Mercers - one of those letters - help

[elizabethr]

I know this has been on the forum before but I have now got "one of those letters"!!! and I am really cross about it. A letter from Mercers today saying - as we have not been able to get hold of you we are now instructing a door step collector! I have spoken to them each week when they have phoned and updated them, I have sent them one of Melanie's holding letters advising of my course of action and giving them the IVA company details. This was on 28th May. I had already sent the same letter to all creditors (probably the week before). I spoke to Mercers last week when they phoned, they hadn't got my letter advising of IVA company but would make a note and ring me again in 7 days (which was probably due to be Mon or Tues of this week). They have not phoned this week, at least not when I have been in and there is an ansa phone which they have used before now. I know everybody on here has said that they ahve never had a doorstep caller but it is worrying me a bit. I am now bothered that someone may turn up when the girls are here on their own. I don't want to panick them too much by telling them to keep the door locked - we never keep the doors locked around here and they will want to know why - I can hardly say that there are strange people about at the moment as that will mean the 12 year old will tell everybody else and not want to play out! Am keeping strong but its hard now and am worried that the stress will make me ill again and I don't want to go to work anyway. Feel like screaming at them - look if I come off work again nobody is going to get any money!!! I have a thing called a Benevolent Society at work which you can ask for help - I wrote detailing some urgent things that I had to pay for and telling them I was sorting my debts out. Normally you would get a result with a week - I got a letter today which said they had a backlog of cases to consider due to the current climate and people having difficulty - sign of the times. Melanie - I will send the letter through to Angela but am really frustrated with it - I know Mercers act for Barclaycard and in todays post alongside the Mercer's one was a letter from Barclaycard re Philips debt saying they have the holding letter and will await further instructions.

[MelanieGiles]

It is so frustrating when these collection agencies do not listen to telephone conversations or read their incoming mail Elizabeth. They know perfectly well that you are in the stages of proposing an IVA, but the computer continues to churn mail of this nature regardless. I am sure that you will not end up with anyone from Mercers on your doorstep.

[elizabethr]

Thank you for that. I know really from what everyone else has said but can't help being concerned. Shall I ring them or just send you the letter.

[kallis3]

Hi Elizabeth,

I had lots of those letters. I never rang them and they never sent any collectors round.

[elizabethr]

I was going to be polite and phone but I am now going to. Like everyone says it is not going to make any difference to the IVA going through and when I have spoken to them or other creditors it clearly doesn't matter and no notice taken.

[facingittogether]

hi elizabeth

we had numerous letters and calls from mercers too! no one ever came to the house! if i were you i would just forward your correspondence to melanies team, like yer say whether you communicate with them or not it wont make any difference to the outcome of yer iva application! try to stay positive, things will soon be sorted!

love barb x

[Jan01]

We also had a lot of letters threatening door step collections No one ever came to the house I did keep on sending any letters to our IP. Like you Elizabeth I was worried about some one calling at the house while I was at work as my husband has Alzheimer's disease and telling not to answer the door would have worried him.
I am sure it will stop soon
Take Care
Jan

[tonka]

Hi,
Had several letters from agencies threatening doorstep collections. Main culprits were our friends MBNA and Mercers. They had been notified that we were in the process of applying for an IVA but chose to ignore. No one ever turned up!! It is worrying and my wife was having kittens. I was ready to unleash my German Sherpard (wolf) on them, but it never happened. Stick in there.