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Hiya peeps. This is a strange one. About 3 years ago, my lad bought a flat, and to help him out, I arranged to pay for a pay and call package from Tiscali. All was fine until April 2006, when the cut him off for non payment. When I phoned about this, it turns out the credit card I was using to make payments had expired. So I then arranged to setup a direct debit from my bank, and cleared the outstanding amount by debit card. Heard nothing else until late last year, when they cut him off. I didn't find out until Feb this year when I got back from the States. But on phoning their customer services, it turns out that they never took ANY payment from my bank account from April 206 onwards, and allowed a bill of over £400 to mount up over a period of over 18 months.
I ALSO found out that they sold the debt on to Fredrickson's. WITHOUT issuing a default notice, or making any attempt to ask that the breach be remedied. Strangely, since then, they have sent a statemnent dated 7th March this year, asking for the outstanding amount. Quite how they have managed to do this after seling the account, I have no idea. I AM tempted to SAR Fredrickson's to see what communications have been flying about since my last phone call, but I'll have a go at the Mr Nice approach first. I've just popped an email on over to Tiscali, contents below. Let's see what sort of goodwil gesture they are prepared to offer. Bearing in mumd my veiled thereat to report their conduct to all and sundry.
I ALSO found out that they sold the debt on to Fredrickson's. WITHOUT issuing a default notice, or making any attempt to ask that the breach be remedied. Strangely, since then, they have sent a statemnent dated 7th March this year, asking for the outstanding amount. Quite how they have managed to do this after seling the account, I have no idea. I AM tempted to SAR Fredrickson's to see what communications have been flying about since my last phone call, but I'll have a go at the Mr Nice approach first. I've just popped an email on over to Tiscali, contents below. Let's see what sort of goodwil gesture they are prepared to offer. Bearing in mumd my veiled thereat to report their conduct to all and sundry.
Dear Ms Turner
First let me apologise for contacting you directly. However, I am taking this step, as I am unable to get a satisfactory response by telephoning about this matter. I hope that you will be able to resolve the issue for me.
Although I am the account holder, I originally signed up for Tiscali’s broadband service on my son’s BT line at his address to help him out financially. All was well until about April 2006, when my monthly payments ceased. On phoning Tiscali billing, it became apparent that my credit card had expired. At that point, I arranged for future payments to come from my RBS bank account, and cleared the outstanding amount by debit card.
However, late last year, the service was terminated. Having spoken to Tiscali, it appears that no attempt was ever made to debit my RBS account. In other words, for a period of about 18 months, no payments were ever made, and this was never queried during that time.
As I have been working abroad until early this year, I had been unaware of what had happened. But when I phoned customer services, I was informed that the account had been sold to a company called Fredrickson’s.
I should like to make clear at this stage the following:
Subsequently, I have received a printed statement, showing an outstanding balance of £474.60. This is a strange situation, as I was told categorically that Tiscali had assigned the account, and subsequent outstanding amount, to Fredrickson’s. I am now confused as to the status of this account, and would be grateful if you would explain to me exactly what has gone wrong in the handling of this account, and who now DOES control the account.
I am extremely unhappy at the way this situation has developed. I am therefore making this a formal complaint. I am not minded at this stage to refer the matter further to any regulatory bodies. But you should be aware that, unless I receive a satisfactory response from Tiscali, outlining what steps you now feel are appropriate, I shall have no option other than to escalate the matter.
I do hope that this email will lead to a meaningful dialogue, and we can quickly reach a mutually acceptable outcome.
Sincerely,
Luggerbugs
First let me apologise for contacting you directly. However, I am taking this step, as I am unable to get a satisfactory response by telephoning about this matter. I hope that you will be able to resolve the issue for me.
Although I am the account holder, I originally signed up for Tiscali’s broadband service on my son’s BT line at his address to help him out financially. All was well until about April 2006, when my monthly payments ceased. On phoning Tiscali billing, it became apparent that my credit card had expired. At that point, I arranged for future payments to come from my RBS bank account, and cleared the outstanding amount by debit card.
However, late last year, the service was terminated. Having spoken to Tiscali, it appears that no attempt was ever made to debit my RBS account. In other words, for a period of about 18 months, no payments were ever made, and this was never queried during that time.
As I have been working abroad until early this year, I had been unaware of what had happened. But when I phoned customer services, I was informed that the account had been sold to a company called Fredrickson’s.
I should like to make clear at this stage the following:
- NO contact or demand for payment was ever received from Tiscali. Bear in mind this was over an 18 month period.
- NO default notice was ever issued.
- Therefore at NO time did Tiscali ever advise me that there was a problem, and invite me to remedy the situation.
- NO notice of assignment has ever been received from either Tiscali, or Fredrickson’s.
Subsequently, I have received a printed statement, showing an outstanding balance of £474.60. This is a strange situation, as I was told categorically that Tiscali had assigned the account, and subsequent outstanding amount, to Fredrickson’s. I am now confused as to the status of this account, and would be grateful if you would explain to me exactly what has gone wrong in the handling of this account, and who now DOES control the account.
I am extremely unhappy at the way this situation has developed. I am therefore making this a formal complaint. I am not minded at this stage to refer the matter further to any regulatory bodies. But you should be aware that, unless I receive a satisfactory response from Tiscali, outlining what steps you now feel are appropriate, I shall have no option other than to escalate the matter.
I do hope that this email will lead to a meaningful dialogue, and we can quickly reach a mutually acceptable outcome.
Sincerely,
Luggerbugs
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