And so the mind games begin *sob*

[johnz]

Well, it had to happen. The phone calls have begun. To be honest I think I've got off quite lightly so far.

So today I get the first phone call. And it is very, very odd.

"Hello, this is so and so from Lloyds TSB. Please may I speak to Mrs Johnz"

Yes, that's me.

We go through some security questions.

"Oh hold on. The systems just gone down. Can you hold for a minute?"

yes. *silence for about 5 minutes*

"I'm sorry Mrs Johnz, the system has definately gone down. I'll call you back in about 10 minutes"

Ok. Hang up

That was 4 hours ago. Heard nothing since. Have been sitting stressing about the inevitable phone call.

So have figured it's one of 3 things.

1. They were telling the truth and Lloyds TSB has been out of action for the past 4 hours, cos their systems down.

2. They are trying to psyc me out by making me think they were going to call me and ask for money, when in fact they weren't.

3. Someone's just called and scammed me for my security details, in which case they didn't get a lot and all they will get for their trouble is an empty bank account.

Oh the drama[:D][:D]

Johnz

[plec]

Hi johnz

sorry to hear about your troublesome phone call, its more likely number 1 as lloyds tsb website had been down earlier. how about this for an idea we changed our number first so when they try to start phoning they will only get a disconnected call so we will prob be getting just through the post instead. we r chickens!!!!!

High hopes & skint pockets!!

[mike.s]

Hey Johnz maybe it was a scam, one of those identity theft thingies. Maybe if they've stolen your identity the debt is now theirs. Wouldn't that be great nick someone's identity and find out you're in an IVA, ohhh the irony Lol.

[johnz]

[:D][:D][:D]

That would be funny.

Johnz

[plec]

thinking about it that does sound better. lets hope it was that, wouldn't they get a shock!!

High hopes & skint pockets!!

[Skippy]

Dave had a call from the bank and they asked him to answer their security questions so he refused and told then he knows who he is, but hasn't got a clue who they are - they didn't say a lot to that!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Shining]

I've only had one phone call so far, I'm sure they will start anytime and dread the phone ringing and the postman arriving. One creditor this week sent a letter saying we have to maintain payments until we apply for an interim order! Not got a clue what they're on about but will be forwarding the letter to our IP tomorrow.

[jpj]

I just either screened my calls or hung up as soon as i knew who they were..often you get a small gap of silence before they are connected.
I found explaining my situation was pointless,they would lay off you for 7 days then start again..and as my IVA took 5 months to organise,if I hadnt ignored the calls I would have needed a full time secretary to deal with them,or have been in hospital with a stress related heart attack[B)] !! LOL

[BrassicLintus]

Hi all, it depended on what kind of mood i was in whether I spoke to them or not!!! If I'd had a good day then I wouldn't but if I'd had a bad day I figured speaking to them couldn't make me feel worse!!!! But even after explaining thousands of times (ok slight exageration there!) they still kept phoning so eventually I just didn't answer the phone! Talking of telephone scams though, I had a phone call allegedly from BT back last year, they said I had been selected to receive free evening and weekend telephone calls - very nice of them I thought! Then he asked for my bank details - I said he should already have them because I'm an existing BT customer and I pay by direct debit - he asked again and I refused. Then he started getting his hair off, shouting at me and demanding that I give him my bank account details!!! He said it was no different giving him my bank details than it would be for me to write a cheque (them were the days when I still had a cheque book!) - but I just said at least I know who I'm handing my cheque to! I told them to put it in writing and hung up - and lo and behold - never received anything through the post!

[louisa.s]

ooh how dodgy does that sound and I thought we go free evening and weekends calls as part of the BT toghter package? I think.

Barclaycard were the real pains as far as constant phone calls go and because its on one of these automaticed systems I was in a foul mood after about the 6th hello to which they would reply back. That coupled with the fact that Barclaycard Visa don't talk to Barclaycard Mastercard so we repeated ourselves constantly and they don't know what they are talking about they even asked us how long it takes for the IVA to go through to which we replied how the hell should we know as we never done it before!!!

have you got caller iD? If so just answer the calls you want to take and silent the others or pick up and hang up.

Antisocial but effective!

[douglass]

I am still having terrible trouble with certain creditors. I have telephoned each and every one of them, and explained I am BR. Last night I got yet another call and the red mist came over me - I lost it. Told them their records were a month out of date, and they were breaching Data Protection Act by not having up to date information. I told them I would be complaining to the Information Commissioners Office, and to my OR also. ARGH! D.

[debbiw]

Hiya, can you get away with not taking creditors calls, or hanging up on them, wouldn't it go agaisnt you IVA case, if you were refusing to speak to them?

[Andrew Graveson]

Hi debbiw,

It would be usual that the team reviewing your IVA proposal will be entirely seperate from the team who call you chasing debts.

I therefore don't think a polite refusal to talk would make any difference to the chances for success of your IVA.

You could insist that they only communicate with you in writing. Should phone calls continue after such a request it would seem reasonable to hang up.

Andrew Graveson
Independent Mortgage Broker & Bright Oak Debt Management
andrew@brightoak.co.uk
www.brightoak.co.uk

[emma_t]

I took all the calls I could from my creditors, but they only had my mobile as I updated my home number to my work fax line before i began the process.
On the whole they were ok, except Morgan Stanley and Barclaycard who rang constantly thretening all sorts and doorstep collections, etc.
if they were rude or unplesant, as I was on my mobile I just kept saying hello, hello, my signal is really bad, I am loosing you and hanging up.....LOL
I tried to be nice and explain the situation and why I was in the situation but it is so tedious doing it on a daily basis, sometimes 3 or 4 times a day...

[johnz]

Sussed it!!

Yesterday I got one phone call.

Today, one phone call and one letter.

So tomorrow I should have 2 phone calls and one letter. Or maybe one phone call and 2 letters. [:D]

Oooh, and they lie to you. They lie. Phone call today was from a credit card. My response - you should have received the proposal from my DMP company, so as per their letter, please can you forward any queries to them Their response - we haven't received a proposal. Then 2 minutes later, "Now that we've received your proposal it will take a while to set up......" I was stood there thinking ooooh you little fibber.[:p]

Yes, I have officially lost it.

Dunno whether to call the company that sent the letter though. They don't actually have my phone number. If I call them, they might get it. Hmmmmm. Think I'll write to them instead saying as per the letter from my dmp.......blah, blah, blah.

Sheesh. [}:)]

Johnz