harrassment....

[cat 1]

Hello All.I wonder if anyone knows how to help me. I entered and IVA in Nov 07. All going relatively well but keep getting calls from Simply Be who have sold debt to Reliable Collections. They are phoning constantly (3 times in last hour and I'm not usually home during the day)They write as well. i have asked my IP to stop them, I've emailed the company to. and I've sent all coorespondance from Simply Be to the IP company. Should I change my phone number.I don't want it to continue .It's very distressing now. They ring me then expect me to confirm my details and I refuse.The debt was approx£120 but they keep sending statements saying it has gone up. Blood pressure high right now- hence off work stressed. Any suggestions gratefully recieved.Cat

[bigmumma]

change your phone number - lol !
Or better still ring them and say you have changed your number - give them the number for your local pizza hut !!!

[aguise]

Hi Cat
I would ring them and ask for a manager and explain about the iva and that they are breaking the terms and should not be harrassing you. Dont stand for there is no info on the screen talk to a manager in debt collections and refer them to your IP. Otherwise get oin the phone to yopur ip and ask them to sort it out. You should not have to change your number mate, they are in the wrong.

Ang

[pixie]

Hi Cat

Have you got a whistle!!!
Seriously though, you are now protected by the iva and what they are doing is harassment. It does sometimes take time for the message to sink in but your IP should sort them out!

[cat 1]

Thanks everyone- whistle and firm words at the ready.cat

[moose]

Harassment by creditors
It is perfectly reasonable for someone you owe money to ask for it back, however sometimes demand for repayment can take unpleasant forms.

Under Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970 "the Act" harassment is defined as "trying to coerce a person to pay a contract debt by making demands for payment" subjecting debtors to "alarm, distress or humiliation by the frequency, publicity of manner in attempting to collect the debt".

The following are generally regarded as harassment: -


a creditor claiming non-payment of a debt is a criminal matter

calling repeatedly at unsociable hours

calling at the debtor's place of work if requested not to (advising the creditor that you are under threat of disciplinary action and may lose your job can often stop them calling)

using abusive or threatening behaviour and threats of violence.
Harassment is a criminal offence


If they are calling you now its unsociable hours,you need to turn the tables on them, i had hassle my response was to tell them how threatening they were being and quote the above when they called all the time and talk over them. I have no time for people who hide behind 'we are only doing our job' while bullying folk

all the bes,,we are with you

[Rainbow]

I too had this post IVA and I responded to this by stating that I had contacted the Police and under the harrasment law they could no longer to continue to harrass me, I wished to have my telephone number deleted from the records as advised by the Police. The person that had made the call wouldn't listen to me and hung up so I called back very calmly and I asked to speak to a manager or supervisor I then repeated what I had already stated - They deleted the telephone number and I haven't had any further calls since.!