telling a debt collection company to go and eat shit?

[marmaladetwatkins]

Right. Before we start, I am not feckless with cash, nor do I have out of control spending habits. This is a matter of principal

Five years ago, I opened a credit account with Oli (fashion website). Long story short, they were shit. I bought £200 worth of stuff from them but it never turned up on time (ordered loads of holiday stuff from there as they went up to an 18 and I couldn't find nice holiday clothes anywhere when I was lugging my baby weight about) and then they sent wrong sizes etc etc. I rang them (this was in 2006, BTW) and told them they were not good enough and that I wanted to settle my account. I sent a cheque for the balance.

About a month later, I got a letter saying thanks for your payment but you owe us £35 as your cheque did not clear before the payment due date. Not my problem, said I. I sent it well in advance, I didn't know it would be sat n your office waiting to be cashed for nigh on two weeks Told them to whistle about seventy trillion times. Next thing, they add another £35 for "administration charges" I laugh at them again and tell them I'm not interested.

THEN, they pass it on to a debt collection company. They rang me at home, I explained calmly what happened and they said no sorry you have to pay and will incur more charges if you do not. I refuse still. Basically, it crept up to £140 with a tenner being added each time they sent me a letter. In the end, I told one of their phone people that they were wasting their time and he told me explicitly that he would write the debt off. Definitely said that, in 2006.

So, was most surprised to get a phonecall today from a debt collection person asking for this £140. I lost my rag a bit after explaining it all again. I don't even know how they got my number as I moved over twelve months ago. It's "only" £140 but it's the principal. They're not bullying me into paying it. I told the woman as much and she said "you WILL be pursued for the amount" Vague threats don't wash with me. Next time they phone shall I tell them to eat their own shit? I'm not being harrassed in my home for a debt run up out of what essentially the laziness of the company I had the account with

Sorry for long post.

Next time they ring I am going to tell them to call me back on 0845 EAT MY SHIT.

Sarahbumbarer (awesome name) they can cahrge you court fees if you lose but they aren't huge on the smalls claim track.

I've checked it out and Sarah is right, the expenses are capped in a small claims action.

You may want to consider offering a compromise to the DCA if they are able to provide paperwork substantiating their position and you are unable to produce anything which supports yours. You could, for example, offer to pay the £35 but not anything else.

Never ever let a bailiff through the door.

They have no right of access without a court order....but....if you let them in then they CAN take your stuff.

They tell you all manner of lies to make you think they have rights that they do NOT have.
And they DO intimidate people.

Why thank you!

I really don't know why they are bothering. I've applied for a change of venue from Essex to Nottingham and they can't claim their costs. Hopefully on the day they just wont show up. Either way, I made it clear to them from day 1 that they only way the abusive bullies were getting a penny out of me was with a court order.

As jaffa says, I'd maek them an offer of £35 to settle. Make it in writing and keep correspondence you get in return.

If they don't accet that, let them take you to court.

I'll offer them 35 pee.

Tell them to piss right off.

Why should the OP pay them anything? She doesn't owe them a penny!

Offer them 35p then claim it back because the letter you sent them cost you that much

shouldn't that be 46p?

1st class stamps go up by 5p today to 46 p....

Disgraceful.

Oh...

FORTY SIX PEE?

BROKEN BRITAIN

Didn't first class stamps used to be 20 something p?? I feel old now...

They owe YOU money OP.....

9p if i'm not wrong.

Maybe in 1840 when you were young

FFS...11p

OP yanbu: I can tell you a quick story. Seven years ago I closed my account with a certain high street bank. Without me knowing they charged me £50.00 to close the account. I will say without me knowing because litterally days later I moved address. Anyway last year i had numerous debt collection agencies contact me not for the £50.00 that I so called owed the bank but for nearly £2k!!!!!. Every time they called or wrote to me I would say "when you can tell me how a supposedly £50.00 debt has escalated into nearly £2k I will willingly pay it".

Suprise, suprise each debt agency sells it on :) Tell them to eat shit, I laugh at every company that rings me to be honest.

Is true that it will be statute barred after 6 years, so should resolve itself soon if you ignore it, however, you can get it sorted now if you want to make the effort.

Make a complaint in writing to Oli. They are obliged to investigate as the original credit lender and don't accept any BS about not holding any records. They are obliged to keep all their records for a minimum of 6 years.

If you follow their complaints procedure until they issue a 'Final Response' and they havent agreed to write off the debt, you can then take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Escalating a complaint to the FOS will cost them £500+ so its likely they will back down and write it off. They should also remove negative info from your credit file. Will take a bit of time and effort but it'll get proper closure on it.

Next time they ring I am going to tell them to call me back on 0845 EAT MY SHIT.