Hello all,
I am an American living in the UK married to my English husband.
Before we were married, my husband's ex spent about £2,000 on his Lloyd's bank card and despite his efforts to make payments he eventually fell behind. Since then, he moved out of her house, to his parents' house and with me -- then we got married.
In all the moves, he was not able to keep up with the current state of his debt and he stopped paying Lloyd's directly, so it was sold to a collections agency.
When I was checking our credit so we can see where we stand, I came across the account and chased it down.
We received a CCJ against him filed by Mortimer Clarke Solicitors on behalf of Cabot Financial, who I suppose are Lloyd's "authorised representatives". I responded accordingly and was offered a one-time settlement (something like half the loan). I countered with a monthly payment plan which they accepted based on our bills which I outlined in detail.
We have been paying them for almost a year now and have not had ONE statement or piece of paperwork to show we have paid anything or what the outstanding balance is on our "account" with them.
I have called SEVERAL times and requested a statement. The last representative I spoke with said he would send out a statement from the ORIGINAL debt, as well as the one we have with Mortimer Clarke/Cabot Financial. I have not received any statements. I am due to pay them on the first of the month (today) which I do every month over the phone using my debit card.
My question is: can I withhold payments until I receive these statements? I have no proof they are contributing to the actual debt or what amount we owe. I have never seen one iota of paperwork aside from the CCJ they sent last year, and the acceptance of our proposed payment plan. SURELY, they have to provide us with something to say what we owe, what they're taking and how much principal is left on the account. Or at least an end date for the payment plan.
I have only my bank statements to show we have actually sent payments in the first place and even those aren't more specific than the amount and the company to whom it was sent.
As a foreign national, I am simply ignorant about the law here and what my husband's rights are. As I do the financial planning for our household, I don't want to be taken for a ride by debt collectors who can do nothing to positively or negatively affect my husband's credit. I also don't want the bailiffs at my door if I don't pay.
I have read some of the threads on here about Cabot and Mortimer Clarke, but nothing which specifies what they are required to provide to their customers.
Thank you for your help!
Mrs R.
I am an American living in the UK married to my English husband.
Before we were married, my husband's ex spent about £2,000 on his Lloyd's bank card and despite his efforts to make payments he eventually fell behind. Since then, he moved out of her house, to his parents' house and with me -- then we got married.
In all the moves, he was not able to keep up with the current state of his debt and he stopped paying Lloyd's directly, so it was sold to a collections agency.
When I was checking our credit so we can see where we stand, I came across the account and chased it down.
We received a CCJ against him filed by Mortimer Clarke Solicitors on behalf of Cabot Financial, who I suppose are Lloyd's "authorised representatives". I responded accordingly and was offered a one-time settlement (something like half the loan). I countered with a monthly payment plan which they accepted based on our bills which I outlined in detail.
We have been paying them for almost a year now and have not had ONE statement or piece of paperwork to show we have paid anything or what the outstanding balance is on our "account" with them.
I have called SEVERAL times and requested a statement. The last representative I spoke with said he would send out a statement from the ORIGINAL debt, as well as the one we have with Mortimer Clarke/Cabot Financial. I have not received any statements. I am due to pay them on the first of the month (today) which I do every month over the phone using my debit card.
My question is: can I withhold payments until I receive these statements? I have no proof they are contributing to the actual debt or what amount we owe. I have never seen one iota of paperwork aside from the CCJ they sent last year, and the acceptance of our proposed payment plan. SURELY, they have to provide us with something to say what we owe, what they're taking and how much principal is left on the account. Or at least an end date for the payment plan.
I have only my bank statements to show we have actually sent payments in the first place and even those aren't more specific than the amount and the company to whom it was sent.
As a foreign national, I am simply ignorant about the law here and what my husband's rights are. As I do the financial planning for our household, I don't want to be taken for a ride by debt collectors who can do nothing to positively or negatively affect my husband's credit. I also don't want the bailiffs at my door if I don't pay.
I have read some of the threads on here about Cabot and Mortimer Clarke, but nothing which specifies what they are required to provide to their customers.
Thank you for your help!
Mrs R.
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