HFC bank lurking for interest - Alert and Help

[salfiore]

Just wanted to write about some recent experiences with HFC Bank/Beneficial Finance.

 

Having had 2 accounts for credit taken through Curry's superstore recently, I continue to be harassed by these people despite always paying on time and paying off within the interest free period (no dount to their displeasure).

 

Today I have recorded a telephone conversation. After receiving a worrying letter saying they needed to talk to me about the account (without any account number) I started the call stating that I didn't want to participate in a marketing call. A woman from Wolverhampton branch of Beneficial Finance (HFC bank) promised it was not a marketing call and saind that she was an Account Manager.

 

During the call it soon became evident that:

- she knew nothing of my account including the amount of payments I was making.

- It was a marketing call: She was interested only in selling me another loan that was not interest free.

- She would not send me information in writing about the payments made after claiming I was paying less than I actually am.

 

Most worring about all this is that when I recently reached the final interest free month of another account for the same store and same bank, Beneficial Finance/HFC started sending out incorrect statments claiming I was in arrears and also reporting payments I had never made and retracted payments that did not exist, threatening exorbitant charges if I did not pay up, despite not being in arrears at all.

 

The excuses each time are impressive and misleading ("need to discuss something in relation to your account", "probelms with your account" etc etc). I always just tell them to write but find the phone calls and letters harassing and distressful.

 

Clearly this interest-free account sold by Currys from HFC is just a cover for selling consolidation loans for people who cannot keep up payments on their store purchases.

 

But having had confirmation of this too late, my main question is: Can anyone advise of legal action that can be taken in this instance for the mismanagement of my account records and harassing behaviour of the bank?

 

Regards

Salvatore Fiore

[JOSH_IOU]

Welcome to the forum. see if this helps you.

 

Please take time to read the faq's

Please find your banks forum and start a thread;

(your user name) V (banks name)

use the template letters in order Stick to the timetable in there.

 

For instant live help please go to the chat room

 

Any advice given is purely based on personal experience and if in doubt you should seek further advice from a professional.

 

 

 

 

A-Z of useful links to this site.

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/post-436526.html

 

A list of head office departments to send your requests to

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/post-752168.html

 

Step by step instructions better safe than sorry!

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/faqs-please-read-these/31460-example-step-step-instructions.html

 

Templates If it aint broke dont fix it!

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/bank-templates-library/

 

Online claim or direct at court?

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/site-questions-suggestions/71369-getting-mcol-right.html#post614610

 

Finally good Luck.

jamesrap.

 

[Guest louis wu]

Hello, I suggest making a post in the general forum, there are people there who will have a much greater understanding of this issue.

 

Are you still recieving telephone calls? if so consider sending this

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/bank-templates-library/37006-harassment-telephone-response-letter.html

 

I would also consider asking for your complete transaction history with them, it costs £10, but if they are making false claims, it may will be useful to have a copy of what they are working from (and if there is wrong doing you should be able to claim it back). Hopefully, you have your bank statements to compare their info with your own bank statements to check the accuracy of there records.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/bank-templates-library/516-1-data-protection-act.html

 

Adjust it to suit your needs.

 

As to legal action, well, thats where the general forum should help, if it doesn't, PM me, and I will try to find someone that can help.

 

You are in the right place, it does get busy in here, but there are people happy to help.

 

Stick with this and best of luck

 

Louis

[salfiore]

Jamesrap, Louis Wu many thanks for your support and indications.

 

Will move the post asap.

 

Sal.