Simple DRO Question...

[optikal101]

Hi guys,

 

I've just made the first steps to fixing my financial mess and am arranging a DRO. However, I need to arrange statements of each debt with account numbers and total amounts owing. Now after spending a while being chased by the delightful folks at companies like MMF, Red Castle, Fredricksons and Lowell, I previously changed my mobile number and requested that the ones I've been in contact with only contact me by email.

 

However, now I need these statements I'm going to have to go to them, but I don't want to give these people my current address (and the endless stream of threatening junk mail to begin again) so my question is: Would emailed statements be acceptable as evidence in a debt relief order application?

 

Thanks for any and all advice!

Edited October 10, 2013 by optikal101

[mikeymack2002]

Hi welcome to CAG. Have you had a look at your credit file yet as all the details for you could be there, also it will show who owns it now. Try Noddle it is free, but may pay to use the big guns on this one, you can use the free trial on most of them but remember to cancel before you end up paying after the free period. Stay off of the phone to a DCA they tend to lie big time. Don't start paying anyone before you have all the facts in one place.

 

Have you got any details of any of your debts so far? if so start with them on here and get the ball rolling. Post up as much detail as you can but don't post up names or personal details.

 

When you have more details come back and update your thread

 

MM

[optikal101]

Hi MM,

 

A quick update:

 

Last week I emailed every single one of my defaults from all three credit files (turns out some show up on CallCredit but not on Experian and vice versa) in order to gain reference numbers / total amounts owing.

 

Now a lot has happened and is in varying stages so I'll go through what I found step-by-step.

 

1, KDS Finance

 

They have two accounts dating back to 2009 on my Experian report. They were paid off back in 2010, but for the past few years they have updated my file with two '6' marks, meaning the accounts are six months overdue. I emailed a complaint and demanded that these be repaired. I received an email at 4am Saturday morning from a manager stating that neither they nor Experian could find my file or the accounts in question. I replied back with my Experian reference and a question as to how they couldn't find the accounts seeing as they had both been updated as recently as 06/10/13! I am awaiting further reply.

 

2, Natwest

 

On my Noddle file, a Natwest default for £789 appeared. Looking into it further I was alarmed that the default occurred from the account going overdrawn in 2012,after I had stopped using the account altogether in march 2011. Also, and most importantly, the address was down as Leicester, when I have always lived in Leeds. I contacted Natwest and they confirmed that they had no notes at all that I had communicated in any way to change the address. They could tell me that it had been updated in November 2011, 8 months after I had switched to another bank. However, in order to investigate further they had to recall my statements from their archive and that would take 5-10 days for them to get back to me. I'm still waiting.

 

3, Wonga

 

I have just today emailed their complaints department as I requested the required details from their customer care channel. They replied with a generic email stating that I should call them. I replied stating that I would prefer to conduct our dealings via email or letter, not by telephone. I then received a reply stating that they had tried to call me without success so I escalated it to complaints and am waiting for a response.

 

4, BCW Group

 

They emailed me 'in response to my query. And requested that I call them. I never contacted BCW and they left no clue as to who they were responding on behalf of. I emailed to ask them this question and as of yet have had no response.

 

5, Minicredit & Cash Converters

 

Both replied with the details I required straight away with little or no fuss.

 

6, Lowell, MMF, ResolutionLS

 

None of these have replied to my enquiries yet.

 

 

 

So yeah, a bit of a mixed bag and some interesting things to get my teeth into. It looks like it's going to be a long hard slog but I am not going to get into telephone conversations with these people unless I absolutely have to. But Stepchange have been brilliant thus far with helping me out and getting my case ready to submit my DRO. I just have to keep at these companies to get the correct information from them at the moment.

[mikeymack2002]

With regards to a DRO would you not be better off dealing with this yourself and making all payments directly to the OC? because why pay someone else to mess it up for you.

 

Now the interesting bits, you have posted up some great details for the moment, a lot to take in all in one go, but a good start. So lets get the ball rolling, Pick your first debt you want us to help you with and list everything you know about it, you will have to do this with all of them and would recommend you start a thread for each of them and use the subject bar as a reference to them so you can keep tabs as they progress. It took me 4 years to walk with my head up as it is now so yes it is going to be a long slog and could be quite cheap as well, create some files at home and put everything in its own file for that debt as it will be easier for referencing at a later date.

 

So where do you want to start first? I suggest any that may/have/not got any court action pending, as a starting point.

 

Look here for any letter templates that you may need http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?405-Debt-Collection also don't forget to stay off of the phone always say in writing then hang up, keep all letters and note any calls from them.

 

DCA's are not bailiffs and have no real power to make demands to a point. As with credit cards/agreements have you had any charges for over limit/late payments/ppi that you can claim back? So lets get rolling.

 

MM

Edited October 14, 2013 by mikeymack2002

[optikal101]

Hi MM,

 

The DRO is being done through debt advice charity, StepChange (formally CCCS).

 

I chose to go through with this method because I can't afford to repay all of my debts and being insolvent for 12 months is preferable to repaying token amounts for years and years to come. But also, I don't dispute any of my debts (barring the aforementioned KDS and Natwest) so I don't think I really have grounds to argue them.

 

However, with regard to Credit Cards, I'm currently dealing with C1 trying to get a default removed by them. I can't post the thread here as my post count is too low, but it can be found in the C1 section.

[mikeymack2002]

Hi MM,

 

The DRO is being done through debt advice charity, StepChange (formally CCCS).

 

I chose to go through with this method because I can't afford to repay all of my debts and being insolvent for 12 months is preferable to repaying token amounts for years and years to come. But also, I don't dispute any of my debts (barring the aforementioned KDS and Natwest) so I don't think I really have grounds to argue them.

 

However, with regard to Credit Cards, I'm currently dealing with C1 trying to get a default removed by them. I can't post the thread here as my post count is too low, but it can be found in the C1 section.

 

Once you are finally out of debt you will feel much better, I was not trying knock you in anyway, everyone has their own way of dealing with things. The best way forward for you now is to look to the future and stay straight.

 

with most of your debts have you checked them out for charges that can be reclaimed? Its money in the bank for you.

 

MM

[optikal101]

Once you are finally out of debt you will feel much better, I was not trying knock you in anyway, everyone has their own way of dealing with things. The best way forward for you now is to look to the future and stay straight.

 

with most of your debts have you checked them out for charges that can be reclaimed? Its money in the bank for you.

 

They're predominantly PDLs with one or two default contracts in there. I don't think there's anything i can claim other than a reduction in charges. But even then they'll be written off by the DRO so will not be paid either way.

[mikeymack2002]

Good luck OP hope you finally get debt free

 

MM