help - debt collection issue

lcoops · 28-11-2005, 21:34

i moved house in April, i use the 2mb ntl broadband service, so i rang and arranged to have it installed at my new address, no problems-all sorted
Within a few weeks i received a letter from ntl saying i owed them money, which i didn't, i pay by direct debit, and the money has always come out on time. i rang ntl and they said it was there mistake, and i had probably been billed for a previous occupier, as there were two accounts ( two cable modem accounts). Ntl said they would sort this out.
Not so - i still kep on receiving letters saying i owed them money, practically every week, rang them again, said they would sort it out
again, not so - kept receiving the letters, up to the point where they said i owed Ã‚Â£130!, then a letter came from Moorcroft debt recovery, saying legal action would be taken if i didn't pay.
Rang ntl again, they apologised, said they would sort this out. I rang Moorcroft to make sure they were aware.
yet today, i had a phone call from someone at Moorcroft demanding the money, said i didn't owe them anything, and he just kep saying "so you refuse to pay, legal action will be taken", so i payed, thinking i can call ntl, shout at them and get the money back
So rang ntl straight after, the girl said the debt had been credited on my account, and that i shouldn't have had Moorcroft asking for the money, toldd her they had and that i'd paid as he was threating legal action.
Got absolutely no help from the girl at all, put me on hold for about 10 minutes (as usual) and then saidi would have to ask my bank to do a charge back.
I am now worried that i'm going to struggle to get my money back, as ther doesn't seem to be any communication between ntl and this debt recovery company, also surely i should be compensated more for the fact that i've paid money i don't owe, had countless letters saying i owe money i don't, rang them on many occasions (and been put on hold many occasions), and been threatened with legal action which was unjust.
Anyone know of anyway i can definately get my money back, and maybe take the matter further? i really don't want to continue using ntl either after the hassle they've caused.

Ramrod · 28-11-2005, 21:41

Someone here must know the contact details of some sort of onbudsman that you can contact.....sorry to hear about your situation m8

edit -- try this for a start...

andybarker · 28-11-2005, 22:15

I would start with Citizens Advice Bureau. Also a recorded delivery letter to NTL mentioning everyone's favorite - Watchdog.

fireman328 · 28-11-2005, 23:41

add to that list Trading Standards and The Banking Ombudsman Service (Google)

danielf · 28-11-2005, 23:59

I agree with andybarker. Make CAB your first port of call, and see what they say. Then take it from there. And don't be afraid to involve Trading Standards and Watchdog.

If I were you I'd be pushing for compensation for the aggravation you suffered as well...

Chris W · 29-11-2005, 00:05

lcoops

Sounds like you have been round the houses...

If you PM me your account number, name, and a contact number I will pass the details to a contact in ntl in the morning and hopefully we can get this sorted once and for all

SMHarman · 29-11-2005, 00:12

How did you pay the bill? By cheque or by credit card? If it is by credit card, call the card issuer and dispute the amount. If by cheque, call your bank and tell them to decline the cheque. This CAN still be done even if it has cleared you just have to push hard to get this done.

If they keep trying then ultimately they will send you a letter from court, you tick the box that this is not your debt and send it back to the court, job done.

danielf · 29-11-2005, 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

<snip>

If they keep trying then ultimately they will send you a letter from court, you tick the box that this is not your debt and send it back to the court, job done.

Presumably the payments made to the OP's account ended up in the account of the previous occupant, leaving a debt on the OP's account. While the OP is not in any way to blame, I would think the debt is still in his/her name? Ticking a box saying it's not his/her debt may therefore not be acceptable to the court.

SMHarman · 29-11-2005, 00:48

No but it puts the onus back on the company.
Form N9B section 1
(I dispute the full amount claimed as shown on the claim form)
section 3
This liability was incurred by the previous owner of the NTL account at my address. My liability for NTL services at my premises commenced on dd/mm/yy, this liability was incurred prior to this date.
Section 4
If you were bored you could pay some money £15 I think and make a counterclaim for the waste of time, telephone calls, loss of earnings.
Sign section 5.
Job done for now.

If the judge lets it come to court, select small claims track, then NTL / the collection agent will be forced to treck to your local court, and probably won't bother in which case you win. If they do, the judge should see sense and you win.

If you win and NTL refuse to pay you go to court again (you don't need to turn up) and seek a winding up order (which requests NTL obviously cannot pay this bill so the company needs to be liquidated and you will then get your £130 back, this usually provokes a response from the company.

danielf · 29-11-2005, 01:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

No but it puts the onus back on the company.
<snip>

That's good, but I'm not sure if that helps the OP.

lcoops · 29-11-2005, 10:31

cheers for the replies guys
rang ntl again this morning, they said they're going to refund me the full amount (although they have to ring me back later today when they can get the full details on screen).
I demanded some sort of compensation for the aggrevation and that i would take the matter to trading standards, watchdog etc.. if they weren't forthcoming, and they said they will discuss some form of compensation when they ring back.
That's if they ring back...

This is the first problem i've had with ntl, and i've been with them for a while now, but it's totally put me off continuing with their service, although having read a few other posts, disconnecting the service seems like it could be a hassle too.

danielf · 29-11-2005, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcoops

cheers for the replies guys
rang ntl again this morning, they said they're going to refund me the full amount (although they have to ring me back later today when they can get the full details on screen).
I demanded some sort of compensation for the aggrevation and that i would take the matter to trading standards, watchdog etc.. if they weren't forthcoming, and they said they will discuss some form of compensation when they ring back.
That's if they ring back...

This is the first problem i've had with ntl, and i've been with them for a while now, but it's totally put me off continuing with their service, although having read a few other posts, disconnecting the service seems like it could be a hassle too.

Good on you

Let us know what happens. Also, make sure that this mixup is sorted (i.e. your payments go into your account), so this farce isn't repeated.

lcoops · 29-11-2005, 12:37

After some help from a guy here at the cable forum, ntl contacted me, this time someone much more helpful, and told me i would get a cheque for the full amount owed within 10 days.
she also said she would credit my account so that i get 3 months free service, and that she'll make sure i'm not contacted by Moorcroft again ( the people that i spoke to there were absolutely clueless).
So hopefully, that's all sorted.
Thanks to everyone for their help with this issue.

danielf · 29-11-2005, 12:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcoops

After some help from a guy here at the cable forum, ntl contacted me, this time someone much more helpful, and told me i would get a cheque for the full amount owed within 10 days.
she also said she would credit my account so that i get 3 months free service, and that she'll make sure i'm not contacted by Moorcroft again ( the people that i spoke to there were absolutely clueless).
So hopefully, that's all sorted.
Thanks to everyone for their help with this issue.

Good news, glad you got it sorted