Hi. I have just started making enquiries about an IVA and am becoming increasingly worried about the horror stories relating to hassle from creditors. I can handle calls at home but I work in an open plan (very quiet!) office and everyone can hear everyone else's calls. I hold a high profile job and the thought of being called at work in front of all my colleagues is really distressing. I know there is probably no way to avoid this but thought i would share my worry! One of my creditors is MBNA who I understand are relentless (and I know they have my work number) Thanks in advance for any views.
Someone told me that if you ring your creditors to advise them of a new phone number - they do not retain details of the old one. So you could call them to remove your work number to see if that could stop this happening.
Another poster regularly ran his creditors in the morning, to avoid them calling him, and this also seemed to work.
The best avoidance method is to get the IVA up and running as quickly as possible. Try and make a decision on this soonest, and then the ball will be rolling for you.
Thank you Melanie - my details are with your company and I have decided to go ahead. I will call the creditors and change the number. I know this is a minor consideration in the scheme of things but I really don't want to have to explain to colleagues what is happening. Thanks for the tips.
Oh that's great news Lou - I will track down your details and look to put your IVA proposal forward as quickly as I can. Thank you for choosing me to represent you.
MBNA have been leaving messages for my husband at work. They originally passed the overdue amount to a firm called RMA to chase and they did the same thing.
The other day someone said they had amended their phone no with MBNA online. Why didn't I think of that before?
I've just been on and changed it. It said it had been changed but you have to log off and log on again before it shows. It took a few attempts but eventually it worked. Deleting it didn't seem to work so I put the dialling code then 1234etc.
Barclaycard have also been calling work but there is no facility to change the no online, you have to ring them. You can change your Barclays bank details if you have online banking.
Capital One wouldn't let me change my phone no online due to the status of my account - suspended I think.
Also there are guidelines about them not phoning at inconvenient times and not acting in a way that would embarras you so if you ask them not to phone you at work they have to comply.
I have posted the Extract from - Debt Collection Guidance, Final guidance on unfair business practices (OFT664)on another thread 'phoning creditors at work?'
"It's better to be in control on a small budget than to be out of control on a large budget."
Regards, David Mond, Insolvency Practitioner for over 46 years. Personal Insolvency Practitioner of the year 2012, Personal Insolvency Practitioner of the year finalist 2013 & 2014 awarded by Insolvency & Rescue Magazine and 2015 finalist for Personal Insolvency Firm of the Year.
I have to admit that our creditors never rang before 8am or after 9pm, but I do know of people on here who have had constant hassle earlier and later than that.
I supporse if they think they can get away with it they will try it on.
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
If they have your work number on record then unfortuntley it will get added to the system and the automatic calling system will pick it up .
I find that if you just say politely that sorry I am at work and cant discuss this now - then that is enough - You put the phone dowm and then get on with your work - It is semi normal for people to receive all sorts of calls at work - I get two or three a month trying to sell me double glazing. When I say that sure we are a 10 story building and would welcome a quote - we have 20 000 windows - it does the trick.
It is when you are away from your desk and they start to leave messages - or you dont have a desk kob and the leave messages at switchboard then it becomes a problem .
