ANyone else used SImpleBe?

[Joash]

Had an account with "SimplyBe" for around six years. I was working at the time, so my DH telephoned the first order in and they automatically put it in his name. They have always refused to put the account in my name, anyway I have made the monthly payment on time and never been behind with the account until November last year. I made the regular payment in November and completed a direct debit form for DH's bank account as he is taking over paying the account because I no longer work. SimplyBe are saying that they have never received the payment - even though I have sent them a total of four copies of my bank statement which clearly shows the payment has been made. I spoke to one of their representatives back in November who said that thay had developed a fault on their system on the day I made the payment and that the payment had not showed up.
They have repeatedly refused to speak to me as the account is in DH's name - even though they have the requested notification in writing from DH saying that I am to deal with the account (they've had this three times). Their actions are bordering on harrassment.
They refuse to accept the bank statements as proof that the payment was made and just keep saying it has not gone onto this account. They were calling at least 6 times every hour up to the week before Christmas when I complained to BT and they changed our phone number. They refuse to put anything in writing. They are refusing to set up the direct debit until we pay what they see as arrears and everytime they send us a standard arrears letter, they add a £12 admin charge to the account (these harges now total £84 as well as the November & December payments that are due (January's due in two weeks).
How the hell am I supposed to prove that I made the payment if they refuse to accept the statement as proof? aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!

simply be is part of the direct home shopping network- same as premierman isn't it???

Yes I think so.

Have you tried CAB to see what they suggest?

Surely they should be trying to find the missing payment on their side as you have the proof. Time for Watchdog or the press I think.

citizens advice..you have the proof of payment, its THIER prob if they cant see it on their screen due to THIER computer fault!..you need to get intouch with manager! pronto

just checked- yes it is, i assmume you mean you made a card payment for the ammount- (as the company don't accept direct debits)- therefore get in touch with the bank who dealt with it- they will be able to help

preggersagain - been intouch with the bank, all they say is that the statement should surfice and they have started accepting Direct Debits hence completing the form recently (which they reuse to process untill we make this payment again)

ROSEgarden & Fimbo - thanks for the advice, but I trained CAB and other debt advice workers, I do know the procedures - but they flatly refuse to accept the statements as proof. I have writtent them another snotty today stating tat my next course of action is the press

Oops sorry

Is this them?

NO this is them; www.simplybe.co.uk

Califrau with all due respect - did you read the initial post?

I am not ignoring this - I do not ignore paying bills, hence repeatedly writing to them and calling them in response to their bloody letters.

I am aware that they can speak to me if my DH gives them permission - he has spoken to them and they insist it has to be in writing - which he has also done THREE times. They speak to me immediately after recieving one of his letters, but then say they need a letter for each conversation.

I have spoken to a supervisor - three times in Decembet and twice this month so far - one time being this morning, each time the person states that the payment is not on their system and it is up to me to prove that I have paid it by methods other than the bank statements

No payment slips & as I have said in my initial post, I made the payment (over the phone) and they have had four copies of the bank statement

I am not exagerating, nor am I a liar - They were calling 6 times each hour for three days (before that it was at least 5 times a day). I agreed to BT changing the number as even BT claim their behaviour is harassment.

I am speaking to someone every other day concerning this issue.

On a rare day off, my DH has spoken to someone with me there giving authorisation for me to deal with the account - they refuse to accept this and asked for further written authorisation.

I do remain calm - I am venting my annoyance on here at the moment. What I am saying is that I cannot "sort it out" if they will not accept the bank statement as proof. I have given them the name of the guy who took the payment as well as the time (down to the minute) that the payment was made (As person who trained debt advice workers I am very anal about keeping specific records of financial transactions)

I do not "lose my rag" nor am I upset- I am bloody perplexed as to what proof they are expecting me to give them.

I am fully aware of what collections people do all day and of the way they are trained having "been there and done that" from their side and as a debt advice trainer. As I said to the two women I spoke to this morning (initial person and supervisor) I am fully aware that it has nothing to do with them personally - but this needs sorting and I would like to know why four requests for the account to be closed have been ignored.

As for the new direct debit, They flatly refuse to set up the direct debit until the account is 'brought up to date' Even though I have paid!!!

I do appreciate the advice, but it does appear that you didn't actually read the initial post and that you are answering from some sort of crib sheet.
Reading your post was like every conversation that I have had with SimplyBe - they just keep repeating their mantra and can offer no other option as to how I can prove the payment was made if they refuse to accept the bank statement.

Joash, is it worth taking a chance and letting them 'take this further', if you have physical proof that the money left your DHs account and went to their's, then any action they take will fall at the first hurdle? surely a bank statement is a legal document.

if you have the names of people you have spoken to and the dates, catalogue it all, and write to the management.

phoning 6 times an hour is not acceptable at all

do you hvae any copies of anything you have sent or proof of postage?

what proof will they accept if a bank statement not acceptable?

Joash Califrau was just doing what you'd askedin your OP as far as i can see..you have already contacted them and they wont help/talk to you/showed them bank statements, all ANYONE on here can do is repeat that, maybe you didnt mean to sound that way, but it did sound snappy, she WAS trying to help, but only SB can tell you how to resolve it, not anyone on here

Rosegarden - if you read the original post, you will see that my question was "How am I supposed to prove that I made the payment if they refuse to accept bank statements as proof?"
I also clearly explained each step that I have taken and although I was not snappy towards anyone. All I did was take each point made in Califraus post and reiterated much of what I had said in my first post. I also said that I appreciated the advice - so I'm not sure why you felt the need to defend califrau when no-one has said anything wrong on here. She was simply giving advice from her point of view but I explained that she appeared to have failed to understand what I had originally said.

sorry

lulumama, they don't need to take anything further as I have just asked them to initiat proceedings in the county court after receiving 8 calls on my mobile since 3.20 this afternoon, in every single one they say the bank statement does not prove that they actually received the payment!!

and yes - I have copies of everything plus a log of all calls made to them and received.

Thanks everyone, but it is just as I thought - there is no other way to prove that I have paid this other than the bank statements.

Just had call number 9 from a supervisor - trying to backtrack to avoid this going to court...if I make the missing payment and they will knock off one £12 admin charge. PLEASE GIVE ME A BRICK WALL TO BANG MY HEAD ON.

Sorry you are upset at Me Califrau, whilst I agree mistakes can and do happen, this is beyond just a simple mistake. Joash is being bullied by this company. So yes imho it needs to be highlighted in some way. A lady was having hassle of a similar nature with BT and after she wrote to The Times lo and behold BT backtracked, admitted their mistake and sent her £250 and flowers, when previously she was calling and writing to them and getting nowhere.

Again sorry you are upset and yes I have worked in this type of environment which is why I find it appalling.

Next time they call, why not say to them that you WANT them to take you to court, that you hope they hurry up and take you to court. Tell them that you have paid, they know you have paid, you have sent them proof of your payment four times and authorisation for you to discuss the account 3 times, that you have been recording details of each phone call they have made to you, that you have proof that you paid that you will present to the court, along with details of their harrassment of you, and that you will be getting your own solicitor to take action against them for this harrassment.

bloody hell

9 calls ! just ridicolous

i hope that it goes to court and you get compensated for all the wasted time and the harassment

in fact you could issue your own proceedings for the admin charges that have been issued and extra for the bullying !

Agree with Lulu.

Let them take you to court, and countersue them for stamps, copy statements, phone calls, and £25 per hour labour for the time spent trying to sort this out.

Plus an amount for their harassment of you.

You've paid what you owe them, so let them have enough rope to hang themselves with.

Their behaviour is bizarre - are they on the brink of financial collapse or receivership or something?