Credit Services Association wants it to be a crime for debtors to move house

[_angel_]

They can't trace them very well. Especially if you have a very common name

The only debts you can't hide from are Student Loans. Bastards have your NI number and the government on their side.

They traced me! For something I didn't owe, naturally.

 

[bluestreak]

health and safety ennit. We don't want too many corpses swinging around for ages.

Gives the kids something to play with. The days of health and safety gone mad will be over. Now it will be gentle advice and a shrug of the shoulders if that advice is ignored.

 

[bluestreak]

They traced me! For something I didn't owe, naturally.

Ah, but was it you they were looking for, or someone who happens to share your name, or former address, or approximate phone number, or drank in the same pub, or perhaps met a man called Cholmondley at a party near Basingstoke in 1978 where you chatted about the state of the world for a few minutes before making your excuses and have found that they believe you are liable for all the debts he's run up since then as you have not got a certificate signed by him and the Pope to say that technically you aren't, which is of course illegal, but they're not going to take it to court because they'll lose they'll just keep harassing you in the hope that you pay up to make them go away?

 

[Dissident Junk]

Funny that. Our government encourages us for years to take cheap credit beyond our means and conspicuously consume, then when it doesn't work, sticks us in prison.

Damn right.

The best way to solve this problem would be to address the core issue: that real wages have remained stagnant or decreased in value since '75 and people are using debt to maintain themselves.

There's a lot of myths about the conspicious consumption angle tho', Bluestreak. Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard Law academic, researched the issue in the US and she found that rising debt levels amongst middle class Americans wasn't being used to buy plasmas or fancy sofas, but was going on childcare (because both partners worked) and something else (I forget now).

Her lecture's on youtube. Is worth watching.

 

[RubyBlue]

This 'buying debts' business ought to be illegal. They *bought* my credit card debt, even though I was happily paying it off as per agreement.

I didn't realise they were allowed to do that

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

First Credit will buy a £3000 Barclaycard debt for around £300, try to track down the debtor and once found will hassle until some payment has been made.

They're now inviting me to make an offer on my 'debt'. It's quite annoying when you don't owe a debt. If they had any evidence of debt they'd have taken me to court by now, but as Bluey says, they know they haven't got a case, so will just keep hassling in the hope that I may pay them to go away.

Very close to demanding money with menaces is them.

 

[longdog]

They can't trace them very well. Especially if you have a very common name

I have a very uncommon surname name and I've managed to evade the Halifax for five years. There are only 6 other people with my name in the UK and only 1386 people with my surname (according to http://www.yournotme.com/testaspnet/default.aspx)

I'm not sure if that's good or bad but being ex-directory and opted out of the electoral roll helps I suppose.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

http://www.yournotme.com/testaspnet/default.aspx

According to that Mrs. Bahnhof doesn't exist.

 

[Awesome Wells]

This 'buying debts' business ought to be illegal. They *bought* my credit card debt, even though I was happily paying it off as per agreement.

Damn right. I'm currently trying to communicate with Barclays about my 1600 overdraft (peanuts compared to what some people owe), but even when they claim to heed the advice given by the CCCS they still ignore your every effort and threaten you with selling the debt to the Mitchell Brothers. It's downright criminal. There are two parties involved in the contract - not just the debtor. If it's required that people try (at least) and make good on what they owe, the least these scumbags can do is reciprocate by not profiting from it.

 

[Fruitloop]

Student loans told me that if my payments were ever late they would immediately sell the entire debt to a collection agency. I said 'Wouldn't it make sense to ring me first?' but apparently they don't do that.

 

[_angel_]

Student loans told me that if my payments were ever late they would immediately sell the entire debt to a collection agency. I said 'Wouldn't it make sense to ring me first?' but apparently they don't do that.

They've rung me enough times!

Not that I can get the documentation to defer payment, as the job centre said they couldn't bring up details of what benefit I was on.

There's no way on earth they could tell if I was defrauding them, unlike those ads would have you believe!

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Of course, the wonderful thing about this is that it's a great way of keeping the poor off the electoral register. Wouldn't want them being in a position to influence what goes on. They might vote for anybody.

I don't think they need to be honest, its not like they vote anyway.

 

[TopCat]

Just throw all letters to do with debt away and forget them.

 

[longdog]

Doggy's top tip.

If a creditor catches up with you or makes any kind of fuck up send them a letter telling them that you dispute the debt.

Send them a one pound postal order requesting a copy of the original signed consumer credit agreement giving them 14 days to produce it. Don't worry about the actual law's name or anything just use the expression 'relevant legislation'.

If they can't or won't the debt is unenforceable. If they continue to make demands without producing the document after an additional 30 days they are committing a criminal offence.

They are also obliged to provide you with a copy of any documentation proving their ownership of the debt and a full statement.

If they go silent wait until the additional 30 days has expired and send them a letter telling them that as they have failed to comply you consider the matter closed.

Make sure you use the expression 'none of the above / below is an admission of any alledged debt' and make sure you don't go admitting liability by mistake... always use the words 'alledged debt'

Check everything they send you for errors in dates, amounts, addition charges they have added etc. Make sure everything that should be signed is signed and that the conditions of the original agreement have been followed by them.

Some debt collection agencies will try to claim they are not covered by the law because they are not the original lender and they had only bought the rights to the debt not the obligations... It's bullshit but you can play the game by telling them you will take the matter up with the original creditor, the chances are they won't have any documentation at all because they thought the matter was out of their hands.

As long as you can come up with some vaguely credible no matter how pedantic or nit-picking reason to keep the debt in dispute they are highly unlikely to start proceedings against you as they would most likely be struck out.

I've just walked away from a £3500 debt by being an awkward fucker and sticking to my guns. The fucktards are only to quick to use the law against you but they don't like it up 'em

 

[_angel_]

If a creditor catches up with you or makes any kind of fuck up send them a letter telling them that you dispute the debt.

Send them a one pound postal order requesting a copy of the original signed consumer credit agreement giving them 14 days to produce it. Don't worry about the actual law's name or anything just use the expression 'relevant legislation'.

If they can't or won't the debt is unenforceable. If they continue to make demands without producing the document after an additional 30 days they are committing a criminal offence.

They are also obliged to provide you with a copy of any documentation proving their ownership of the debt and a full statement.

If they go silent wait until the additional 30 days has expired and send them a letter telling them that as they have failed to comply you consider the matter closed.

Make sure you use the expression 'none of the above / below is an admission of any alledged debt' and make sure you don't go admitting liability by mistake... always use the words 'alledged debt'

Check everything they send you for errors in dates, amounts, addition charges they have added etc. Make sure everything that should be signed is signed and that the conditions of the original agreement have been followed by them.

Some debt collection agencies will try to claim they are not covered by the law because they are not the original lender and they had only bought the rights to the debt not the obligations... It's bullshit but you can play the game by telling them you will take the matter up with the original creditor, the chances are they won't have any documentation at all because they thought the matter was out of their hands.

As long as you can come up with some vaguely credible no matter how pedantic or nit-picking reason to keep the debt in dispute they are highly unlikely to start proceedings against you as they would most likely be struck out.

I've just walked away from a £3500 debt by being an awkward fucker and sticking to my guns. The fucktards are only to quick to use the law against you but they don't like it up 'em

I have asked the people who *bought* the debt (I was quite happily paying off as agreed to the original lender) to provide documentation of the original agreement.

They have gone very quiet! However, I am paying them an interim payment. Is that wrong?

 

[TheDave]

The thing is not all the people they harass are bold enough to stick to their guns so to speak, they bend over and pay even though they most likely owe fuck all just because they've been threatened with court/prison.

 

[longdog]

Just throw all letters to do with debt away and forget them.

That's actually not a bad plan if you stick to it.

If you don't have anything worth taking, rent your home and live on benefits you can pretty much tell them to shove the debt up their arse and there's fuck all they can do about it except file for your bankruptcy. They won't do so because it costs them £400 and they know that if you have nothing of any value you'll be discharged almost immediately and they'll have thrown good money after bad.

I live on IB and DLA and that is the 'money I need to live on'... it says so on the paperwork so my income is pretty safe.

The only things bailiffs could seize (not that I would let them in anyway) are my £500 bass guitar and my £300 laptop both of which I can easily 'lose' should the need arise.

One very important thing to remember if you are hiding from creditors is never say who you are until you know for sure who you are talking to, always respond with 'who am I speaking to' and if you're suspicious end the conversation (or lie )

 

[subversplat]

I have a very uncommon surname name and I've managed to evade the Halifax for five years. There are only 6 other people with my name in the UK and only 1386 people with my surname (according to http://www.yournotme.com/testaspnet/default.aspx)

I'm not sure if that's good or bad but being ex-directory and opted out of the electoral roll helps I suppose.

Mad. There are only 8 of me in the UK and I have already met one of them (apart from me)! What are the chances of that!?

 

[subversplat]

If a creditor catches up with you or makes any kind of fuck up send them a letter telling them that you dispute the debt.

Send them a one pound postal order requesting a copy of the original signed consumer credit agreement giving them 14 days to produce it. Don't worry about the actual law's name or anything just use the expression 'relevant legislation'.

If they can't or won't the debt is unenforceable. If they continue to make demands without producing the document after an additional 30 days they are committing a criminal offence.

They are also obliged to provide you with a copy of any documentation proving their ownership of the debt and a full statement.

If they go silent wait until the additional 30 days has expired and send them a letter telling them that as they have failed to comply you consider the matter closed.

Make sure you use the expression 'none of the above / below is an admission of any alledged debt' and make sure you don't go admitting liability by mistake... always use the words 'alledged debt'

Check everything they send you for errors in dates, amounts, addition charges they have added etc. Make sure everything that should be signed is signed and that the conditions of the original agreement have been followed by them.

Some debt collection agencies will try to claim they are not covered by the law because they are not the original lender and they had only bought the rights to the debt not the obligations... It's bullshit but you can play the game by telling them you will take the matter up with the original creditor, the chances are they won't have any documentation at all because they thought the matter was out of their hands.

As long as you can come up with some vaguely credible no matter how pedantic or nit-picking reason to keep the debt in dispute they are highly unlikely to start proceedings against you as they would most likely be struck out.

I've just walked away from a £3500 debt by being an awkward fucker and sticking to my guns. The fucktards are only to quick to use the law against you but they don't like it up 'em

Are there any example letters on the internet that people could send? Just to make sure that they don't accidentally mention "my debt" or somesuch.

 

[Awesome Wells]

If a creditor catches up with you or makes any kind of fuck up send them a letter telling them that you dispute the debt.

Send them a one pound postal order requesting a copy of the original signed consumer credit agreement giving them 14 days to produce it. Don't worry about the actual law's name or anything just use the expression 'relevant legislation'.

If they can't or won't the debt is unenforceable. If they continue to make demands without producing the document after an additional 30 days they are committing a criminal offence.

They are also obliged to provide you with a copy of any documentation proving their ownership of the debt and a full statement.

If they go silent wait until the additional 30 days has expired and send them a letter telling them that as they have failed to comply you consider the matter closed.

Make sure you use the expression 'none of the above / below is an admission of any alledged debt' and make sure you don't go admitting liability by mistake... always use the words 'alledged debt'

Check everything they send you for errors in dates, amounts, addition charges they have added etc. Make sure everything that should be signed is signed and that the conditions of the original agreement have been followed by them.

Some debt collection agencies will try to claim they are not covered by the law because they are not the original lender and they had only bought the rights to the debt not the obligations... It's bullshit but you can play the game by telling them you will take the matter up with the original creditor, the chances are they won't have any documentation at all because they thought the matter was out of their hands.

As long as you can come up with some vaguely credible no matter how pedantic or nit-picking reason to keep the debt in dispute they are highly unlikely to start proceedings against you as they would most likely be struck out.

I've just walked away from a £3500 debt by being an awkward fucker and sticking to my guns. The fucktards are only to quick to use the law against you but they don't like it up 'em

Care to speak to barclays on my behalf?

 

[longdog]

I have asked the people who *bought* the debt (I was quite happily paying off as agreed to the original lender) to provide documentation of the original agreement.

They have gone very quiet! However, I am paying them an interim payment. Is that wrong?

Stop payment as it could be seen as an admission of liability.

If you feel so inclined send them another letter saying that you fear you may have made an error in paying a debt for which you were not liable and that the matter was now in dispute.

If you want to be a real twat ask for your money back

It's not CapQuest is it? They were the fuckers I caught out when they sent me a letter of assignment dated the day before they posted it not sometime in 2003/4 when it should've been dated. They sent another one a week later with a more believable 2004 date on it but the exact same wording albeit in a different font. Unfortunately for them the paper it was printed on had a 2006 printer's design reference number on it. Even more unfortunate was the fact that after a lot of hard Googling I found out the signature on the bottom of the second version belonged to a woman who had worked for CapQuest rather than Egg since before the date on the letter

 

[bluestreak]

One very important thing to remember if you are hiding from creditors is never say who you are until you know for sure who you are talking to, always respond with 'who am I speaking to' and if you're suspicious end the conversation (or lie )

I've still got the same phone number I had back when I was drowning in money problems, and I get so many calls from collectors. I've got used to not answering the phone to unrecognised numbers, googling, and adding that number to my "Cunts" directory. But very soon I'm going to change it, and then they won't be able to even get that.

 

[subversplat]

First Credit will buy a £3000 Barclaycard debt for around £300, try to track down the debtor and once found will hassle until some payment has been made.

They're now inviting me to make an offer on my 'debt'. It's quite annoying when you don't owe a debt. If they had any evidence of debt they'd have taken me to court by now, but as Bluey says, they know they haven't got a case, so will just keep hassling in the hope that I may pay them to go away.

Very close to demanding money with menaces is them.

Haha, 1st credit got so pissed off with me that they sold my debt on

 

[TopCat]

I fucking hate capquest.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Haha, 1st credit got so pissed off with me that they sold my debt on

 

[longdog]

Are there any example letters on the internet that people could send? Just to make sure that they don't accidentally mention "my debt" or somesuch.

No need to be fancy or anything... This did the job for me...

In accordance with relevant legislation I require you to produce within 14 days the following.

1) A full copy of the original, signed Consumer Credit Agreement (including terms and conditions).
2) A statement of account.
3) A signed true copy of the deed of assignment of the above referenced agreement that you allege exists.

I enclose a postal order in the sum of £1.00 in respect of the statutory fee required. I’m sure I need not remind you that you are legally required to comply with the above demand and that should you fail to do so official complaints will be made to the relevant authorities.

I would remind you that a debt not properly documented by a signed and valid Consumer Credit Agreement is not enforceable in law. I therefore consider the alleged debt to be in dispute.

This letter should not be taken as an acceptance of any liability.

Yours etc.

Just add a little bit at the top giving reference numbers, mention of previous correspondence etc.

Take care you don't accidentally help them by giving them anything but the most basic information needed for them to respond. If they're going to walk in to a trap by fucking up don't go helping them out of it. Most of the day to day dealings of debt collection agencies are carried out by people with no particular skills or qualifications so there's a good chance they will drop a bollock by not taking your letter seriously giving you a bit of extra leverage.

 

[TheDave]

And make sure you keep copies of everything you send them and get sent back, file them and date them so if they come knocking you have it all in writing.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

This week's 1st Credit letter:

Please note that your case has been passed to the PRE LEGAL TEAM.

The aim of this Department is to make every effort to reach an agreement to clear this debt without the need for legal action.

If we are successful in obtaining a County Court Judgement against you and you own/jointly own the freehold/leasehold intrest in a property then we could take the appropriate action to secure a Charging Order against the property. If 1st Credit were successful in obtaining a Final Charging Order we would be legally entitled to apply to the court for an Order for Sale of this property.

Alternatively we may decide to petition for your Bankruptcy.

We would of course prefer you to contact this office to discuss how the debt may be cleared within a reasonable period.

If you are considering re-mortgaging your property or taking out a loan to clear your debts please advise us ASAP.

If we do not receive a reply to this letter within seven days your details will be passed to our Legal Team for appropriate action.

It's the 2nd time I've had this letter now.

 

[longdog]

I fucking hate capquest.

Very annoying but incompetent.

Their letters from HL Legal are quite funny when you look at HL's website and find out they basically offer a service allowing companies to send 'solicitor's letters' they have written themselves for 75p a go. The ultimate in threatening letter bullshit

 

[longdog]

This week's 1st Credit letter:



It's the 2nd time I've had this letter now.

Do you 'you own/jointly own the freehold/leasehold intrest in a property'?

How much do you owe and do you have a job?