Buchanan Clark & Wells re orange debt

[ktan49]

Good afternoon!

 

Received a letter from BCW this morning

 

VERIFICATION LETTER

 

Dear Mr X

 

We are trying to contact Mr X with regards to a private matter. We have confirmed your address through a credit link obtained via a credit reference agency as being the same person who previously lived at the original address above.

 

Please contact us on 0844 571 4270 quoting the above reference number and one of our operators will be available to take any relevant details to resolve the matter.

 

 

I think that it's related to my other Orange Contract. As when I try to access that account online, it says account is closed.

 

How do I deal with these guys? Should I ignore this letter and wait for one that is more detailed?

 

 

 

Thanks

Karl

 

***Sorry for typo in title***

[daverules]

Ignore and wait until they write and state what they want.

[ktan49]

Ok thank you

[unclebulgaria67]

I dealt with this lot for a relatives debt. Must be the most incompetent DCA I have come across. They make loads of phone calls and seem to send a letter after each phone call. I can remember the same letter being received day after day.

 

Volume yes, any follow through very unlikely in my opinion.

 

Even if you send post back to them or write to them, they will ignore it. So I would not bother. Keep an eye on what they send to you, but don't waste any money on postage or making phone calls, as it will be a complete waste of time.

[Conniff]

As above, "I think" isn't good enough.

 

Shove all letters in a drawer and let them waste money.

 

If it is a past Orange, how old is that?

[ktan49]

As above, "I think" isn't good enough.

 

Shove all letters in a drawer and let them waste money.

 

If it is a past Orange, how old is that?

 

Last bill dated 8th July. On the Orange website, that account has £95.75 outstanding, I thought I had this on direct debit but obviously not, so no payments made on it in 3 months id say.

[unclebulgaria67]

Last bill dated 8th July. On the Orange website, that account has £95.75 outstanding, I thought I had this on direct debit but obviously not, so no payments made on it in 3 months id say.

 

This may be hurting your credit record/rating, so if you are worried about that and can afford to pay Orange directly what is due, you might want to consider that.

 

If there is any reason to dispute the amount with Orange, then enter into complaint with them and while a complaint is ongoing, they should put any debt collection on hold.

 

If no reason to complain and it is just not affordable at the moment, then just ignore for the moment and deal with any other priorities money wise that you have.

[Conniff]

My thoughts as well. If you agree that amount is correct, pay Orange direct.

[ktan49]

Ok, thank you for the help guys.

 

Will make payments of £30 a month on the orange website.

 

Hopefully that will be the end of it

[locutus]

I'd personally talk to Orange. You're on the brink of having a default lodged on your credit file looking at the timescales, so act now or you may suffer the consequences for the next 6 years!

 

Don't deal with DCAs, deal only with Orange, and you want any solution to include removing negative information from your credit file. I believe they have a good Facebook team and Twitter team if you use either of them.

[ktan49]

Thank you, just sent them a message on their facebook page.

[ktan49]

Received a reply from Orange.

 

If you can only pay £30.00 per month your credit file would reflect any remaining balance and that this has been paid late or is outstanding (while you are clearing the balance due).

 

We would advise you to call Buchanan, Clark and Wells on 0844 5714270 to make arrangement to clear the balance. They may be able to arrange for your credit file to reflect that you have agreed and arrangement to clear the balance.

 

I hope this helps!

 

 

Would you still recommend waiting for a second letter before contacting Buchanan Clark & Wells?

[2Grumpy]

I would always recommend paying Orange. They might not like it, they might even refuse to take it over the phone!

 

I suspect that only your online access to your account is closed.

 

Do you know what the £95.75 is for?

 

I had some dealings with Orange and when I was sure that the amount was correct, paid by cheque to Orange.

[ktan49]

I think the 97.75 is the last 3 months billing. Cut a long story short ilost that contract phone. Reported it stolen etc n bad it blocked. But i i thought it was on direct debit.. turned out it wasnt. I stilll have the option to make a payment on the account section online. You recommend i do this i stead of paying dca?

[2Grumpy]

I think the 97.75 is the last 3 months billing. Cut a long story short ilost that contract phone. Reported it stolen etc n bad it blocked. But i i thought it was on direct debit.. turned out it wasnt. I stilll have the option to make a payment on the account section online. You recommend i do this i stead of paying dca?

 

I always make sure that I know what I'm paying for before I pay it. Why 3 months billing - was there some of the contract to run? I would contact Orange, let them know that you don't have access to your online account any more, that you require an itemised bill so that you know what the £97.75 is for and obviously can't be asked to pay it until you receive it and that at present you dispute the bill. If you weren't getting paper invoices and they try to charge you, tell them that you will be happy to access the bill online if they make it available, but no detailed bill, no payment. It might include calls that might be covered by insurance / made after you reported it stolen.

 

In short get your detailed bill (including itemised calls) then post back here

[ktan49]

I always make sure that I know what I'm paying for before I pay it. Why 3 months billing - was there some of the contract to run? I would contact Orange, let them know that you don't have access to your online account any more, that you require an itemised bill so that you know what the £97.75 is for and obviously can't be asked to pay it until you receive it and that at present you dispute the bill. If you weren't getting paper invoices and they try to charge you, tell them that you will be happy to access the bill online if they make it available, but no detailed bill, no payment. It might include calls that might be covered by insurance / made after you reported it stolen.

 

In short get your detailed bill (including itemised calls) then post back here

 

Yeah It's an error on my part, so I forgot to pay last 3 months (been very busy) I just checked my account again, and looking closer I can still access all the bills which are also itemised. So I do owe the £95.75

 

I will make a payment of £40 on their website at the end of the month.

 

As it still gives me the option to pay on there, will the DCA get ****y if I just make my payment through the orange site?

 

Will it be safe for me to ignore the DCA?

[2Grumpy]

If you owe Orange, pay Orange, ignore the DCA. DCAs can do nothing.

 

As Locutus says, if Orange update credit references, this will be getting close to a default (unpaid for 3 months)

[ktan49]

Good morning all

 

Received second letter from Buchanan Clark & Wells.

 

dated 15/08/2012

 

Pursuers: Orange PCS Ltd

 

Principal Sum: £291.75 ( WTF?)

 

FORMAL DEMAND

 

Dear Mr X

 

We have been instructed by Orange PCS Ltd to recover an overdue amount in the sum of £291.75. The outstanding debt value includes an administration charge of £10.00% to compensate our clients for the cost of incurred in recovering this debt. Please refer to your terms and conditions.

 

Our clients have informed us that they are unaware of any legitimate reason for non-payment of their account and although they would prefer an amicable settlement, will not hesitate to commence Legal Legal Proceedings if necessary.

 

Please call our 24 hour payment line immediately on 0844 571 4270 to make payment by credit or debit card.

 

Please not that if the usage fee plus administration fee is paid within the next 28 days Orange PCS Ltd will credit your contract by £186.42 and reconnect your service free of charge. Your contract will be reinstated allowing you to once again make calls. Future air time is required to be paid to Orange PCS Ltd by direct debit. In order for you to avail yourself of this offer you must call us on the above number.

 

 

 

Right then, on the orange account section I get this

 

account closed

 

Your pay monthly account is now closed.

 

You can still

view your bills

make a payment

 

Under "View your bills"I click latest bill which is July, it says Amount due £95.75..?

 

Where are they getting the £291.75 from??? Anyone got any suggestions on a email template to send them to basically say I will pay Orange direct through their website?

 

Cheers guys, appreciate the help

 

Karl

 

***EDIT*** Also, under where it says £95.75 on orange account, it says this

 

For information only as this is a credit note.

 

?

Edited August 18, 2012 by ktan49

[Conniff]

Take screenshots of those pages.

[ktan49]

Take screenshots of those pages.

 

 

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/3347/page1of.jpg

 

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/9021/page2ie.jpg

 

 

Those pages?

[Conniff]

Your account pages on their site (Under "View your bills"I click latest bill which is July, it says Amount due £95.75..?) these pages.

 

I can't open the img links you've posted.

[ktan49]

[ktan49]

[ktan49]

Any idea what I can say to the DCA via email? If I just say I am still able to access my billing section on my orange account and I will make payments there?

 

Cheers

[2Grumpy]

Either they are adding charges or Orange is adding charges - had the contract been going for the full length that you signed up for?

 

I would just tell the DCA that "you have paid Orange all sums outstanding directly to them"