I have just had a delightful conversation with Mercers!!
I told them my creditors meeting date and she said that if I didn't pay £26 now, what would I do if my IVA wasn't accepted? If I paid up now, they would accept me paying £26 per month in the future, but if I din't then they would chase me for the balance.
It took approx 22 minutes for her to tell me that, and then insisted they have no knowldge of my IVA
All I can say is that her job must be so depressing, talking and bullying people the way she did all day long.
I'm not generally a big wuss, but that did upset me after my positive day yesterday
In situations like this it might be better to just say bye and hang up. I do normally advise my clients to speak to creditors and keep them informed but not to bang their heads against a brick wall.
These people are awful and are probably paid a basic salary and then made up with bonus by getting there Clients to pay up - hence the agressive tactics.
I almost took a job with a Debt Recovery Firm about 10 years ago but did not due to my conscience and I was out of work as well!!!!
I too had a phonecall on monday asking me for £638 of arrears, I tried telling the gent on the phone my situation etc etc etc. He wouldn't give up, wanted it paid by debit card (which I explained I do not have anymore) And then he finally reduced the payment to £5. (Big jump) Finally he got the grasp of the IVA and said he would ring back another day - they rang 11 times in total that day [:p]
I think it's awful too, like Michael suggests talk to your creditors, explain the situation once without getting interrupted and terminate the call. You'll have been polite and informative.
IVA final payment left the bank on the 26th January 2013...looking forward to a debt free future.
These phone calls just get ridiculous don't they?! MBNA have been sneaky with me today. They tried to call me at home yesterday but I was out, so today they phoned me at work. Not on my extension, but to the main reception number. I never gave them this as a contact number but I am guessing they found it by searching for my employer on my original application for the cc. I felt mortified when reception put the call through saying it's a personal call from MBNA. I just told them they would have to call be back at home and said what time I would be home. So far no call but when they do ring back I am going to give them a piece of mind. They have contact numbers for me without searching for alternative work numbers to embarrass me on.
My husband and I got quite a few calls when we were waiting for our IVA's to be accepted (in fact we are still getting one creditor calling about 8 times per day) - what we do now is refuse to answer the security questions - thus the conversation can not go any further (we just mention data protection etc and hang up) [:)]
Don't get me started on Mercers! They were the bane of my life.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
It makes my blood boil when I see creditors pestering people at their workplaces - particularly when they are perfectly well aware that IVA proposals are in preparation.
I am speaking at a conference in two weeks time which will be well attended by all of the main creditors and their representatives. I will be mentioning this issue and trying to find out why it is continuing - but I do suspect that a lot of IP firms do not actually write to creditors until the proposals are issued. It will be interesting to find out.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I'm getting endless calls from Mercers now - I've reached the point where I refuse to even answer their calls.
Received a letter from them this morning and they're now threatening to send a debt collection agency round to my house. I can't wait to be given a date for a creditors' meeting, and then hopefully get my IVA approved, just so they go away.
The constant harassment is really getting me down and I'm now nervous that someone will actually turn up on my doorstep.
They always send those letters threatening a visit - I had loads of them and they never once turned up.
I ignored all of their calls as well.
It does sometimes happen that they do send people round but they are usually polite and when you explain what is happening they go away.
You do not have to speak to them though.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
