wonga & portfolio recovery associates.

[JD0963]

in 2011 I took out a wonga loan (stupid i know)

 

I paid some of it back but then fell behind and was hit with the usual huge charges!

 

They wouldn't accept the minimum amount per month I could afford

and passed the debt to portfolio recovery associates.

 

Fast forward 3 years,

 

I have a new job working for a reputable IT firm.

 

I recieved a call from my manager today telling me a debt collection company have just phoned for me!

 

He was absolutely fuming with me.

 

The thing is - i have never given this number to any debt collection agency!

 

I got my job 2 months ago and have not heard from wonga or portfolio for almost a year.

 

I phoned the number spoke to a rude scottish lady who told me they ran a search to get any contact details they could.

 

Are they allowed to do this now?

 

It has made me look very unprofessional at work

and I am dreading going in tomorrow with people thinking im in a massive amount of debt or something.

[ericsbrother]

the guidelines say that they shouldnt contact you at work and they should never say they are debt collectors if they do speak to someone else when they do phone.

Complain in writing to the company and make it clear that you withdraw permission to phone you on any number any implied right to visit your home/place of work is also withdrawn and that any contact should be in writing only.

Can you imagine the difficulties it would cause if they had the wrong person so it will be for the good of the company if you complain

[JD0963]

They ran a search on me and got my works phone number thats what I am most annoyed about. They didn't say they were a debt collection company however they said they were portfolio recovery associates - my manager ran a quick search and found out himself. The woman I spoke to took the number off the system but I am just angry they even got it in the first place.

[renegadeimp]

Get a full complaint in and read http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?387367-Harassment-by-Telephone

 

They should NOT be calling you on your employers number if you never provided it to them.

[fkofilee]

I had this issue recently and caused a huge amount of embarrassment, i Hung them for it!

I would suggest phoning them and informing them that its to be in letter only, also i would say that you need to do this in writing as well to back it up (Right just noticed youve already done it)

Did they say that they would remove it or mark as a "Non Contactable"? They need to REMOVE it...

 

Guidelines or not, these companies still get away with this and shouldnt.

[renegadeimp]

They get away with it because nobody reports them. People say they do but they dont. Theyre just glad to have them off their backs.

[fkofilee]

Imp is right, contact the ICO & OFT... they have caused you embarrassment... and shouldnt have

[yorkshiremark]

What a lovely warm fluffy helpful bunch of nice people they are at Wonga...or so they want you to think with their propaganda better known as their TV adverts. However like the majority of the companies mentioned on here they are the same nasty sharks, I fell behind on a Wonga loan and MMF are chasing me for a £50 balance, it will be statute barred in June this year so guess what will happen after June. Bye bye MMF go and whistle for it.

[renegadeimp]

All PDL's are the same. They prey on vulnerable people in financial difficulty knowing that they can add on tons of charges and interest and the debtor wont know their rights and will pay it. See speedcredit/toothfairy/minicredit for proof of that.

[yorkshiremark]

I have complained to advertising standards about Wonga's TV ad, I have informed them of the unacceptable methods of debt recovery which people maybe subjected to after using Wonga, will update the thread when or if I get a reply.

[renegadeimp]

Nothing will happen. The ASA doesnt care about what happens after. They just control the content of the ad.

[yorkshiremark]

What a surprise, them Wonga ads makes me want to throw up