Mass complaint ;Add your name here if a dca has acted incorrectly with your account.

[hixie30]

CAPQUEST and H.L. LEGAL, firstly CAPQUEST I have paid these parasites hundreds of pounds for nearly 2 years and they claim i owe still around the same as i did back in 05! Thanks to H.L. LEGAL who add to my account when i cant afford to pay £190 each time for court costs and solicitors costs ( even though they are not supposed to be solicitors from what i read on here!! ) what apt timing finding this board i have only just opened another H.L.LEGAL notice for demand of £110 court costs and £80 solicitors fees only 30 mins ago!! im now going back to the board for searching the cca request i gotta do something these people are doing my head in!

[elizabeth1]

I reckon I ought to add Lowell Portfolio 1 Ltd here - cause CAP1 just wrote to me saying that they have passed my account to them!!!!!

 

Despite CAP1 saying they'd taken the charges off the ammount defaulted back in Dec 2006 - they now have sent the "whole" amount to this crowd - THEY ARE HAVING A LAUGH!!!

 

CAP1 haven't completed the SAR since August 2006 - haven't completed the CCA request - and now they set their dogs on me cause I challenged them!! Sure hopes this gets to court cause I plan to wipe the floor with CAP1 and their dogs!!

[melaniebree]

my friend's son is having a huge problem with callserve. i wondered which route you had taken to settle your issues with them and if you could give me some pointers please?

 

many thanks

[sazz]

Hi Martin, I've not been around for ages, back at University and life in general!

I'll post back with my details but suffice to say, BOS employing 6 different DCAs and 3 different so-called 'solicitors' for two accounts is below the belt...

 

i'll have more details later, I'm skiving in the library at uni so I really should get some work done

[dollies01]

My vote goes to Lowell finance, aka, capt 1 aka Hamptons for total disregard of cca requests, and continuously harrassing and bullying over debts that are in dispute.

[tiglet]

ECI Debt for chasing something over 10 years old and trying to forec me into making a payment over the phone, even though I disputed the debt existed (who can remember ten years ago at Uni? I believe far too much cider was involved ...)

 

Moorcroft/Wescot/Roxburghe/Apex/BCW - chasing the same two debts at the same time. CCA's went in the poss yesterday.

[qprouk]

moorcroft i have just sent them my letter of complaint again since they nicked a quid from me they are now doing the silent phone calls again ive had six this week,really getting very angry but i did hear dont get angry get even so this i will do

[ANNALH]

WESCOT CREDIT SERVICES LTD.

 

I am claiming refund of all monies paid to them and I complained to Hull TS because Wescot couldnt provide me with a copy agreement or deed of assignment within 30 days. Wescot admitted they didnt have a copy of the agreement and said they would try to get one off HFC who they bought the debt off. They told me they bought the debt but have never sent me a deed of assignment.

 

I complained to Hull TS and apparently Wescot Credit Services Ltd (who I am claiming against) do not own the debt they are just collecting it on behalf of The Wescot Group! According to Hull TS this means they do not have to have the correct documents and they have done nothing to break the law, blah blah blah.

 

Im at the end of my tether with these people, and TS are not getting the point!

 

Anna

[gavv8]

bcw group and moorcroft for chasing the same debt at the same time.

moorcroft are bl**dy obnoxious and bcw don't appear to own any stationary... just a phone with a shouty kid on the other end.

[sarah6]

debitas for cap one as after making regular payments then loosing job they were unwilling to reduce payments and wanted it paid in full when i cancelled dd. they now phone almost everyday and i'm refusing to pay more as i sent SAR for charges and they prob owe me more than i owe them.

[sarahpp]

bcw group and moorcroft for chasing the same debt at the same time.

moorcroft are bl**dy obnoxious and bcw don't appear to own any stationary... just a phone with a shouty kid on the other end.

 

Ah yes, BCW. They like to conduct all of their business via the telephone. I have posted on a couple of threads for them.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-debt/47693-buchanan-clark-wells-scotcall.html#post382663

[sarahpp]

Just as a side issue - I saw a guy from the Credit Services Association on Watchdog the other night saying that his Association had only received 77 complaints last year about DCAs. He seemed to think that this was because most of his members play by the rules. I suspect that the truth has more to do with the fact that most people

 

A. Have little faith in an industry body "policing its' own"

 

B. Are so stressed about being chased/ relieved when they have sorted

the problem out that they don't want the stress of dragging it out any

further.

 

C. Know about complaining to the OFT but, don't realise that they can also lodge a complaint with the CSA.

 

All of the above concerns are understandable and, to be honest I have lodged complaints with the OFT and Trading Standards but, not yet with the CSA for much the same reasons. However, the CSA code of practice claims to expect members to abide by the OFT guidelines and many members are clearly not. I am going to go through my list of complaints and send each one to the CSA and I would urge other posters to do the same if they feel that they have a legitimate complaint and the DCA is a member of the CSA.

 

I know that it is an industry body regulating its own members but, at the moment it can justifiably say that if people don't complain then, they can't investigate.

 

Here is a link to their website for the code of practice etc

 

Home Page

[Guest Battleaxe]

Has anyone sent this thread to the CSA and Watchdog?. It's up to 61 complaints, this should help knock the smugness off his face

[elizabeth1]

Sarahpp,

 

I agree with this - I also complained to OFT and TS - didn't realise that I could complain to CSA too. I will follow the link and will send copies of my compalints to them etc.. - if nothing else it backs up that there are actually problems out here?

 

I am sure others have done similar too and could copy complaints to CSA too ?

[Guest Battleaxe]

I have just contact the CSA regarding Reliable Collections and Moorcroft

[sarahpp]

I have just contact the CSA regarding Reliable Collections and Moorcroft

 

Goodness me BA - you are quick off the mark. I have got to at least have another cup of tea before I get started on mine!!

[sarahpp]

Sarahpp,

 

I agree with this - I also complained to OFT and TS - didn't realise that I could complain to CSA too. I will follow the link and will send copies of my compalints to them etc.. - if nothing else it backs up that there are actually problems out here?

 

I am sure others have done similar too and could copy complaints to CSA too ?

 

Yes, you can complain to the CSA if the firm is a member (most are). There should be a little CSA emblem somewhere on the letter if they are. I have noticed when sifting through my correspondence that even if the actual DCA isn't sometimes the solicitors they use are.

[Guest Battleaxe]

I have had my complaints zipped and ready to go for ages. Just scan and add the letters to the file as they arrive.

 

Funny thing is when I write and tell the DCA's I am reporting them to the relevant authorities they change therr tone, but I have the letters so it makes no difference. Reliable tells me my files with them are on hold. Moorcroft have back right off.

[dannyboy660]

Remember, the CSA is the body that represents the interests of DCA's - they don't act unless they get a sizeable number of complaints about the same company, and then they just expel them from the association and refer them to the OFT. It's OFT who issue licenses and have to take any complaint very seriously.

 

There has been mention that Lowell are under investigation due to the rising number of complaints about their handling of statute barred debts, and pursuing the wrong people. My complaint was dealt with individually, it was before I knew this site existed and I thought I was on my own. :-(

[Guest Battleaxe]

This is the reply I have just received from the CSA

 

CSA Complaints Procedure Information

Further to your recent contact, please find enclosed a copy of the Code of Practice of the Credit Services Association, which I hope will provide key information with regard to our members’ obligations. Also enclosed is an official complaints form. All formal complaints must be received in writing using this form with the authority on the last page duly signed.

Often problems can be resolved quickly and directly if you contact the CSA contact within the member company:

You state your problem is with: Moorcroft Debt Recovery

The contact there is: Andrew McRoberts Tel: 0161 477 2222

If you do wish to lodge a formal complaint with us, please note that the CSA can only deal with apparent violations of the Code of Practice.

For the purpose of clarification, the following issues are examples of those upon which we cannot act:

a) We cannot interfere in the collection procedures of members unless they violate the code.

b) We cannot consider complaints in matters which are the responsibility of our member’s clients, such as unsatisfactory goods or services supplied.

c) We cannot stop a member contacting a debtor when they are going about their legitimate business in collecting an outstanding debt for a client.

d) We cannot insist that a member double-checks the information supplied by the client in good faith.

e) If instalment arrangements have been discussed, we cannot say what is reasonable and we cannot force members to accept instalments.

f) The Association cannot involve itself in claims for compensation.

Naturally, if any of these matters can be seen to violate our code, this is a different matter and of course each case is individual, but we hope this gives you some indication of our role in the industry.

Yours sincerely

 

Claire Aynsley

Code & Compliance Executive

Credit Services Association

 

Serving the credit industry

Tel: 0191 2865656

Fax: 0191 2860900

Visit our Web site at: www.csa-uk.com

[sarahpp]

Remember, the CSA is the body that represents the interests of DCA's - they don't act unless they get a sizeable number of complaints about the same company, and then they just expel them from the association and refer them to the OFT. It's OFT who issue licenses and have to take any complaint very seriously.

 

 

 

Yes, I think I covered this in my earlier post. Complaints need to be made to both organisations.

[sarahpp]

Battleaxe- that reply seems almost as if it is designed to put you off making a complaint isn't it?

 

Their code of practice clearly states that they expect members to abide by the OFT guidelines so, it follows that if you are putting in an official complaint to the OFT about a specific breach of their guidelines, a complaint should also go in to the CSA about the same breach (if they are a member).

[dannyboy660]

Often problems can be resolved quickly and directly if you contact the CSA contact within the member company:

 

 

The CSA contact within the Company, as all CSA member organisations will have, is almost certainly an employee of the DCA, not the CSA, and merely a 'liason'. Therein lies the problem.

 

Contacting the 'CSA contact' within the company merely alerts them to fact you are going to be difficult and need to tripped up or put off somehow.

 

The OFT is the Govt organisation that allows these people to operate, and therefore have to investigate complaints independently, and fully.

 

I'm just playing Devil's Advocate here and wondering if it's worthwhile involving the DCA's union (CSA) at all, because that is effectively what they are. I bypassed tham totally, went to OFT and caught the DCA by surprise, and unaware a complaint/investigation was coming.

 

Of course, they'd have to take notice of a mass complaint.

 

Just a thought.

[sarahpp]

I take your point Danny but, I was advocating the Official Complaint route for a code violation rather than approaching the CSA rep at the DCAs. This reference from BAs reply is clearly designed to try to avoid an official complaint to the CSA direct but, I still think that Official complaints directly to both the OFT and CSA are a valid course of action. Unless of course we want the guy from the CSA sitting on a Consumer Programme next year saying that he has only received a small number of complaints and therefore this must mean that most of his members are following the code of practice.

[dannyboy660]

I get what you mean, but CSA will go on 'Watchdog' or whatever at any time now or in the future and tell you everything's fine and dandy and someone's had their knuckles rapped, because that's what the DCA's pay their membership fees for. The CSA to defend them as a collective group, and as individual Companies.

 

A mass complaint probably should involve the CSA, you're right in that. But individuals may find they are wasting their time with the CSA. "We do have teeth you know....." to quote that guy on Watchdog. Why don't they use them to make their members toe the line?? Because it's not in their interest to bite the hand that feeds them.

 

Personally, I'd rather hit them full blast with their shields down and cloaking device disabled, and do some lasting damage. After all, isn't that what they try to do us...whether you owe the debt or not??

 

S'cuse the Star Trek stuff, I'm still a kid at heart;)