To not share details about my finances with a stranger?

[opheliacat]

Forgot to pay a bill. It got passed to a collection agency (oops.) Bill was for £285.

I rang up to pay but had to do an "income and expenditure form" over the phone first. Refused. Told I couldn't pay

AIBU to NOT want to tell someone I don't know personal details??

Get it in writing that you're w wishing to pay the full amount, now, but that they are refusing to accept payment. Just in case they start to add additional fees on for late payment

Legally they can't refuse payment.

If you're going to pay in full they can't refuse the payment. If you're trying to set up a payment plan unfortunately they can demand an income/expenditure check.

And no, I'd not want to give those details in order to pay either!

Are you sure the collection company is legitimate? Did the original company not send reminder letters to you before passing the debt on?

Phone them again and just say 'I want to pay in full' with the first person you get, otherwise you get bounced around from person to person and they'll ask you all that stuff again. They can't refuse payment.

I just got asked if I could afford it was I sure it wouldn't leave me short then they allowed me to pay I think they are supposed to check so no one starves

Can you just post a cheque (if you even have such a thing!) or pay online?

Just tell them a load of bullshit figures, salary £200,000 per month outgoings £100.00 per month okay not that much bullshit put any normal figure that pops into your head

Ha ha that is tempting! Yes, I was trying to pay in full, all very strange.

Since you're offering to pay in full you're not being unreasonable, but as above it may have been they were making sure you're not stretching yourself, but I'd think it's more likely they're trying to get you onto a payment plan to allow them to make more money. I don't know if they're allowed to charge interest if you do that though, but sounds plausable, so that may have been their angle.