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Wednesday 3rd December 2008 Make us your HOME PAGE  What is RSS?
 
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ARTICLE SUMMARY

Don't pay debts without the detail

WHEN a debt collector’s demand came out of the blue, it shook Darrell Johnson. But that was nothing compared with the worry he felt when his attempts to find out the details were denied.

CALL THEIR BLUFF

28.04.08, 11:34pm

This happened several years ago, a debt collectors letter demanding money going back quite a long time which we knew we had paid.
We had no intention of paying again, I challenged them to prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that we did in fact owed this money as with amounts of money being received by them daily there was more than a possibility that cash could have been eroneously misallocated so until they provided proof of the alleged debt we were not prepared to pay anything, never heard another word .

• Posted by: Maggie • Report Comment

A NATIONAL DISGRACEL

23.04.08, 12:10am

It is right and proper that those who are owed money should receive their dues but as we have created a society that has become more and more reliant on credit and carelessness of debt, a vast and ruthless industry has evolved to cash in on those who are owed, those who owe and those who are alleged to owe. They are without scruple.

It is necessary for the reader to know that these avaricious, predatory debt acquisition and collection companies make immense and indefensible profits. They are well aware that there is no organization that will represent plaintiffs, in civil debt actions, who cannot afford to defend themselves. Accordingly, they will avoid, bend and overtly break guidelines, regulations and the law, comfortable in the knowledge that it is most unlikely that they will be held to account for their behavior. On the rare occasions when they are caught out, as in Darrell Johnson's case they will offer platitudinous excuses. The treasury profits handsomely from their rapacious activities and it is most unlikely that the present government would take any actions to protect the public from their predaceous and devious misconduct.

If you have the misfortune to have to communicate with one of these companies only do so, in writing, by recorded delivery. Never, ever, speak to them on the telephone. Aquaint yourself, intimately with the law in respect of your particular situation. Never trust anything they say without indisputable evidence.

• Posted by: NG • Report Comment

DON'T PAY DEBTS WITHOUT THE DETAILS

08.04.08, 10:48am

I too suffered at the hands of Britannia Music and Film who demanded £68 for videos I had cancelled.

They completely ignored all forms of communication and were just hell bent on getting money.

They were also featured on BBC Watchdog after a number of complaints.

Very pleased they have gone bust so that no one else has to suffer.

• Posted by: AnnieP • Report Comment

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YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR NERVE

31.03.08, 11:26pm

It takes guts to hold out on £17 when you know every letter they send will bump up the bill by £20. There will shortly be automated parking fines arriving through the post accompanied with a photo of your car. You have to keep a record of all of these and when you made the payment. If you lose track you could be paying these things over and over for years to come.

• Posted by: Wayland • Report Comment

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MOBILE CHARGES FLEECE OFF!

29.03.08, 3:53pm

Mobile companies, when questioned about charges made for calls not made, insist that because the calls are automated, they would not have originated from any other source.

Recently I was charged by 3G for "0800" calls which everyone knows is free from landline and when I disputed this, I was given a credit for these calls as a "gesture of goodwill."

Goodwill? My foot. They had charged me for calls I had never made.

These companies employ solicitors who make terms and conditions which are difficult to challenge in a court of law.

• Posted by: Nalin • Report Comment

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