MBNA - Account in Arrears

[basa48]

Re: MBNA - Account in Arrears

Yep - seems a good idea to me to poke the lender with whom you are trying to negotiate reduced payments with a sharp stick!!!

[The Debt Star]

Re: MBNA - Account in Arrears

They''ve offered a secured loan,

This is just he sort of thing that got me - and hundreds and thousands of others - into massive debt in the 2000s.

I cannot believe that these companies are still chucking finance at people who ar clearly struggling. Disgraceful. Is this worthy of a complaint to the OFT?

[pompeyfaith]

Re: MBNA - Account in Arrears

well i would think as mbna has already been reprimanded they will be interested certainly worth a letter to them

[pompeyfaith]

Re: MBNA - Account in Arrears

A link that may be of interest to the OP.

http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...ad.php?t=25902

[supermac9]

Re: MBNA - Account in Arrears

I'm getting to the stage now where I just want to hassle MBNA constantly, a bit petty probably, but I'm trying to build up as full a case as possible against them.
My latest message to them, sent on 7 January (but still no reply!) was:

Sent 07/01/2011
Having considered the situation further, I am still very concerned that MBNA consider the selling of additional borrowing (in the form of a secured loan, which has been proposed on more than one occassion to me) as acceptable, particularly in light of the OFT guidelines on unfair business practices for debt collection, which state: 2.6 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:b. pressurising debtors to sell property, to raise funds by further borrowing or to extend their borrowingCould you let me have your views on this please?

I will add updates as I get them.

Sent a reminder to them yesterday (13th January) but still no response - I get the impresion that they are trying to ignore me, hoping that I will just go away (while continuing to pay extortionate amounts of interest to them)!

[supermac9]

Re: MBNA - Account in Arrears

Despite sending a reminder (a week ago), I'm being stonewalled by MBNA, and I'm getting a little nervous now as the usual date for producing a statement has been and gone, with no sign of a new one. I'm not sure what this means, but I expect something to drop onto my mat shortly. I've been making payments, which they have acknowledged.
I'm going to prepare something for the OFT in relation to their offer of further borrowing.

Very quick update - just had this acknowledgement from MBNA in relation to my original enquiry dated 7 January 2011 (about OFT guidelines):

Received 20/01/2011
from Customer Service
Thank you for your message. We are currently investigating your complaint and will send you a full response by 10 February.

Do I wait for a response, or do I kick things off with the OFT now?

[supermac9]

Re: MBNA - Account in Arrears

I have now received a lengthy response from MBNA (signed by Gail Powell, Vice President!), although despite it's length it's pretty wooly and doesn't really give a direct response to my reference to the OFT guidelines - in fact, it's the kind of response that a politician would give when asked a straight question. Among other things, what they have said is: -

"In relation to your comments reqarding the offer of a secured loan: specialists will suggest to customers that they may wish to seek alternative finance to clear the balances outstanding on credit cards, and to this end they will sometimes suggest that customers discuss this option (with) Capital Central. By obtaining a consolidated loan, many customers find that their monthly repayments are considerably less each month, and again, many customers do benefit from this option.
From reading your e-mail I understand that this service was not beneficial to you. I can assure you that it was never our intention to place unnecessary pressure on you, and I am sorry if we have inadvertently caused you any distress."

I'm just going to take a copy of their letter and send it off to the OFT together with a summary of the various messages I have traded with MBNA on this subject.

Funnily enough, the calls from MBNA have dried up, although I'm no nearer bringing the account up to date - I can just about manage to cancel out their eye-watering interest charge each month. I expect them to re-start now that they have written to me.