Hi Everyone

[BOS67]

Hi All,

 

I am very happy to have found this site, and the like minded people in it. It is a welcome thought that you are not alone in the almost daily grind against the "bully boy" attitude of those institutions that exist to serve themselves rather than their customers.

 

Well off the soapbox for a moment - a bit about myself. I have more than one credit card debt sold on to collection companies, as well as a bank account in arrears. I am hoping to find any tips and advice in dealing with these guys:

 

1. To make day to day life easier to live again.

2. To maximise my debt repayment rather than the collection company's profit margin.

3. To try and recover some of the charges paid on my overdraft facilities over the years.

4. To try an help anyone else in the community by the benefit of my experiences.

 

Look forward to talking to you all.

 

BOS67

[Mamie]

Hi and welcome to CAG first read all the FAQs, then start a new thread in the forum of the bank/ credit card or the debt section, you are claiming against, that is were you will get the most help. Good Luck

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/faq.php

[sadsue]

Hello BOS67,

 

Only just joined myself. Banks! .... a necessary evil. Don't you just HATE them!

[BOS67]

Hi Sadsue,

 

Good to hear from you. Can't live without them but don't have to love them.

 

Look forward to chatting with you over my time - mostly likely to be a considerable period.

 

Bye.

[vandermerwe]

Hi BOS 67.

 

First of all "welcome". I was a newbie 3 months ago but have learned a great deal since.

 

To answer your questions, my advice would be:

 

1. For an easier life let the CCCS (Consumer Credit Counselling Service) set up a debt management plan (DMP) for you. It will cost you nothing other than, of course, the money you pay to the sharks. Contact them on 0800

138-1111. Also contact National Debtline (0808 808-4000 National Debtline, for FREE CONFIDENTIAL and INDEPENDENT ADVICE call 0808 808 4000) They, too, are a charity and although I have a DMP with CCCS I find National Debtline's fact sheets more comprehensive.

 

2. You are faced with three type of collectors, namely:

[franbilljock]

hello i am new to this site and hope it will be helpfull

[vandermerwe]

Hi Bos 67.

 

You can tell I'm a newbie too. My message has been cut short or so it would appear.

 

Funny things can happen, so I'll check later and if I'm still minus a bit in the helpful department will try again.

 

Meantime, good luck.

 

Van

[sadsue]

Hi Sadsue,

Good to hear from you.

Look forward to chatting with you over my time - mostly likely to be a considerable period.

Bye.

 

Thank you ...

 

With all the probs I have at the moment it could be an extremely long time ...

 

What a brilliant site this is though, has been such a help already ... (sticks thumb up in place of a suitable smilie, lol)

[ukaviator]

Hello Boss67 and Franbilljock

 

Welcome to CAG. You will need to send off an S.A.R. ( Subject Access Request ), to all of the companies you have credit with. It costs £10 for the full report per company. If you have 2 accounts with the same bank, it is still £10 for the data they hold, not £10 per account.

 

Also have a read of the FAQ's and the forums under your banks name, to understand how the process works. When you are ready, post a thread under your banks name to keep us posted on your progress.

 

There are some links below to help you get around.

 

Ukaviator