inform the Office Of Fair Trading of your actions.

 

I look forward to your reply.

 

(me)

[firstship]

Hi.letter seems fine,send recorded delivery

 

good luck FS

[victoria_siempre]

Hi Crimson

 

You might append to: "I am are familiar with the CPUTR 2008 and the Office of Fair Trading's Guidance..."

 

European Credit Directive 2010.

 

Have a look on CPUTR thread.

 

x

 

v

[firstship]

Vic is quite correct European Credit Directive 2010, as well

 

thanks vic

 

FS

[firstship]

Vic is quite correct European Credit Directive 2010, as well

 

thanks vic

 

FS

[pershing]

Westcott are goons. An ex of mine told them she heard a rumour I was dead. Never heard from them again.

[victoria_siempre]

Nice one pershing,

 

The John Stonehouse MP tactic; mind you, it worked for Robert Maxwell (allegedly).

 

love

 

vic