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Hi guys
Really looking for some advice if possible
I bought a laptop on finance through Hitachi just over a year ago, the DD was set up and regular monthly payments have been made. There have been one or two payments which bounced and were subsequently re-debited (along with a fee) a few days later. I have been through my bank statements and it appears that Novembers payment bounced and subsequently bounced again (not good I know). Decembers payment then went through without issue and now January's has just been taken.
I received a lovely letter from Hitachi on January 5th in the form of a default letter. Obviously after receiving this letter I called Hitachi to explain the situation (my wife has recently changed jobs, therefore our cashflow has slightly altered). At the time I couldn't make the payment they were demanding (November's instalment plus a fee of some description), and I explained that I needed to change the DD to the 31st and also that I would pay the arrears at the end of the month. They did not contest this at all, sorted I assumed.
Apparently I assumed incorrectly. I have just received a letter proclaiming that my agreement has defaulted and payment must be made for the balance in full. On top of this they would like a fee to be paid in the space of 48 hours!
I called them as soon as I received the letter, and was connected through to whom I can only describe as an utter cretin. I explained that I had spoken to one of their colleagues earlier in the month and that he had changed the DD date and I informed them that I couldnt pay until the end of this month etc, his answer after listening to the previous call was that it didn't matter what was said on the call, the letter states something else, even though the call was made after receiving the letter. He told me in the most aggressive and arrogant tone that their staff are not there to explain the rules, it is our job to read the letter. When I commented on his terrible customer service skills he told me that I wasn't a customer as I was a "non-paying customer", unbelievable.... I swiftly ended the call after half an hour of getting nowhere.
Firstly, the payment missed in November was for around £60, the arrears they stated on the letter dated the 5th was £140. They have not detailed what the delta even relates to - can they do this?
Secondly, can they really demand a fee be paid in 48 hours?
Thirdly, is this default notice legit and can they enforce it even though I called them and made them aware of the situation? I have effectively only ever missed one payment and they have defaulted me even though I showed no resistance to actually paying the money owed, on the contrary I told them at the start of this month I would be able to pay it today. The irony is that even after receiving the default they have taken a DD for January!
What are my rights here and what can I do about this dilemma? I really would appreciate whatever advice you chaps could provide
Here is a copy of the default notice
Kind regards
Dan
Really looking for some advice if possible
I bought a laptop on finance through Hitachi just over a year ago, the DD was set up and regular monthly payments have been made. There have been one or two payments which bounced and were subsequently re-debited (along with a fee) a few days later. I have been through my bank statements and it appears that Novembers payment bounced and subsequently bounced again (not good I know). Decembers payment then went through without issue and now January's has just been taken.
I received a lovely letter from Hitachi on January 5th in the form of a default letter. Obviously after receiving this letter I called Hitachi to explain the situation (my wife has recently changed jobs, therefore our cashflow has slightly altered). At the time I couldn't make the payment they were demanding (November's instalment plus a fee of some description), and I explained that I needed to change the DD to the 31st and also that I would pay the arrears at the end of the month. They did not contest this at all, sorted I assumed.
Apparently I assumed incorrectly. I have just received a letter proclaiming that my agreement has defaulted and payment must be made for the balance in full. On top of this they would like a fee to be paid in the space of 48 hours!
I called them as soon as I received the letter, and was connected through to whom I can only describe as an utter cretin. I explained that I had spoken to one of their colleagues earlier in the month and that he had changed the DD date and I informed them that I couldnt pay until the end of this month etc, his answer after listening to the previous call was that it didn't matter what was said on the call, the letter states something else, even though the call was made after receiving the letter. He told me in the most aggressive and arrogant tone that their staff are not there to explain the rules, it is our job to read the letter. When I commented on his terrible customer service skills he told me that I wasn't a customer as I was a "non-paying customer", unbelievable.... I swiftly ended the call after half an hour of getting nowhere.
Firstly, the payment missed in November was for around £60, the arrears they stated on the letter dated the 5th was £140. They have not detailed what the delta even relates to - can they do this?
Secondly, can they really demand a fee be paid in 48 hours?
Thirdly, is this default notice legit and can they enforce it even though I called them and made them aware of the situation? I have effectively only ever missed one payment and they have defaulted me even though I showed no resistance to actually paying the money owed, on the contrary I told them at the start of this month I would be able to pay it today. The irony is that even after receiving the default they have taken a DD for January!
What are my rights here and what can I do about this dilemma? I really would appreciate whatever advice you chaps could provide
Here is a copy of the default notice
Kind regards
Dan
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