Are 1st Credit being fair and correct?

[Gingerheid]

My thread here was really a bit of a joke at 1st Credit's expense; http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collectors-debt-collection/73108-1st-credit-noting-contents.html

 

But there is a more serious point to it; They are useless. Run rings round them.

 

They are also very abusive on the phone.

 

If you do receive an abusive call from anyone; take a deep breath and don't let it get to you; remember that it is you that is in control. They want to speak to you, and if they want to they will have to show you basic respect and abide by your standards.

 

- The call is being recorded, even it is it not. Make them agree to you recording the call; explain that it will not be possible for the call to continue if they do not agree. "Once you have started the recording", get them to reconfirm for the benefit of the tape. At the end, ask them if they want you to send them a copy of the recording for their records.

 

- If they interrupt; make them listen to you and don't listen to them until they have. You let them have their say, make them let you have yours. Be firm, but polite. And more importantly, irritatingly patronising.

 

"Excuse me, you seem to have accidentally started to talk when I was, I'm sure you didn't intend to, but I listened to what you had to say so please listen to me until I have finished what I have to say."

 

- If they are disrespectful; they must apologise to you before you continue the conversation

 

- If they make a sweeping dismissive statement, make them justify it. They do not move on until they have. A matter that is raised must be dealt with; you cannot move on until it has been. It must be taken to the stage where it makes sense to you or they admit it doesn't.

 

- Control the flow of the conversation; they move on once they have dealt with matters that they raised to the satisfaction of you understanding.

 

"It is important for both of us that we make sure this issue is dealt with properly before moving on. unresolved issues or points of confusion will not help either of us in the long run. Therefor please confirm why you believe that the Statute of Limitation does not apply to your organisation. I also need to know what other statutes your organisation has been exempted from, how this exemption was granted, and by whom."

 

- Remember where you were; if they try to move on too soon, remember where you need to take them back to.

 

- But don't bother asking for managers. Even if you did get to speak to a real one, that's making life easier for the caller as they didn't have to deal with you when you are being difficult. They probably hate the manager anyway. If they want you to speak to a manager tell them that you want to deal with them, as they phoned and as it is them that said XXXX. Why are they raising issues that they then can't deal with?

 

- Never feel embarrassed by the fact that a conversation might not get anywhere if you do the above; it is their fault. Tell tham that the conversation is not achieving anything, because they are not providing you with a small number of things that are perfectly reasonable to request and that in any case they ought to be giving without being asked. Might they perhaps wish to take advantage of an opportunity to collect their thoughts and put them in writing at a later date?

[Gingerheid]

You are shaming me into action. I really need to do the trading standards for harrassment thing on them too, but just haven't had the time...

 

They do seem to specialise in collecting debts that don't exist. I have proof issued by their client that mine doesn't...

 

But right now I am off to bed...

[Gingerheid]

As both are public information, as as I'm sure they want people to get in touch with them to discuss debts so that matter can be resolved, from their website:

 

 

Contact Us

1st Credit's head office is located at-

The Omnibus Building

Lesbourne Road

Reigate

Surrey

RH2 7JP

Telephone 01737 228 555

Facsimile: 0870 164 2070

Email: [email protected]