Worrying myself sick over debt

[armcm]

I have unsecured debt totalling in the region of 5,000 and I am worrying myself sick. I have been in touch with the debt charity stepchange who have made an appt for me to speak to an advisor, but this isn't for another week. I am not working at the moment, so have no income other than my husband's wages.

 

I am getting letters from debt collection agencies threatening doorstep collectors - I panic every time the door goes. I can't stop thinking about these debts every minute of the day, worrying about what these companies are going to do. I haven't made any payments since defaulting a year ago. What powers do they actually have?

 

The debts are now with collection agencies but were originally to catalogues, and one for bank charges. I have never acknowledged or paid anything towards the bank charges debt on principle as I never agreed with the outrageous charges that they kept piling on and piling on.

 

I am worried sick about what they are going to do since I haven't paid anything for so long. Are they likely to take me to court?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Hi Welcome to CAG,

 

Debt collection agencies like to threaten and bluster, all the letters are phrases ''we may'' we might'' ''we could'' rarely we WILL!!

 

Can you please list the debts what they are for, how much, and which debt collector is chasing you.?

 

We can work out a strategy to deal with them and their threats.

[Bazooka Boo]

Relax relax relax....

 

Debt collection agencies (DCA's) CANNOT do ANYTHING!

 

All they can do is send out computer generated template letters that have had NO human input less for the posty pushing it through your door.

 

IF, and it is a big IF, some random stranger turns up on your private property to discuss financial matters, then tell them to disappear or you will call the police to have them removed.

 

Next doors cat has more powers to be on your property than a random stranger demanding money.

 

Just shut the door, you are under absolutely no legal obligation to discuss anything with DCA's, as are you are under absolutely NO legal obligation to reply to any letters they might send.

So relax, you have much more legal rights than they ever will, so don't worry.

 

Court is miles away. bank charges will never go to court, as these can all be reclaimed.

 

And a catalogue is easy peasy, these are often loaded with reclaimable fees and charges and don't go to court.

 

Have you a history of these accounts showing all payments and charges they have added?

[42man]

Armcm, please try and relax as best as you can, as you will see by going through these forums there are others in similar circumstances to yourself....doorstep collectors don't have any powers at all, they are used by debt collection agencies as a way of getting to talk to the debtor, what they are doing is attempting to frighten you into paying, and on the off chance that somebody lets them in they usually have a good look at your 'lifestyle' ....they are different to bailiffs. Do you still have statements for the accounts ? any PPI ? any excessive charges ? You can find some helpful letters in here - http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?609-Can-t-find-the-letter-you-want-Look-here

 

Make sure you send them recorded delivery too, I would certainly try ringing the National Debtline too as their service is free, impartial and confidential - http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/

 

You can talk to somebody immediately about your circumstances too without having to make an appointment.

[armcm]

Can they start criminal proceedings against me because I have effectively ignored the debts for a year?

 

I moved house so wasn't getting letters for a while,but they seem to have caught up with me now.

 

I don't have any of the original statements, just DCA letters stating the balance owed. But I suspect that there are definitely late payment charges etc.

 

I keep working myself up into a panic that they will take me to court and I could face jail.

Edited November 30, 2012 by armcm

[Bazooka Boo]

No they can't. Being in debt IS NOT A criminal offence.

 

You cannot go to jail for being in debt, I promise you.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

DEBT IS NOT!!!!! A CRIMINAL OFFENCE if it was 99% of the world would criminals.

 

YOU CANNOT GO TO PRISON FOR CATALOGUE AND OTHER SUCH DEBTS.

Should any unwashed oik i n a dirty mac claiming to be a doorstep collector visit you just tell the you will not deal with them and TELL the to leave!!

Lowell catalogue dbts lets start there, when were the last payments made on these debts?

 

You are along way from any court action, just provide the answers the team here will ask for and we can assist you to come to a resolution, please don't panic!!

[armcm]

October 2011. I had been paying these on time every month prior to this

Edited November 30, 2012 by armcm

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Ok lets deal with the debt you have never made a payment on, when did Lowell get involved and how long before they appeared did you stop paying the creditor?

[armcm]

I think they got involved about 6 months ago. I then got into difficulties with other payments and it all just snowballed from there.

Edited November 30, 2012 by armcm

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

These are all very recent debts?

[Bazooka Boo]

OK, don't worry about this.

 

Write, DON'T ring, write to the catalogue and request a SAR, this costs £10, and they have 40 days in which to supply you with all of the documents regarding this agreement.

Once you have received the documents then you will be able to see what you physically owe them, and can start a repayment plan, with them, NOT a DCA, to repay the amount you physically owe, you will not pay the late payment charges.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?417-A-Subject-Access-Request-for

 

Please send this by recorded delivery so you have absolute proof they have received your request.

 

Stay OFF the phone, ivf anyone such as lowlifes ring you regarding this, just laugh and hang up, if they persist, simply say "In writing" then laugh and hang up.

Keep a diary of events, especially regarding their harassment, mark any letters you receive with the date you received them, and file them neatly in the 'ignore' drawer.

[armcm]

Yeah they are all relatively recent. I was made redundant so I fell behind.

 

I have just spoken to the National Debtline who were very helpful and reassuring and are sending me out some information, and are going to help me with some template letters to make token offers for the moment.

 

I will hopefully be working again in the New Year and in a position to make 'proper' payments. I was just working myself up into a panic because the letters are getting a bit more threatening. I wish I had posted here and contacted them sooner.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

You are in good hands with CAG & NDL.

[Bazooka Boo]

Those letters are designed to do just that.

 

They are nothing more than psychological harassment they carry little or no fact, purely fiction.

 

Simply designed by immature bullies to inflate their own ego's in the hope that they intimidate people into phoning them up so they can berate you and threaten you even more so you make a payment that they put in their pocket.