InFear of debt collection phone calls and visits

[InFear]

Long drawn out...but please take 5 mins to read, might be worth while!!!

 

012944 75341 this number and also 08009878240 are Westcott a debt collection agency,

 

they have been calling me on a daily basis this past few weeks, t

 

hey ask for personal info before they divulge what they really want to do

and that is, I assume, intimidate people for debts.

 

I live in a vicarage and am pretty sure the preceding minister did not have debts!

 

On the other hand..

.I did have a very minor British Gas bill posted to my old address,

some 4 years ago,

which remained un-noticed,

in piles of junk mail,

until the new owner began renovating the property.

 

Due to this, BG black-listed me.

 

I only discovered this when I applied for a new credit card,

I signed up to Experian to see the report,

then immediately called BG,

who admitted it was their mistake and waived the debt and immediately cleared my credit report,

 

BUT not before they had sold the debt onto a collection company,

who sold it onto another and another and another,

until I am fed up of explaining,

so changed my phone number...

 

alas they seem to have found me again.

 

I'm disgusted that the government have still not made personal and private data being sold to company's like this illegal yet.

 

I owe nobody a penny.

My Experian report is excellent.

 

I am quite elderly, slightly disabled and really do not need this harassment and fear of answering my phone.

 

So I let it ring, day and night, until yet another company has decided they have wasted enough money on calls and sells my details onto yet another company.

 

I don't really want to emigrate until my retirement, but I probably will,

 

after 4 years of not answering my children's calls,

unless they text me first to warn me it's them ringing!

 

Another company called EQUITA 0844 561 8807 / 01604 231894 blocked my friends car on drive and threatened to call a car remover if she didn't pay £90 Council tax debt

(which was very similar circumstance as my own) when she was in the middle of talks with the council offices,

who had also posted final bill to her last address,

even though new people had already moved in,

they had told council,

they moved in 2 weeks after they actually did,

my friend had proof of the date she moved out,

so naively ignored the demand,

hence...EQUITA being sold the debt,

she willingly gave them her address, a 6' 5" musclebound black man,

called her '**** of the earth, if she paid her debts this wouldn't happen,

he deals with white trash like her on a daily basis, who like her,

cry and act all innocent and feeble' and videoed her trying to put car in garage,

only to be told they would come with cutters to get in,

she's actually a life long business woman,

living in a beautiful 5 bed home, in a smart rural area,

with never a debt in her life, again...elderly and scared.

 

She called the police and they told her to just pay up,

to get them off her back, so she agreed...guess what?

 

the final bill with costs of £1 per minute wasted at her drive was £600

and they wouldn't leave her drive until she'd made instant card payment.

 

The police did nothing to help her!

She now lives behind forever locked doors and windows,

afraid it might happen again! What can we do...?

[Bazooka Boo]

Eh?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Hi Welcome to CAG!

 

How do you mean BG ''Black Listed'' you there is actually no such thing.

 

Has any company actually written and stated exactly what the alleged debt is?

If they phone refuse to answer any ''security'' questions!!

[unclebulgaria67]

A bit of a rant.

 

If BG resolved the debt and you owe nothing, just send confirmation to the compliance manager of the Debt collection Agency (DCA) contacting you. Unless you tell them they will continue to chase you.

 

Stand up to the DCA's by complaining. If you don't complain they will continue to harrass.

[InFear]

BG placed a debt is it called a CCJ? on my Experian credit report.

 

I can't look now as it was removed by BG and I'm no longer subscribed.

 

I have refused to answer security question on phone,

but until I do,

they will not give me any info as to who, or where they are, or whythey're calling,

 

so i am just assuming here?

[dx100uk]

whether or not you owe this debt

 

there is NO LINK between ...EQUITA [bailiffs] and the names of the companies you have [DCA's]

 

DCA's are NOT BAILIFFS, and have NO POWERS WHATSOEVER and never will have

to do what bailiffs do.

 

if this IS the old BG debt

 

then only BG can take you to court,

 

pes i'd totally ignore them.

 

esp if you have never had a bill in all these years.

 

dx

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

The thing to do is when they phone is to state clearly in writting only and hang up.

[InFear]

Thank you to all (except Bazooka Boo who I feel is quite rude with just Eh?) I'm assuming it is the same debt that has been passed on?

I will simply try the 'In writing please' in future.

Thank you

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Good, if and when they write giving details of what they are at, come back to the thread and I will draft a letter for you.

[Bazooka Boo]

Yes I am rude, sorry bad day.

 

Telephone harassment letter here http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?493-Harassment-by-telephone-response-letter

 

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

 

Evening guests finished work and needing to brush up on consumer rights?

 

Malicious calls procedure for BT http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9084/~/malicious,-nuisance-and-silent-calls%3F

 

Also lodge a formal complaint about the misuse of the communications network to ofcom http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2012/10/tackling-nuisance-calls-and-messages/

[citizenB]

BG placed a debt is it called a CCJ? on my Experian credit report.

 

I can't look now as it was removed by BG and I'm no longer subscribed.

 

I have refused to answer security question on phone,

but until I do,

they will not give me any info as to who, or where they are, or whythey're calling,

 

so i am just assuming here?

 

I am not sure I understand this. BG cant simply place a "CCJ" on your credit report unless and until, they have issued a claim against you, taken you to court, and they have won!

 

Has a claim been issued? - you would have been given the opportunity to defend and state your case. From what you say - BG would have either backed out before a court hearing or the court would have awarded against them.

[bigshoes...bigsocks]

deleted by BSBS

Edited November 14, 2012 by bigshoes...bigsocks
deleted - sorry.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I'm unapproving your post Bid shoes read the thread and BBs post later!!

[bigshoes...bigsocks]

deleted by BSBS

Edited November 14, 2012 by bigshoes...bigsocks
deleted - sorry.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I't has been a long day for me to and I and the team have other lives outside CAG it does not imo excuse not reading the thread before commenting!

[bigshoes...bigsocks]

deleted by BSBS

Edited November 14, 2012 by bigshoes...bigsocks
deleting - sorry.

[Bandit127]

Moving on here...

 

InFear. Do you agree that the debt that Wescott are chasing is the same debt that you had the letters for? If so, what was the original amount?

 

Have Westcott inflated it at all?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I suggest that this is left at this point if all contributors read carefully through the OPs 1st post.,opening a discussion on this is NOT appropriate,

[Bandit127]

I suggest that this is left at this point if all contributors read carefully through the OPs 1st post.,opening a discussion on this is NOT appropriate,

Apologies from me too then for not reading properly - to Brig and InFear.

 

InFear owes nothing.

[ploddertom]

If I may add my two pennorth worth I'd like to say that your friend appears to have been ripped off by Equita. She has 6 years in which to claim any unlawful payments back. Is it possible she has access to this site? If so then we would be pleased to have a look to see if she can be helped via the Bailiff Forum or otherwise could she communicate through your good self?

[InFear]

If I may add my two pennorth worth I'd like to say that your friend appears to have been ripped off by Equita. She has 6 years in which to claim any unlawful payments back. Is it possible she has access to this site? If so then we would be pleased to have a look to see if she can be helped via the Bailiff Forum or otherwise could she communicate through your good self?

 

Absolutely, We would both be pleased to hear of suitable options and avenues to take, thank you

[ploddertom]

Absolutely, We would both be pleased to hear of suitable options and avenues to take, thank you

 

Very pleased to hear that. Here is something to be getting on with. First of all establish from the Council how much was owing etc You need to speak to someone at the Council and ask the following questions:

1 - how many Liability Orders they have against you

2 - the dates they were obtained

3 - the addresses they were for

4 - the period of time each covers

5 - how much each one was for

6 - how much is still outstanding

7 - the dates they were passed on for enforcement

8 - the dates & amounts of any payments

 

Next you need to send off for a breakdown of the charges the Bailiff applied. Here's an example, use and adapt at will and best sent initially by email backed up by a copy in the post.

 

"From:

My Name

My Address

 

To:

Acme Bailiff Co

Bailiff House

 

Ref: Account No: 123456

 

Dear Sir

 

With reference to the above account, Can you please provide me with a breakdown of the charges.

 

This includes:

a - the time & date of any Bailiff action that incurred a Fee.

b - the reason for the fee.

c - the name(s) of the Bailiff(s) that attended on each occasion a Fee was charged.

d - the name(s) of the Court(s) the Bailiff(s) was/were Certificated at.

e - the date of the Certification.

 

This is not a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act S7 1998 so does not incur a fee of £10. You are obliged to provide this information.

 

I require this information within 14 days.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Ripped off customer"

 

When you have the answers to the above go to the Bailiff Forum http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=168 and we'll see if we can help to claim back any unlawful or overcharged fees.

[InFear]

I have today filled out a legal template ready to post and/or email to Westcot, only to discover their website does not include an email address and their postal address is just a PO Box, for which I cannot post 'registered post'.

Can anyone tell me which companies Westcot 'collect' for?

After much googling, I have noticed they seem to act upon a lot of Halifax BS customers. I have been with the Halifax for many years, but do not have any debts with them, in fact I have majority of my life savings with them, in several accounts.

[dx100uk]

what are you wanting to send to wetcloths?

 

dx

[InFear]

an SAR