Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k custs

[dogtired]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

No harm in doing both then!

[EXC]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

That is more for people who work in financial services to use to whistleblow on their employers I think?

During the PPI Judicial Review I used the FSA whistleblowing function quite successfully to send an internal BBA members' document that said that they didn't give a monkeys about complying with the requirements of Policy Statement 10/12 while the case was being brought despite their public line that they did.

A month later the FSA wrote to the banks saying they ''read with concern that some trade associations are saying that PS10/12 was irrelevant pending the outcome of the proceedings''.

So it worked for me at least.

[Nibbler]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Yes, I'm sure it will reach the correct desk in the end on either route.

[dogtired]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Just forwarded the original to the second address and sent a copy to the FO as well! hopefully I will cause a ripple butterfly wings and all that! :fencing:

[Nibbler]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Paul Lewis on R4 Moneybox is meant to be doing more on this in a few mins

[Amethyst]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Can listen on here if you can't be assed to go turn on the radio http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b048hxpr

[Amethyst]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Brunswick (Yorkshire Bank) and KPR (Nationwide) to carry on in use (though being reviewed by Nationwide)

[Amethyst]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Actually has the Ombudsman passed any opinion on the matter as yet ?

Hope the CMC's don't try to use this to screw even more people.

[Captain Haddock]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Does the letter have to be signed by an identifiable solicitor?

Well, there's the rub, is it not?

I've now received a response back from the Law Society of Scotland re my complaint against Blair, Oliver & Scott. In this letter, the Society informs me that nowhere on the letter I copied them in on (see page 8 of this thread) does it state that BOS is a law firm but that they are indeed a firm of Debt Collectors and not purporting to be a legal firm. However, if I could provide evidence of an employee of BOS pretending to be a solicitor, then they might get interested! Until then........

[Captain Haddock]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Yes, please! I did!!

[Captain Haddock]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

I'm at work right now but I'll post a redacted copy of the Law Society's response to me later tonight.

[Amethyst]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

I've looked at quite a few BOS letters and other than referring to BOS as their client they don't appear to infer to be solicitors anywhere and do have DEBT COLLECTORS in their logo heading.

[Captain Haddock]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

But surely by virtue of the fact they refer to a 'client', the idea that they are solicitors is implicit?

Look at my letter again. It says, inter alia, 'Bank of Scotland Against..... . Then there's the 'client' statement, the mention of papers, action and court. It is clear to me that they are acting like a law firm! As for them being a Debt Collection Agency,let's not forget that even DCAs instruct law firms to recover debts unless they've got someone in-house.

I know it's a bit 'grey' with the BOS letter but the implication is definitely there!

[Amethyst]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Oh I agree with you, but law society wise, the BOS letters do make clear DEBT COLLECTORS in their header. Fine line I know. I think saying 'instructed' is more of an inference to being solicitors than the word 'client'. So that boxed section on a letter without the DEBT COLLECTORS wording at the top would be a definate fakeletter IMO. Maybe clarify that with the LS ?

[Amethyst]

Re: Wonga to pay redress for unfair debt collection practices – FCA - £2.6m to 45k cu

Actually shall we find some REAL solicitors letters post court action and compare ?