Being chased by debt collection agency

[Wanderer]

Doing my head in!

I ditched my UK mobile number when a moved to Belgium last June, cancelled the PAYG monthly contract and they come on at me for 45 quid under the terms etc. I argued the toss and eventually paid it cos I was sick of the hassle and conversations with India. The guy then assured me that's the end of the matter and I'd receive no more communications or demands WRT it.

Now, via a debt collection agency they're after me for another 15 quid! I could pay it but the principle is getting to me so I'm fighting it.

I've told them to dig out the voice recording where I was assured I'd hear no more on this (all calls are recorded.... etc) and stop hassling me. No effect, just more emails and calls on mobile on my Irish number for some reason.

I've told then if they want to fight me for 15 quid they'll have to do it at my local Justice de Paix here in BE, my goal is to waste their time and money as much as possible as well!

Any advices? Mobile company is Three and collection agency is Pastdue.

 

[Phil H]

I suspect the recording will be conveniently 'lost' anyway. It looks as though Pastdue is a UK company and therefore not in the EU, so I reckon your plan's a good'n. Can you rack up some costs for which to counter-sue along the way?

 

[Hawk13]

More than likely they will write off if you just ignore but be aware that they could rack up ridiculous costs and apply for a court order ... and potentially feck up your credit report. If you have a UK address, it is frighteningly easy to lodge a CCJ (and an effing nightmare to get it removed).

 

[Wanderer]

I suspect the recording will be conveniently 'lost' anyway. It looks as though Pastdue is a UK company and therefore not in the EU, so I reckon your plan's a good'n. Can you rack up some costs for which to counter-sue along the way?

Only thing I can think of is wasted time trying to understand the Indian call centre at Three and filling in Pastdue's web thing everytime they e-threaten me.

 

[Phil H]

Good point from Hawk re a UK address though, if you have one.

 

[safrane]

Record your calls with them, its the only way I got British Gas to admit they were wrong when they had two accounts on my old house.

Also makes them do things properly if you tell them at the start of the call... they were not happy when I told them I was doing it for both our benefits.

 

[FIFTY]

Get the ombudsmen involved. I had a major dispute with Vodafone which took 18 months to resolve and ultimately I wouldn't have been resolved without their involvement

 

[Wanderer]

Get the ombudsmen involved. I had a major dispute with Vodafone which took 18 months to resolve and ultimately I wouldn't have been resolved without their involvement

Good call. Are there any honourable mobile companies? Had a similar long drawn out squabble with 02

 

[CatmanV2]

More than likely they will write off if you just ignore but be aware that they could rack up ridiculous costs and apply for a court order ... and potentially feck up your credit report. If you have a UK address, it is frighteningly easy to lodge a CCJ (and an effing nightmare to get it removed).

Yes, this would be my concern.

C

 

[Simon1963]

Just be careful as some of these debt collection agencies love to pile on the charges. A £15 debt could soon turn into hundreds and they can be ruthless in collecting it. Even if your in the right they don’t see it that way and it can cause a huge amount of stress.

 

[ofenomeno99]

More than likely they will write off if you just ignore but be aware that they could rack up ridiculous costs and apply for a court order ... and potentially feck up your credit report. If you have a UK address, it is frighteningly easy to lodge a CCJ (and an effing nightmare to get it removed).

Noooooo!!! Something similar happened to me where I parked in a super market parking for a few minutes passed the ticket time. Long story short, didn't get a ticket on my car as it was one of those automated camera parkings, moved houses, life went on- until I saw my credit score a few months later... turned out I had a CCJ and had to pay 250 to the debt collectors... this was 4 years ago and my credit score has taken a huge hit because of it.

I'm not living in the UK currently so not a huge issue but really not worth the sweat for 15 pounds- just pay it and move on with your life. They're low lifes!

 

[Oneball]

3 years I fought Scottish Power over a £1590 electric bill on a meter that wasn’t even at my house. Went all the way to bailiffs. Eventually won when they finally admitted it wasn’t my meter. Keep at it.

 

[Wanderer]

Could I pay it and then refer to ombudsman?

 

[RSM Masser]

Keep at it - it’s the principle as you say
I beat HMRC a few years ago on a £15k unpaid tax bill
I was a normal bloke on PAYE ( well sort of normal as I was in the army) Just how much do you need to earn to OWE £15000!
Went from Bailiffs right through to £0 - still got the letter just in case!

 

[Scaf]

Pay it then lodge an online claim for damages to claim it back plus costs - that puts you on the front foot.
Never lodged one myself but hear it’s very simple

 

[Wanderer]

Keep at it - it’s the principle as you say
I beat HMRC a few years ago on a £15k unpaid tax bill
I was a normal bloke on PAYE ( well sort of normal as I was in the army) Just how much do you need to earn to OWE £15000!
Went from Bailiffs right through to £0 - still got the letter just in case!

I had the Bailiffs once, well, Sheriffs, this was Scotland, lowest point in my life. 2001. I literally had no money, no job, five kids, wife gone, Dad died, nearest I came to ending it. Kids kept me going though, made me step up as a father which is maybe now twenty years later I cant get rid of them!

 

[CatmanV2]

I had the Bailiffs once, well, Sheriffs, this was Scotland, lowest point in my life. 2001. I literally had no money, no job, five kids, wife gone, Dad died, nearest I came to ending it. Kids kept me going though, made me step up as a father which is maybe now twenty years later I cant get rid of them!

I managed to avoid the bailiffs. Got evicted from my flat once, though

C

 

[PaulCambio]

Don’t pay them. They have to prove it. They probably can’t. Fight them all the way and you’ll win. Been there before and won. A judge would kick them out if they couldn’t prove you owed them and couldn’t supply the recordings that showed you owed them nothing.

 

[Oneball]

Could I pay it and then refer to ombudsman?

Wouldn’t you not pay and refer them to the ombudsman?

Have you tried their internal dispute process?

 

[lifes2short]

i know how you feel about the principal of the matter and if it were a larger sum then fair enough, just grit your teeth and pay the tossers, not worth all the stress over a mere 15 squid