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Hi
At some point last year I asked Bank Smart to have a look at whether I was entitled to PPI. I filled in the appropriate paperwork, returned it and then forgot all about it. Until about 3 weeks ago when I received an overdue payment letter from MIL Collections for £199.40. They were acting on behalf of Bank Smart.
I rang MIL and asked what it was all about and was told it was charges for cancelling my contract with Bank Smart and did I want to pay? At no point had Bank Smart contacted me to chase up this amount and I had certainly not been sent an Invoice. I sent a formal letter of complaint to Bank Smart and followed it up with the same letter via email. (I thought PPI was on a no win, no fee basis?) I contacted MIL Collections to inform them of my Formal Letter of Complaint to Bank Smart. Again, not interested in what I was saying.
An email from Bank Smart confirmed receipt of my Formal Complaint advising if I wanted to change it from being a Formal Complaint they could respond within 5 days, but with a Formal Complaint they would respond but it would take a number of weeks of investigation. I opted for the latter.
I received another letter from MIL Collections chasing the £199.40. It began by saying that I had ignored their initial letter. I rang, advised them I had not ignored them but was immediately asked if I was ringing to settle the debt. He was rude and openly admitted that he was there purely to take payments and that I would continue to receive letters until I paid.
I’m interested to hear your advice on the above events. Can I get away with not paying this fee? Can MIL Collections continue to harrass me for this amount or am I best to just settle up? Are Bank Smart likely to come back and say that I was treated unfairly and cancel the charge? If I paid MIL Collections now would I get the money back off Bank Smart? You have much experience of these 2 companies so am wondering what advice you can give me on this situation?
Thanks
At some point last year I asked Bank Smart to have a look at whether I was entitled to PPI. I filled in the appropriate paperwork, returned it and then forgot all about it. Until about 3 weeks ago when I received an overdue payment letter from MIL Collections for £199.40. They were acting on behalf of Bank Smart.
I rang MIL and asked what it was all about and was told it was charges for cancelling my contract with Bank Smart and did I want to pay? At no point had Bank Smart contacted me to chase up this amount and I had certainly not been sent an Invoice. I sent a formal letter of complaint to Bank Smart and followed it up with the same letter via email. (I thought PPI was on a no win, no fee basis?) I contacted MIL Collections to inform them of my Formal Letter of Complaint to Bank Smart. Again, not interested in what I was saying.
An email from Bank Smart confirmed receipt of my Formal Complaint advising if I wanted to change it from being a Formal Complaint they could respond within 5 days, but with a Formal Complaint they would respond but it would take a number of weeks of investigation. I opted for the latter.
I received another letter from MIL Collections chasing the £199.40. It began by saying that I had ignored their initial letter. I rang, advised them I had not ignored them but was immediately asked if I was ringing to settle the debt. He was rude and openly admitted that he was there purely to take payments and that I would continue to receive letters until I paid.
I’m interested to hear your advice on the above events. Can I get away with not paying this fee? Can MIL Collections continue to harrass me for this amount or am I best to just settle up? Are Bank Smart likely to come back and say that I was treated unfairly and cancel the charge? If I paid MIL Collections now would I get the money back off Bank Smart? You have much experience of these 2 companies so am wondering what advice you can give me on this situation?
Thanks
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