debt collectors

[kellym]

Its started the dreaded phone calls every day it just horrid living like this and I got an awful call last night. Barclaycard have sold me on to a debt collecting agency, I had no idea they were doing this no letters all calls from them at all! I have only missed 3 payments thought they would warn me first. Guess they have done it as they have got letter from me advising an IVA and I think my practitioner has informed all my debts too. Well my problem is do I pay them some token payments as I really dont want to have people knocking at my door? I am months away from an IVA yet as I am about to apply for a remortgage next week for a f+f but this will tak 4-6 weeks thats before the IVA is started and I have not paid any debts for about 3 months already now. My practitioner has everything ready to start but cant do much without a mortgage offer. Im really worried now please help!

Smile it makes people wonder what you have been up to!

[Andrew Graveson]

Hi Kellym,
I think it's unlikely that anyone will turn up on your doorstep for a while. That's a really expensive option for the new owner of the debt and they'd much rather sort things out by phone or post.
Token payments do tend to slow down the collections procedures of debt collectors; as does taking the time to explain your circumstances to them. Collections procedures tend to accelerate where the owner of the debt feels you are ignoring their efforts to reach agreement.


Andrew Graveson
Independent Mortgage Broker & MD Bright Oak Debt Management
andrew@brightoak.co.uk
www.brightoak.co.uk

[tracy.h]

Hi Kelly
Welcome to the forum,i to have barclays as one of my creditors for now as i'm making reduced payments they have kept my debt in house.
I think its Mercers that take over barclays debts,but as Andrew said they would much rather hassle you for payment than go to the expense of sending someone round,but even if they did you are legaly within your rights to tell them to go away,or ignore them.
If you are in the iva process then inform your iva firm if you keep getting threats,that is what they are there for.
All i can say is hang in there hopefully you will get your F+F excepted and move on.

Goodluck
Tracy

[tracy.h]

Regarding token payments find out what your ip's stance on this is.

[kellym]

Hi Tracy

Yes the call was from Mercers. I will contact my ip on Monday to see what they say I am usually really strong about the calls and stuff but it was so unexpected last night I had no idea they had sent it to a debt collection agency so it shocked me a little as i have never owed to a debt collection agency before. I know things can only get better and my hubby has just got a good job so I should be positive. Thanks for your help its funny but when it all happens to you it feels your the only one in the world this is happening to and you forget they must call 100's of people a week lol.

Smile it makes people wonder what you have been up to!

[Sensible77]

The calls can be really hard to deal with. If you can, get a phone with caller ID and don’t answer the ones you don’t recognise. You can Google the number afterwards to see who it was. Fortunately for myself, I didn’t get that many calls. If it’s that important they should write to you. What accurate record does anyone have of a verbal communication? The most frequent caller was Sky after I cancelled their service. I never answered any of them and they have stopped now. If I get a number starting 0800, 0870 etc. I just ignore them. I’ve also registered wit the Telephone Preference Service, http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/, which has reduced, but not completely stopped these types of calls.

[kellym]

Hi Sensible77 that sounds a good idea will invest in a phone with caller Id. Barclays loans have been really good keep putting calls on stop for 14 days at a time but for some reason Barclaycard have just done it different. Most places have been understanding of the business failing and given us a little time but it is running out now so fingers crossed mortgage can bee done quick. i am hoping for a christmas deadline start the new year a fresh start.

Smile it makes people wonder what you have been up to!

[Storm]

TPS won't stop creditor calls - it was developed to prevent cold calls / sales calls.

If you ignore creditor calls the intensity of calls can rise significantly.

[Sensible77]

Storm - you're right about TPS not stopping creditors call, but I was surprised at the number of companies ringing me about offering a way out of my IVA. The TPS stopped those calls.

I refused to speak to any of my creditors as the people ringing new nothing of my situation. I wrote to each of them, which is why I think I didn't get many calls.

[Soulgrowth]

Sensible's suggestion abou the caller ID is a very sound one ... this is exactly what I did and it really helped.

Debbie

www.babynamings.co.uk

www.soulgrowth.co.uk