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so, we owed O2 after falling into arrears when OH bought a laptop. Moorcroft got on the case and added a ridiculous amount of charges, I got on to O2 and they instructed Moorcroft just to chase the baance outstanding and no extras. Paid by payment card but kept forgetting to pay so last year set up a DD for £40 per month, which has always been paid, never missed. Balance is now £257. Moorcroft have always been very nice and helpful when I've spoken to them in the past.
Anyway, this month I knew the bank would bounce the DD as we had no money in the account, so I stopped it rather than get it bounced and get charged. Today receive a letter from Moorcroft advising DD cancelled and asking to call to make arrangements to pay. Fair enough, I thought, so I rang to set up the DD again from end of April, telling them I'd accidentally cancelled it instead of cancelling another one. The bloke I spoke to was a complete ass hole. Told me no way could I set up the DD again, account was in default, O2 were saying we had to pay in full or else. Asked if I could not use a credit card to pay in full. Also had the nerve to ask what had I done with the money that was in the bank which should have been used to pay the DD I'd accidentally cancelled. I pointed out that I couldn't make any payment today as we have no money, but am willing to set up the DD again from 27th, which is when our salary is paid. But no go, says he can't put a hold on for that long, and that a Default Notice has been issued yesterday, and "very serious legal consequences" would follow if I didn't pay up now. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud at this point......
At this point I asked, quite specifically, if Moorcroft owned the debt, or were just collecting on behalf of O2. He says no, they don't own it, they're just collecting. I asked, specifically, if the debt had been formally assigned to Moorcroft. Again, the answer was no.
I reminded him of OFT 664, undue pressure on debtors etc, encouraging more debt by advising payment by Credit Card. At which point he told me that I should realise this call was being recorded...to which I answered " Good, it will make life so much simpler when you take me to court won't it". I also pointed out that as far as I was aware, if they didn't own the debt they couldn't legally issue a default - BUT AM I RIGHT? Or can they?
He put the phone down on me then, so that was the end of that.
So what next?
I'm not trying to avoid it, and am perfectly willing to pay, by DD, from the end of the month.
Was thinking of writing to them outlining the shortcomings in their interpretation of DCA Guidelines, not to mention complete assholeness of said employee, and also writing to O2 as well.
Suggestions please. Sorry for the length of this post, hope you've got to the end without losing the will to live
Anyway, this month I knew the bank would bounce the DD as we had no money in the account, so I stopped it rather than get it bounced and get charged. Today receive a letter from Moorcroft advising DD cancelled and asking to call to make arrangements to pay. Fair enough, I thought, so I rang to set up the DD again from end of April, telling them I'd accidentally cancelled it instead of cancelling another one. The bloke I spoke to was a complete ass hole. Told me no way could I set up the DD again, account was in default, O2 were saying we had to pay in full or else. Asked if I could not use a credit card to pay in full. Also had the nerve to ask what had I done with the money that was in the bank which should have been used to pay the DD I'd accidentally cancelled. I pointed out that I couldn't make any payment today as we have no money, but am willing to set up the DD again from 27th, which is when our salary is paid. But no go, says he can't put a hold on for that long, and that a Default Notice has been issued yesterday, and "very serious legal consequences" would follow if I didn't pay up now. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud at this point......
At this point I asked, quite specifically, if Moorcroft owned the debt, or were just collecting on behalf of O2. He says no, they don't own it, they're just collecting. I asked, specifically, if the debt had been formally assigned to Moorcroft. Again, the answer was no.
I reminded him of OFT 664, undue pressure on debtors etc, encouraging more debt by advising payment by Credit Card. At which point he told me that I should realise this call was being recorded...to which I answered " Good, it will make life so much simpler when you take me to court won't it". I also pointed out that as far as I was aware, if they didn't own the debt they couldn't legally issue a default - BUT AM I RIGHT? Or can they?
He put the phone down on me then, so that was the end of that.
So what next?
I'm not trying to avoid it, and am perfectly willing to pay, by DD, from the end of the month.
Was thinking of writing to them outlining the shortcomings in their interpretation of DCA Guidelines, not to mention complete assholeness of said employee, and also writing to O2 as well.
Suggestions please. Sorry for the length of this post, hope you've got to the end without losing the will to live
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