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ESB to take on a British thug firm to chase after 130.000 unpaid bills.

  • 27-02-2012 11:00am
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭


    In another anti ESB rant, the ESB are to take on heavy handed British debt collectors (IE, Thugs, Bouncers want to be cops etc ) to tackle the problem of unpaid bills, Most of these so called debt collectors are the same breed of people you find at the door at any city centre nightclub. Certainly not the type of heavy handed people you want banging at your hall door at 6AM looking for cash.

    THE ESB promised last night that its customers would not be treated in a heavy-handed manner after it appointed a British debt-collection firm to chase down unpaid bills.

    More than 310,000 cash-strapped families have agreed to payment plans where they pay their electricity bills weekly because they are unable to meet the normal bills every two months.

    Of these, some 130,000 are in arrears on their ESB bills.

    Now Electric Ireland, as the ESB has been renamed, has brought in UK debt-recovery specialists BCW to take over its payment-collection operations for its 1.3 million customers.


    http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/latest-news/esb-uses-uk-debt-collectors-as-130000-in-arrears-on-bills-3029085.html


«13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    That's shocking :eek:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,196 ✭✭✭CardBordWindow


    So cutting off people's electricity isn't enough?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,037 ✭✭✭Nothingbetter2d


    BCW are used by Bank of Ireland for debt collection too... they have an irish office in dublin near castlenock.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,376 ✭✭✭Anyone


    So cutting off people's electricity isn't enough?

    I'd imagine that the people they are chasing have got their supply from another provider.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,111 ✭✭✭✭ejmaztec


    So cutting off people's electricity isn't enough?

    I think they still leave you with a thumb and one finger, but you can wave goodbye to the rest.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    *sigh*
    The bailiff business will go up and the courts will be even more packed with familys that are in a bad way already!
    THE ESB promised last night that its customers would not be treated in a heavy-handed manner after it appointed a British debt-collection firm to chase down unpaid bills.

    Forgive me ESB but I consider your PR spin/words to be absolute cobblers!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,944 ✭✭✭fedor.2.


    In another anti ESB rant, the ESB are to take on heavy handed British debt collectors (IE, Thugs, Bouncers want to be cops etc ) to tackle the problem of unpaid bills, Most of these so called debt collectors are the same breed of people you find at the door at any city centre nightclub. Certainly not the type of heavy handed people you want banging at your hall door at 6AM looking for cash.

    THE ESB promised last night that its customers would not be treated in a heavy-handed manner after it appointed a British debt-collection firm to chase down unpaid bills.

    More than 310,000 cash-strapped families have agreed to payment plans where they pay their electricity bills weekly because they are unable to meet the normal bills every two months.

    Of these, some 130,000 are in arrears on their ESB bills.

    Now Electric Ireland, as the ESB has been renamed, has brought in UK debt-recovery specialists BCW to take over its payment-collection operations for its 1.3 million customers.


    http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/latest-news/esb-uses-uk-debt-collectors-as-130000-in-arrears-on-bills-3029085.html



    Exaggerate much


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,956 ✭✭✭Doc Ruby


    BCW are used by Bank of Ireland for debt collection too... they have an irish office in dublin near castlenock.
    You have to wonder why though, I mean its not like they have any more legal powers than the bank. They can't seize property or otherwise interfere with peoples' business unless they go through the court.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Doc Ruby wrote: »
    You have to wonder why though, I mean its not like they have any more legal powers than the bank. They can't seize property or otherwise interfere with peoples' business unless they go through the court.

    Just means that if you do get dragged to court, on top of your possible court costs and actual ESB bill, you now face further costs charged possibly by an additional agency to boot!

    This will not end well!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,189 ✭✭✭drdeadlift


    pay as you go electricity might be the best for some customers in the future,sure esb might make a bit less if people use their power a bit more gingerly.Its gas the way prices always go up.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,207 ✭✭✭maximoose


    Most of these so called debt collectors are the same breed of people you find at the door at any city centre nightclub.

    Nonsense.

    Certainly not the type of heavy handed people you want banging at your hall door at 6AM looking for cash.

    Illegal and doesn't happen.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,162 ✭✭✭giant_midget


    I usesd this last time i had trouble with a debt collection ageney. I was 100% in the right and owed nothing. It was a clerical error on the companies part that i was dealing with.



    I am in receipt of a letter from you regarding the above reference no.
    It is apparent that you are acting on the presumption that some relationship that you may have with XXXXX XXXXXXX Limited, is in some way related to me.
    I am not a party to this implied relationship you have with XXXXX XXXXXX Limited either directly, indirectly or by means of any tacit consent.

    Accordingly, I do not understand how to respond to you inasmuch as I am unaware of any contractual relationship between us.

    As a courtesy and because you may find it helpful, I can confirm that the last correspondence I had from XXXXX XXXXXXX XXX Limited was a phone call from XXXXXXX XXXX back in January 2011 where I have informed XXXXX XXXXXX Limited that this matter is settled & no monies whatsoever are due.


    Heard nothing since.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    I'd rather debt collectors collect the monies owed to the ESB than my bill going up and up to cover the costs of others. Sorry but I'm already extremely careful with power and heating because I know what I can afford to pay when the bill comes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,028 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    Will they be wearing black and tan coloured clothes when they come knocking?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    drdeadlift wrote: »
    pay as you go electricity might be the best for some customers in the future,sure esb might make a bit less if people use their power a bit more gingerly.Its gas the way prices always go up.
    Third party credit coin payment Is and was the way in many flats and bedsits across the country.

    Not a good idea for the elderly that could be found dead in a flat if their credit expired on a freezing cold night.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,376 ✭✭✭Anyone


    Its a no lose situation for ESB/BOI or any other company who use Debt Collection agencies. In most if not all cases, the person who owes the debt is informed that this will happen and that they will bare the costs of it.

    As for ESB/BOI or whoever, they dont get charged until the Collector, collects.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,397 ✭✭✭Paparazzo


    Damned if you do and damned if you dont.
    Another thread giving out about price increases. Which will go up more if people don't pay their bill. This reminds me of the bear tax in springfield


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 346 ✭✭redt0m


    prinz wrote: »
    Sorry but I'm already extremely careful with power and heating because I know what I can afford to pay when the bill comes.

    Looks like being careful isn't going to be enough to keep your costs down from now on:

    http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/low-electricity-users-hit-with-extra-charge-541340.html


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    redt0m wrote: »
    Looks like being careful isn't going to be enough to keep your costs down from now on:

    http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/low-electricity-users-hit-with-extra-charge-541340.html

    http://www.thejournal.ie/energy-customers-face-minimum-charge-for-not-using-enough-electricity-366894-Feb2012/
    AN ESB-OWNED ENERGY company has introduced a new billing system which will see some customers have their bills increased – for not using enough electricity.

    Electric Ireland, which was formally rebranded from ‘ESB’ shortly before Christmas, introduced a ‘low user standing charge‘ earlier this month – which means users who use only small amounts of electricity will pay for more than they actually use.

    The charge applies to households who use an average of two units (kilowatt-hours) per day across the two-month billing period – adding €9.45 to each bill if customers fall below that minimum usage threshold.

    Electric Ireland explains that the cost of necessary because the cost of maintaining the electricity network, and running billing and customer services has increased- with the result that low-spending households don’t actually pay enough to cover the costs.

    Second or holiday homes which lie vacant for much of the year are most likely to incur the new charge. The average household uses several dozen units a day: for example a 28″ television, left turned on, would use around three units over a 24-hour day.

    “This leaves us with no option in these situations but to increase the standing charge on these accounts,” it says, noting that the alternative option would have been to raise the flat ‘standing charge’ for all customers.
    Though Airtricity and Bord Gais energy have similar standing charges, they do not apply a minimum floor.

    The Irish Times this morning estimates that Electric Ireland’s minimum charge affects around 100,000 customers, with Electric Ireland saying the absence of any minimum charge meant that it was making a loss on ‘about 10 per cent’ of its 1.3 million domestic customers.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    I have a meter (not an ESB meter, company called Prepay Power) and if the money runs out after 4pm or on weekends/bank holidays it doesn't cut the electricity off, it goes into minus numbers and when you put credit back into it, it just takes what you owe off.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,435 ✭✭✭wandatowell


    Most of these so called debt collectors are the same breed of people you find at the door at any city centre nightclub

    Thats an idiotic comment to make,

    grow up


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 98 ✭✭gremha


    People need to know that unless a debt collection agency own the debt, they have no power at all in Ireland (apart from intimidation), they are simply hired collectors.

    Ireland is not like the UK where debt collectors can seize goods. The companies operating in Ireland rely on peoples ignorance of Irish law to frighten people into paying up - too many Irish people think that they have UK style powers. They have so little power that a debtor can simply verbally bar them from entering his/her property and call the Gardai to remove them for committing criminal trespass if they they do call.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 609 ✭✭✭Dubit10


    This is unreal. It's no wonder the nation is falling apart with sh it like this going on.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,050 ✭✭✭token101


    Hmmm I'm going to play devil's advocate here and just put this out there:

    Unemployed people struggling to pay bills in this country can apply for the FEA allowance, which essentially entitles you to very cheap electricity. Now, the Post Office also have a budget scheme where you can pay X amount every week off the bills. If they ring you re an unpaid bill and you agree to pay off X amount over the 8 weeks it's unlikely you'll be cut off. Electricity is still a service, not a human right. Yeah, electricity is obviously vital, but so is food. When was the last time you walked into a supermarket and they gave you 8 weeks to pay?

    Now, I've never heard of this BCW crowd, but if anyone thinks that bailiffs are going to be knocking on your door to take your stuff without going through every court in the land, you haven't clue. It's a long, long road for them to take you to court and if you make a reasonable offer based on what you can pay, they're essentially **** out of luck and have to take it or face being told to **** off in court. If you're struggling so badly that you can't pay the utility bills, you are bankrupt really and should apply under the new legislation, in which case they'll be told to **** off anyway.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,327 ✭✭✭Sykk


    Some fat bastard can try intimidate all he want, but they can't actually physically ever touch you.. Scare tactics fail.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Thats an idiotic comment to make,

    grow up

    Debt collectors and bouncers do have one thing in common, IE, they are both professionally trained at intimidating and putting fear into people.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,050 ✭✭✭token101


    Sykk wrote: »
    Some fat bastard can try intimidate all he want, but they can't actually physically ever touch you.. Scare tactics fail.

    FFS the fat scary man isn't going to show up at the door because you haven't paid the electricity bill. And if they do call the Gardai.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    token101 wrote: »
    ...Unemployed people struggling to pay bills in this country can apply for the FEA allowance, which essentially entitles you to very cheap electricity.
    For those that need further info:

    http://www.esb.ie/esbcustomersupply/residential/manage-your-account/free-electricity-allowance.jsp


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    redt0m wrote: »
    Looks like being careful isn't going to be enough to keep your costs down from now on:
    http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/low-electricity-users-hit-with-extra-charge-541340.html

    In fairness to them two units per day is a lot different to 'being careful' with power usage... but the underlying point is true. ESB/Electric Ireland is not a charity. We do not have automatic rights to free electricity. If person A isn't paying their way, person B and C will end up paying more to subsidise them.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Dubit10 wrote: »
    This is unreal. It's no wonder the nation is falling apart with sh it like this going on.

    I agree. People should pay their electricity bills.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,235 ✭✭✭✭Cee-Jay-Cee


    I couldnt care less that the ESB are using debt collectors to get their payments, i'm more annoyed that theyre using a Uk company, i'm sure there are plenty of Irish companies that they could have used!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Bord Gais use Emerald Isle Collections in Dundalk by the way http://www.emeraldislecollections.com/?page_id=6


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 67 ✭✭sara025


    moan moan moan, at the end of the day we'll all bend over and take it though, as we do with every thing else they hit us with in this country


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Sykk wrote: »
    Some fat bastard can try intimidate all he want, but they can't actually physically ever touch you.. Scare tactics fail.

    Isn't there a well known Dublin criminal that now operates a taxi/chauffeur service which also now runs a collection agency?
    (Can't think of his name right now)
    Apparently his scare tactics work effectively!

    I wouldn't like him turning up at my door (if I was out) and confronting my wife.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    Biggins wrote: »
    Isn't there a well known Dublin criminal that now operates a taxi/chauffeur service which also now runs a collection agency?(Can't think of his name right now). I wouldn't like him turning up at my door (if I was out) and confronting my wife.

    The Viper Foley from what I remember.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    Biggins wrote: »
    Thats the chap - soon to be out of the taxi business anyway.

    He has survived the ultimate debt collector about five times now. Charming man. http://www.rte.ie/news/2000/1115/foley.html?view=print?view=print . Simple van driver in the wrong place at the wrong time..... repeatedly. Can't see any issue with him setting up shop as a debt collector..


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    prinz wrote: »
    He has survived the ultimate debt collector about five times now. Charming man. http://www.rte.ie/news/2000/1115/foley.html?view=print?view=print . Simple van driver in the wrong place at the wrong time..... repeatedly. Can't see any issue with him setting up shop as a debt collector..

    Indeed, charming man that you'd love to invite in for a cup of tea while discussing you ESB bill!

    Looks like he's not too good at the business anyway:
    The debt collection agency run by the Dublin criminal Martin “The Viper” Foley, slipped into the red last year, posting a loss of €18,388 for the 12 months to the end of September 2010.

    The performance by Viper Debt Recovery and Repossession Services, which compared to a profit of €27,316 in the previous year, came as sales plunged at the business.

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/1103/1224306978812.html

    Anyway, back on topic, if the other agency thats actually hired by the ESB wants to be scary and put the fear of god into some people, I'm sure they will and are quiet capable.


  • Registered Users Posts: 313 ✭✭Nyan Cat


    Although I do not like this kind of intimidation (or the minimum price idea for electricity)
    I do think a lot of people need to go back to the days when we were more cautious about electricity use. Do we need every light in the house on when we are in one room? That's a good example.
    Friend of mines kids, when they visit they turn on any lights that are off (this is say time) and if you turn them off they just turn on again. Telling them not to doesn't seem to hit home. It's the way they were brought up though. In their own home every light is on most of the day. Which seems common these days.
    When I was small in the 80s my man always drilled home 'if you're not using it turn it off' which included stereos and tvs etc.

    I hate intimidation tactics to get money. But I also wonder what else would work. A lot of folks don't know about the repayment options (to be fair it's because they haven't looked into it) - we have too laid back a 'sure it'll be grand, somehow' attitude. And at the moment we are being reminded that no it won't just resolve itself without pulling up your boot straps.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,361 ✭✭✭YouTookMyName


    Prepay Meters are needed. This post pay stuff is shíte.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    I agree. People should pay their electricity bills.
    "Let them eat cake"


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,050 ✭✭✭token101


    Biggins wrote: »

    The other scheme I'm referring to for people struggling with utility bills is below:

    http://www.anpost.ie/NR/exeres/A2B30CA6-BBC5-45CF-AA38-9DE8061E0822.htm

    It's done through an Post and when you're set up with it you can call ESB and look for the Household Budget price plan. It gives you 4% off I think. Not an awful lot, but better than nothing and every little bit would help if you're stuck:

    http://www.esb.ie/esbcustomersupply/residential/manage-your-account/trouble-paying-your-bill.jsp


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Prepay Meters are needed...

    What is the story with them?
    I was told that currently you cannot request one to be installed but that only the ESB will stick one in if they consider you a risk of not paying up?
    (A friend asked for one and was refused. He then had to try 'crying' to them about his future inability to pay so they eventually put one in for him.)

    Genuine question.

    token101 wrote: »
    The other scheme I'm referring to for people struggling with utility bills is below:

    http://www.anpost.ie/NR/exeres/A2B30CA6-BBC5-45CF-AA38-9DE8061E0822.htm

    It's done through an Post and when you're set up with it you can call ESB and look for the Household Budget price plan. It gives you 4% off I think. Not an awful lot, but better than nothing and every little bit would help if you're stuck:

    http://www.esb.ie/esbcustomersupply/residential/manage-your-account/trouble-paying-your-bill.jsp

    Cheers for that.
    I know a few here will appreciate it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,528 ✭✭✭copeyhagen


    drdeadlift wrote: »
    pay as you go electricity might be the best for some customers in the future,sure esb might make a bit less if people use their power a bit more gingerly.Its gas the way prices always go up.

    esb's prices are set by the regulator, 100% nothing to do with esb what the regulator decides they can sell their units for.
    Electric Ireland has had to write off €15m in bills for householders that it was unable to recover last year and a similar amount the previous year.

    god help a company trying to claim some of the money they are owed back.

    and im 99.9% sure esb said there would be no disconnections over the cold xmas period.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,528 ✭✭✭copeyhagen


    Biggins wrote: »
    What is the story with them?
    I was told that currently you cannot request one to be installed but that only the ESB will stick one in if they consider you a risk of not paying up?
    (A friend asked for one and was refused. He then had to try 'crying' to them about his future inability to pay so they eventually put one in for him.)

    Genuine question.


    the smart metering is still in test phase, 20,000 homes have them afaik.

    theyre at elast another year or two away


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,037 ✭✭✭Nothingbetter2d


    i once had to deal with BCW Ireland (that is their irish office registration) with regards to a BOI loan i once had (paid if off since) to be honest BCW were that bad to deal with.... many times i missed payments when i was out of work and waiting for the social welfare officer to get off her fat ass and stamp my claim form (8 month wait) and they (BCW) adjusted my repayment amount to suit what i could afford to pay.

    eventually when i got back dated 8 months worth of claims i was able to pay off the last of my loan.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,281 ✭✭✭donegal_road


    feudal system still in existence here... Black and Tans part 2


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    feudal system still in existence here... Black and Tans part 2

    Yes indeedy. Sure ESB had to agree to take the lives of GAA fans as valid payment for debts owed.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    feudal system still in existence here... Black and Tans part 2

    We spent 800 years trying to get away from them and now Semi State bodies are letting them walk all over us again.

    Would you see any British semi state body hiring republican thugs?, not a chance.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,050 ✭✭✭token101


    feudal system still in existence here... Black and Tans part 2

    At least we allow serfs to access the internet now though.


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