Page 1 of 1

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:56 am
by sillybilly
Hi to all,
I have spent the last month lurking and reading posts, it has been a huge source of information and helped me to decide that I needed to do something, and also that I am not the only one. I made my first enquiry to Melanie's team 3 weeks ago I cannot thank her team enough, professional supportive and non judgemental just what we all need when we are in a pickle with our finances.
Last week I sent all my creditors their letters explaining that we are applying for and IVA, Melanie's team also sent their letters. Some of my creditors are still waiting to miss their first payment which will be within the next week other's are up to 2 weeks late.
I have been on the phone most of the morning rearranging direct debits but inbetween have had phone calls from creditors. Infact I have just had another one whilst typing
8.30 RBS re loan who have no record of my phone call 2 weeks ago to explain situation and have not received either letter mmm. Last year due to a banking error 2 payments were missed and no phone call and a letter two weeks after 2nd months of missed payment.
09.45 RBS- CC wanting to speak to my Husband, I explained that he was at work and I said that I knew why they were calling and tried to explain to her the situation who rudely said she could not discuss with me and put the phone down.
11.00 Barclaycard ringing as my payment is 2 days late, previously again I have paid a week late no phone call. Again no letter has been received. She asked could I contact my IP so they can inform them of there details.
So a quick rant to Angela on the phone (sorry Angela but thank you) Just to clarify letters were sent.
So I thought I would vent on here too and just had another call from RBS-CC for me my payment is a week later, no record of any letters etc so went through situation again aargh. This lady was quite helpful and has made a note on mine and husbands card to stop calls for 28 days.... we will have to see.
So now I need to get off here and hope I have no more phone calls as I need to clean and tidy up a bit as valuers are coming later and my little one has trashed the place.
Here's hoping others are having a quieter day, I know a few are of you are at a similiar stage to me as I have been following your journeys on here.
[:(!] Sillybilly

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:04 pm
by Julie
Hi Sillybilly,

I'm glad you're finding the fourm helpful and you've chosen a great team to help resolve your debts.[:)]

The phonercalls can be really annoying, tedious and they can get you down. They will eventually drop off but there are a few ways you can deal with them.

Is changing your number an option? Ot you can unplug your phone /turn your ringer off. Others have written scripts and just recited this to the callers.

You can be assured your IP will have sent letters.

Good luck with the valuation and feel free to rant more if you want to....[:)]

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:09 pm
by Michael Peoples
You are in the safest of hands but this does not make the phone calls any easier to take. these creditors are huge operations and often one arm does not know what the other is doing. Gather your outstanding info as quickly as you can and hopefully your proposal will be approved quickly.

As Julie says rant away because until the IVA is accepted there is very little that can be done to stop the calls.

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 12:22 pm
by sillybilly
Thank you, I know it's something I have to deal with but I am just concerned if I don't answer they may ring my work.
After speaking to Angela I am going to write to them all asking to remove my contact numbers and to contact me by post or email.
I can understand they want their money and I do owe it I am just a bit of a whimp and I don't need to be told off or spoken to in a judgemental way it's not nice.
Michael's People I have been very organised (amazingly) and just the valuation and a phone call to get some information that my husband needs to do and I think we have got everything then fingers crossed.

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:44 pm
by beansontoast
Hi,
We seem to be at a similar stage to you with our IVA, I too lurked on here and read loads before plucking up the courage to post anything on here or to ring any ips. My next hurdle was to ring creditors and make token payments.... very scary but surprisingly easy, all were quite civil! My proposal is being drawn up at the min so fingers crossed. Good luck with everything sillybilly and keep updating so that i can follow your progress. So nice to know we are not alone!

Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 10:38 pm
by MelanieGiles
This makes me so cross as all of your creditors have been written to by ourselves to advise them that you are in the process of proposing a voluntary arrangement. I sometimes wonder why we bother, as they don't seem to take much notice - but I don't think that the insolvency teams link in much with the call centre collections to be frank.

Hang in there, and remember you are working towards a better future, so a little pain at this stage will be well worth it in the long run.

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:46 pm
by sillybilly
Thanks Melanie,
I have to say I smell a rat as I know they have never bothered even when a payment has been a week late they have not contacted me. It seems strange that within days of letters being received phone calls start but they say they don't know mmm.
My first post was wednesday then on thursday having spoken to barclaycard on Wednesday I had 6 missed calls whilst at work and 2 calls in the evening I rang them back and said I felt like I was being harrassed, they have apologised and promised that they will not ring for 2 weeks and did I want to make an official complaint.
Today friday following 3 calls where I spoke to someone on each call from the RBS on Wednesday and told noone would ring for 28 daysI had 2 missed calls at home and they rang my work too even though on Wednesday they told me that my work number had been removed.
On a positive note MBNA sent me quite a nice letter with options I could look at we will have to see if they start the calls soon too.
I can honestly see how people can do some really silly things when creditors harrass you. I know I owe money and I really want to pay what I can but my family also need food in their bellies.
At least it's the weekend but I doubt the calls will stop having read other posts but at least noone is in at work to get bothered there.

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 12:09 am
by MelanieGiles
Hang in there - you will soon be in a better place.

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:20 am
by steppingstones
Hi Sillybilly.
One of my creditors was MBNA too. At first they were one of the first to start calling me, both at home and work when I missed my first payment. But once I had spoken to their finance specialist dept, and undoubtedly they have received a letter from Melanie as well by now, they backed off completely. I, too, got a nice letter from them asking me to consider other options with them. I'm set on getting the IVA now but at least they have been quite pleasant about it, unlike Lloyds who have written to me to tell me that I have two days to repay the unauthorised element of my overdraft. I only went further overdrawn because they continued to take DD's that I cancelled.

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:25 am
by kallis3
The constant phone calls have to be one of the worst things when you are struggling. You dread it ringing. It makes you jumpy and very irritable and your home life can suffer.

As regards the calls to work sillybilly, next time they ring tell them that you are not allowed calls at work and it has got you into trouble and if it continues you could lose your job and then they'll get nothing. That has worked for a lot of posters.

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:42 am
by sillybilly
Just had another one from RBS I answered they hung up so I called them back and explained again nothing on screen re my call on Wednesday this lady has assured me again that my work number has now been removed and that we shouldn't get anymore calls and put Melanie's teams number as a contact. We will just have to wait and see.
Very frustrated that the house valuation still hasn't arrived in the post and unable to get hold of a company to find out how much we owe oh well need to keep trying as this is all we need to get now.
Have a good weekend everyone, this is such a lovely place to be everyone is so supportive so glad I discovered this site. Thanks everyone.

Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 1:16 pm
by kallis3
Let's hope they have removed it now.

I really feel for you and hope you get the valuation and the details from the creditor soon.

You're in good hands.

Hope you have a good weekend as well.