MMF Concerns (Lengthy Post)

[jasminej]

Hi, I am new here and would like to apologise in advance if this is in the wrong place and also for the length of my post,

I wanted to make sure I included everything.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

 

2 years ago my daughter passed away and I completely lost my way.

I became homeless and lost my job within a very short time frame.

I put myself into a lot of financial difficulty during this time and messed up a lot of my life.

I am in no way trying to make excuses for my behaviour and I take full responsiblity for what I have gotten myself into.

People go through a lot worse than I have and still manage not to get themselves into the bother I have.

 

After sofa surfing and spending days on the streets I finally deicded to try and turn my life around and sought help.

I was found a place in a hostel back in the city where I come from.

I was supported in getting my finances together and prioritising everything.

 

I contacted the bank to make payment arrangements for my unplanned overdraft.

They informed me it had been passed on to a debt collection agency and took my new address and had the agency contact me there.

I made payment arrangement plans and have stuck to them since.

 

My next steps were to contact the payday loan companies, who informed me they had also passed my details onto debt collection agencies.

I only heard from one of the agencies, which was MotorMile Finance, who contacted me and we made payment arrangements at £10.00 per week.

I gave them my email address but not my new phone number.

 

The person I dealt with seemed really helpful right up until they wanted bank details.

I emailed them back right away and informed them that I no longer had a bank account

and that I am in the process of paying off what I owe the bank but let her know that I was more than happy to pay by postal order.

 

I then received an email back informing me they could only do this by bank.

I emailed again what I had just told them and received a reply (from the same person) informing me that they do have bar codes

they can send out so that I can make a payment via a pay point.

This is ideal for me and a lot easier.

 

I received the bar code in a letter, emailed to activate it as intructed and made my first weekly payment.

I did this for another 6 weeks, until I received an email at around 3:30am informing me that they had not heard back

from me regarding my defaulted account.

This was a surprise to me as this was the first I had heard of it and I had been paying weekly.

 

I emailed to ask what was happening and heard nothing back.

I also went onto their website and emailed from there.

I heard nothing back from them except the automated emails in the early hours of the morning

instructing me to call to arrange a repayment plan or be referred for a home visit.

 

Over 8 days I emailed the two people I had previously dealt with,

sent emails to the email addresses I had managed to find and sent emails via their website and I heard nothing back.

 

Again I contacted them and explained that I felt that I was being purposely ignored

and explained my reasons for not wanting to talk over the phone as I wished for everything to be by post or email.

I felt and still feel that I was being ignored in order to phone them

- but then they can say whatever they like over the phone and I have no documents of it.

 

After 8 days of not hearing back I got an email from one of the women who had previously dealt with me.

I was told that I had defaulted my account as there had been more than 7 days between payments.

This was a complete misunderstanding on my part

- I thought that I was okay to pay weekly on whichever day as long as I paid it weekly.

I didn't realise that it had been be on the same day every week.

This may sound obvious to a lot of people but I honestly didn't know this.

 

because I had first paid on a Tuesday and paid on a different day the next week this defaulted me.

I explained that this was a misunderstanding on my part and we set a date for the payment to begin again.

 

I was also told I would be sent a plastic card that I could use to make the payments on.

No card turned up and I used my old bar code from a letter.

 

During this time I received another email informing me that I need to arrange a payment plan for my balance

within 5 days or they will send somebody out to visit me.

I contacted MotorMile and was ignored again.

 

After 3 days of emails I got an email to tell me that my payment plan was still in place

but the email was in regards to a second account they had just bought (it was the one I was waiting it hear from, from the other pay day loan)

 

We set up a payment arrangement plan at £5 per week per account.

I was told that the card would be sent out that day for my previous account

and that she had set up a standing order for the account we had just sorted out an arrangement plan on.

I let her know right away that I do not have a bank account and that any details of an account they have will be of no use.

She said she would send out two plastic cards.

 

I received the cards, activated them and made my first payment on the Wednesday as agreed.

The following Wednesday I made the payments again and again last Wednesday.

 

Before I left to make payments this morning I received a letter from MM informing me I had defaulted.

Knowing that I absolutely have not defaulted and feeling very frustrated I emailed the person who had been dealing with me

and asked why I had received this letter and how it was possible I had defaulted.

I also sent a photo of my payment receipts that show the amount and the dates.

 

I was emailed back almost immediately and told that after checking my account

she could see I have defaulted and that is why it had been passed to the collections team

and a home visit being arranged.

She said she would be happy to reset my account for a date.

 

I just want to get my payments sent and get all of this paid off, so I agreed about setting another date

but I stood my ground and politely asked how I had defaulted when I had the receipts to show I have paid on the right days,

the right amounts and haven't missed any payments.

 

I expressed how concerned I am that this is going to keep happening as it is really beginning to stress me out.

I am very ill at the moment and I really do want to get everything into order.

It just seems like I have had nothing but issues since trying to arrange repayments with this company.

 

I agreed to set the date for next Wednesday and for them to be as usual, each Wednesday and £5 for each card.

 

Within an hour I received a reply telling me that my account had been set for one payment PER MONTH on the 21st, £5 on each card..

. Now as great as that is for me as I am struggling to live just now.

I am very concerned at the offer.

 

When I very first tried to make payment arrangements on my first account with them I offered £20 a month but was refused.

Now with two accounts they are happy to accept £5 per month on each account?

 

I feel like perhaps this was a mistake, so I emailed back confirming one payment per month at £5 on each account.

I said this would be perfect for me and as usual once I start to earn more I will pay a higher amount on the accounts

as I genuinely want to get all of this paid off.

 

I have heard nothing back since but have a feeling that this time next week I am going to be bombarded with emails regarding

a defaulted account and/or needing to make a payment agreement on both accounts.

 

The person I have spoken to has been quite, but also very evasive at times.

I have been very polite throughout these emails but have expressed how fed up I am getting

and I have also expressed my concerns of paying these accounts when my payments seem to suddenly default

and details aren't updated on their system, as well as their communication not happening within the company.

 

I understand mistakes happen and people sometimes forget to do things but the amount of miscommunication does concern me.

Also, as petty as it sounds, they keep getting my name wrong.

It has repeatedly been spelt wrong which I can understand as people do often but I've been called two other names

that only begin with the first two letters of my name.

This makes me concerned as my details are right there in front of them.

 

Again that probably sounds petty but added up with everything else and how evasive they are being

and dodging answering my questions I can't help but wonder would this be better off going to court?

 

I am really unwell and could do without having to go to court but the stress of this is really getting to me.

I feel I shouldn't complain as I have brought all of this upon myself but I do genuinely want to get this paid

and I am trying to turn my life around and settle down.

 

Once again, apologies for the lengthly post.

I wanted to give as much detail as I could as nothing has been at all straightforward with this company

and I am very concerned that my payment plans are going to permanently be failing one way or another.

 

Has anybody else had this problem with MMF before?

 

And would I be better off letting this go to court?

 

Thank you for reading. Any input would be appreciated.

[citizenB]

I have asked someone on the site team to look in and advise - please be aware that they are volunteers and most have day jobs so it might not be until later today that you receive a response.

 

In the meantime, can you please advise if all interest has ceased on the PDLs ?

 

Do you know if there have been any default/penalty charges applied ?

 

What is the total of debt you owe to ALL your creditors ?

 

If under £15,000 in total it might be in your interest to enter a Debt Relief Order - if you have no significant assets, then you would most likely be debt free within the year.

 

Have a word with National Debtline - details below, whilst you are waiting for caggers to look in and advise

 

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/Pages/default.aspx

 

Call us free on

0808 808 4000

 

Monday to Friday

9am to 9pm

Saturday 9.30am to 1pm

[jasminej]

Hi,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I have been feeling so very stressed recently.

I know I have brought all of this on myself but I am trying to pay back everything that I owe.

 

I feel MMF have completely messed me around and then gone for periods of ignoring me but sending autpmated emails threatening legal action.

 

When I ask them questions they are evasive and I feel I cannot trust this latest payment arrangement of £5 per month

on both of my accounts as it seems extremely low when before they refused a monthly payment.

 

As far as I know the interest payments have been frozen.

There is a massive interest add-on to my second loan in particular from when they bought the loan but that has been frozen it seems.

 

They haven't shown any charges for the defaults, though with the first default it was my own misunderstanding

they seemed to be happy to reset the payment plan and with this 'default' they haven't mentioned any charges,

but have also ignored any of my questions as to how and why my account has defaulted

when I showed them the proof of my payments on the agreed Wednesday's.

They just offered to set a new payment date.

 

It's very frustrating when I didn't default on the last 3 payments yet they are saying that I did.

 

Thankfully they haven't added any charges though.

 

The total amount for my debts is less than £10000.

 

I will look into the link you have provided.

 

Thank you again.

[citizenB]

MMF are not a pleasant company at all and IMHO, you have been treated quite shabbily by them and it might be worth making a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman in respect of their treatment of you.

 

Have a read of the following link and see if you think you would be up to making a complaint

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?399260-Feel-that-you-ve-been-treated-unfairly-by-your-Payday-loan-lender-COMPLAIN-TO-THE-FOS!!

[jasminej]

I will have a read through that just now.

I was thinking of making a complaint a while back when I mentioned that I was ignored for over 8 days.

 

During that time I sent message after message, via their website and through all of the emails I have for them.

It wasn't just the same message, it was new messages, including my original message that was being ignored.

 

During this time I continued to receive the usual threats of legal action unless I contacted them. It's just very frustrating.

I really do not see how I have defaulted on this arrangement.

I ahve the receipts and photos of the receipts proving the dates and payments and yet it was ignored twice a

nd a whole new payment arrangement has been set up.

 

I just want it paid off and having my account flagged for a default that hasn't happened,

then being ignored and addressed by wrong names really concern me.

 

I was asked to confirm my address more than once as it wasn't on their system even though I've been receiving letters from them.

It's one thing after another really. I have explained to them I just want to get it paid

and that I am very unwell and could do without the mess around.

 

Thank you again.

[citizenB]

Sadly MMF will intimidate - bully - harass, all against the debt collection guidelines.. Hopefully if sufficient people make complaints about them, the FCA and FOS will do something about them.

 

They will also tell fibs - such as you have broken a payment arrangement, when this is untrue. You should keep all the messages from them, and do not be bullied into telephoning them !

[dx100uk]

IMHO I seriously question why you are paying MMF anything!!

 

if you owe money

 

pay the original creditor.

 

dx

[jasminej]

I have kept copies of all emails to and from MMF. I have also kept all of the letters I have received from them.

 

dx100uk,

when I first moved into a temporary housing unit and sorted through what I owed I tried to pay back the original creditors

and was simply dismissed and told they would pass my updated details onto the collection agencies they had sold the debts on to.

 

I didn't know I could still pay them back. T

 

here had been a period of time since I owed the money to sorting myself out to pay off the debts.

[sequenci]

Hello,

 

Some great advice from my fellow team compadres has been posted up. If you've taken time to read through the site you'll see that we have scores and scores of people having significant dificulties with MMF. Quite frankly, they are the worst DCA I have ever had the misfortune to come across - and I work in the industry. When dealing with any creditor it is important to offer what you can realistically afford, this could be as low as a pound per month. If you were to try and negotiate payment you should always submit a financial statement to reinforce the fact that your offer is fair. If you have a number of debts then Citizen B's suggestion of a Debt Relief Order could be well worth looking into. They are very powerful, easy to set up and will have you debt-free in a year. Here are a couple of other useful fact sheets for you:

 

1. Harassment: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/03%20EW%20Harassment%20by%20creditors%20and%20debt%20collectors/Default.aspx

 

2. Complaining about a lender: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/34%20EW%20Complaining%20about%20your%20lender/Default.aspx

 

We're here to help, you've come to the right place.

 

Seq.

[dx100uk]

you need to nail down 'what' they sold on

 

an sar might be in order here

if the PDL's are inflated with penalty charges

 

its open season with getting these removed or reclaimed at present

 

the FCA are getting VERY fed up

with PDL's adding unlawful charges then selling debts on.

 

again I stress

I would not ever pay MMF anything!

 

dx

[jasminej]

Thank you all for your helpful and understanding replies.

 

I have been having a difficult time speaking to anybody I know about this as they feel as frustrated as I do.

 

A close friend of mine works for a collection agency and she's heard all kinds of bad stories about companies.

 

I have never owed money before this and I am currently paying Capquest for the unplanned overdraft charges from my old bank account.

 

Despite hearing nothing but bad stories with them I have had no issues so far and have had no contact apart from a letter showing me my payments

which I requested.

 

It is only MMF who I have had so much issues with.

[jasminej]

I requested some more information on where the excess charges came from on one of the debts with them as I understood there would be some extra charges but not literally over a thousand pounds worth. My requests were avoided and eventually I received a reply informing me that I agreed to these charges when I took out the pay day loan and that if I didn't take out the loan to report fraud. I didn't say at any point I hadn't taken out the loan and I repeated that I was curious to know how the charges got so high when my other loan didn't get that steep. I am completely new to all of this and clearly clueless.

[jasminej]

After asking some questions I was ignored of my questions but received an email that included this in part of it

 

Orig loan value: 150.00 Loan interest: 45.00 Refinance Fee: 1812.00 Late Direct Debit fees: 51.00 Amount Paid: 0.00

 

I was then told that I had agreed to this when I accepted the loan so I took it as that I had. My refinance fee on my other loan is no where near as high as this one and the loan was for slightly more.

[citizenB]

After asking some questions I was ignored of my questions but received an email that included this in part of it

 

Orig loan value: 150.00 Loan interest: 45.00 Refinance Fee: 1812.00 Late Direct Debit fees: 51.00 Amount Paid: 0.00

 

I was then told that I had agreed to this when I accepted the loan so I took it as that I had. My refinance fee on my other loan is no where near as high as this one and the loan was for slightly more.

 

That refinance fee looks incredibly high ??

 

Direct your attention to speaking to Nat Debtline and getting the payment arrangements or decide whether you might want to do the DRO first. Then I would sit down and draft the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman.

[sequenci]

You absolutely need to involve the FOS.

[dx100uk]

hey I question your logic in paying crapest too

on OD charges they are unlawful.

 

that's why the bank sold the debt on

 

what/who else are you blindly paying because you think you 'have too?'

 

DCA's ARE NOT BAILIFFS!

 

sounds like to me you need to start a few threads off around the relevant bank forums about all these 'debts'

[fletch70]

I understand why MMF are getting to you. Please remember that their harassment of you is not your fault. There are plenty of rules about how they should act but they ignore them all and are possibly the most incompetent bunch that ever walked the face of the earth. I hate them with a passion.

 

Those fees are, as Citizen B said extraordinarily high. Do you know just how much you have paid back to them?

 

I really do think that Sequenci's idea of talking to national debt line is a great one . If you are on benefits I would be offering at most £1 per month per debt although if it were me I would be taking a different tactic and not paying them at all until they proved that they had the right to collect.

 

To be honest if you have no assets and no income it is possible that they would not even try to issue proceedings at all. I haven't paid a penny to any of my creditors in over 2 years and to date non of them have taken any action, I send the odd letter and email off to them saying contact me in writing, do not visit my home or please prove my liability

[jasminej]

Apart from a little debt from my previous tenancy and council tax from the same address, which I have almost paid off, these are the only companies I'm paying to.

 

I will definitely make a complaint about this. I didn't think I had any ground to stand on if I stood up against them. I'm absolutely terrified of being homeless again and have been worried about their threats as I haven't got the money for court costs. I questioned them several times on their refinance fee and was ignored and eventually I received the refinance information I included previously from one person and received this email from somebody else on the same day...

 

Thank you for your email. We currently hold 2 accounts for yourself. Please see below for a breakdown of interest & charges for each.

 

Account 1 MMF Reference: xxxxxx Outstanding Balance: £2,058.00 Debt Type: Ariste Holding Ltd t/a Cash Genie

 

Original Loan Amount: £150.00 Loan Fixed Interest: £45.00 Default Interest: £1,812.00 Collection Charges: £51.00

 

Account 2 MMF Reference: xxxxxx Outstanding Balance: £469.72 Debt Type: Wonga Payday Loans

 

Loan Open Date: £275.00 Loan Fixed Interest: £224.22 Default Interest: £30.50

 

Please note that when you took out these loans you signed a legal agreement agreeing to the interest and charges that would be added to your balance if the accounts defaulted.

 

Regards, xxxxx Administration Clerk Motormile Finance UK Ltd (MM

 

 

What was called the refinance fee by another person is called a default fee by this person. I'm a little confused by this and my questions go unanswered. I've never had to deal with anything like before so I thought I had to arrange to pay them right away or be taken to court. That probably sounds naïve but I received so many different emails about court, etc. It's really stressed me out. When I received the email informing me of the debt over £1000 with MMF I completely panicked.

 

My debts aren't high as some others and I know I shouldn't let myself worry sick about them but I really can't help it. I just want to get my life back on track and any time I try to ask questions I get ignored or a reply that doesn't answer my questions or repeats what they have already said.

 

I have so far paid around £90.00 to them. I will contact National Debt Line today.

[citizenB]

You only need read round other threads regarding MMF to see exactly what type of company they are.. despicable is the best I can come up with, without breaking forum rules !

 

They rely on the vulnerability of a "victim" and consider the rules and regulations dont apply to them.

 

Speak to National Debtline, see what they have to say.. please do let us know how you get on

[fkofilee]

Congratulations on getting your life back in order. I have quickly skimmed the posts as while i cannot really do any better than the wonderful admin team, let me make this clear.

STOP ENTERTAINING MMF. Full stop. We are all right that they are possibly one of the worst DCAs to ever hit the market.

 

Could I possibly suggest looking at your credit file to see how bad this is through Noddle? I wonder if MMF have taken over any defaults on there?

I hope NDL can help you! And if you need anymore advice deffo come back here

[fletch70]

Hi

Just a few things to try and help you see things in perspective

1) If they were to take you to court should you lose any costs would be added to your CCJ . On those you only pay what you can afford and if you are on benefits that would be £1 per month if you filled the forms in correctly . Plenty of people that can help you do that , for example National debt line

2) I can see no reason why you should lose your home

 

With regard to the default/extra interest , even the PDL companies signed up to a code of conduct which I am including where they state that they will stop interest after 60 days of non payment so the amounts should be a lot lower. Having said that , a court would possible class them as unfair[ATTACH=CONFIG]51307[/ATTACH]

 

As for having power against them , the FCA has set down lots of rules. What you need is the FCA sourcebook particularly Conc7 http://fshandbook.info/FS/html/handbook/CONC

These are the standards that companies have to uphold and if they don't you can complain

 

 

You do have rights, try not to let them walk all over you. That is how they work by bullying

[citizenB]

fletch, your link doesnt work for me.. so I have googled it.. Is this the one you have posted ?

 

http://fshandbook.info/FS/html/FCA/CONC/7

[fletch70]

Lol it doesn't work for me either lol. I have the source book. Can you add it for me if I email it?

[dx100uk]

£150 loan now £1850 ... what a joke...STOP PAYING THEM NOW

 

they are taking you for a fool!!

 

dx

[citizenB]

Fletch, as you can see we are linking to it..

 

 

 

We are linking to it with conc as above