[lala88]

Originally Posted by Dudess

And it is incorrect to say the debt is never passed to the debt collector. It may not be, but it sometimes can be - so better to check instead of taking it as gospel that the debt collectors don't have to be dealt with.
I feel sympathy for people having difficulty making ends meet, but talk to someone about it rather than leaving things build up.

You cant really have sympathy for someone who puts themself into debt by turning a blind eye to it

[foggy_lad]

Originally Posted by Dudess

And it is incorrect to say the debt is never passed to the debt collector. It may not be, but it sometimes can be - so better to check instead of taking it as gospel that the debt collectors don't have to be dealt with.
I feel sympathy for people having difficulty making ends meet, but talk to someone about it rather than leaving things build up.

AFAIK the only way for a company to pass/sell your debt over to another person or company is through the courts if a receiver is appointed or if a judgement is made against you.

The usual is that the company pays a collection agency a certain small amount per thousand or hundred debtors for phone calls, letters etc These companies are nothing more than call centres that try to find as much information about you so they can embarrass you into paying by ringing your work number or parents phone number etc or writing to your work or parents address

People with debts under say €100 might get 2 calls a day until they agree to pay up and those with larger amounts may get all the calls plus a series of threatening letters starting with nice ones leading to those threatening court and expenses and agents calling to your house etc.

But you have no dealings with these collection companies so should ignore all contact from them and instead arrange a payment plan directly with the company you owe money to!

If you can afford to pay €10/week to ESB BG or whoever and propose that amount in a payment plan then you MUST pay that even if the company have said they reject the payment plan because €10/week is better than you paying nothing at all! While you are negotiating with the company you should be paying all that you can afford off the debt.

[infocal]

pay to the collector or u may get a record in Irish Credit Bureau.

[foggy_lad]

Originally Posted by infocal

pay to the collector or u may get a record in Irish Credit Bureau.

Nonsense, as this can only be done by financial institutions! If you owe money to a bank or credit union etc they can take you to court and seek a judgement against you and have the details recorded with the Irish credit bureau but normal companies can only take you to court which costs a lot, they must then seek and obtain a judgement against you which is not easy to do as the judge will most likely give you all opportunities to pay by instalments etc, even if the judgement is obtained the company must then go through the county sheriff and get the bailiffs out but the sheriff will usually only act where there is an excellent chance of recovering goods.

[rock22]

Originally Posted by Dudess

I'm gettIng tired of reading "times are hard" in relation to bills for services that people elect to use and agree to pay.
.

After complaining about getting tired of these posts you continue to lecture the op in numerous further posts.

When I get tired of certain posts I just stop reading them.

[dudara]

rock22 Please stick to the original topic. Don't post off-topic.

dudara

[lala88]

Originally Posted by Dudess

If the company are being arseholes, I wouldn't side with them - but what's wrong with seeing nothing wrong with them looking for the money they're owed? People who act as if they're being violated when money they owe is requested are the ones who need to look in the mirror - what utter self entitlement. If it's difficult to pay bills, ring them and set up a payment plan. You're incorrect - companies actually do take individual circumstances into account, but it's not their fault either. Damn right I'd side with the company when responsibility is shifted to them.

Er... it still has to be paid. People who are arrogant enough to think they can leave their bills pile up and not even pay a fiver off a week, and say they'll pay "eventually" are the self righteous ones who clearly feel they deserve special treatment.
Food is even more of a human requirement but you pay for that, why the attitude towards electricity and gas?

Because people have an idea that because the ESB or who ever it might be are a big compnay and make enough money they dont have to pay them and then put the blame on the compnay. People have the same attitude to banks

[Dudess]

Originally Posted by rock22

After complaining about getting tired of these posts you continue to lecture the op in numerous further posts.

When I get tired of certain posts I just stop reading them.

If the OP just said they had fallen behind in payments and were looking for advice, I wouldn't say a word against them, but when the company gets blamed and the customer won't accept responsibility, it's a different story - I can't see how it's so difficult to grasp the difference.

""

[Dudess]

Originally Posted by lala88

You cant really have sympathy for someone who puts themself into debt by turning a blind eye to it

Well people can get into debt for reasons they can't control - and I do feel sympathy for them.

[lala88]

Originally Posted by Dudess

Well people can get into debt for reasons they can't control - and I do feel sympathy for them.

Of course but there are alot who get themselfs into debt but turn a blind eye to it and try and pass on the blame

[dudara]

That's enough of the back and forth - it's time to return to the OT

dudara

[lala88]

Originally Posted by tallaghtoutlaws

You are wrong on the count you deal with the agency they passed the debt on to as they use these companies only to threaten people into paying.

When I ran into trouble with my AIB Visa, my own fault of course they passed it on to some aganecy who have no legal standing here to begin with. I told that agency to practically go and fook themselves and told them I will only deal with the AIB Credit card dept. I called up the AIB and sorted out my mess avoiding the debt collectors. You are better off dealing with the source as they still carry your debt. Debt collection agencies are used as an extra avenue to get their funds back and to scare folk into paying up.

If people didn't turn a blind eye to it there would be no need to scare people would they?

[wildflower]

just wondering about this arvato people, they recently contacted me about an outstanging bord gais bill- i think she said it was for around €200. i nearly died but then realised i dont have bg anymore since i moved house last year. i asked her the dates and they were for after i had moved house.
i told her this- she said the bill is in my name. i explained that i rang bg to change my name off the bill and they wouldnt let me- they said the new tenant had to do it so i told land lady who told me she did this. obviously not!!!
so i contacted bg and they said it was up to me to make sure acc had been changed but how was i supposed to do that? i dont live there anymore and have no contact details for land lady at this stage.
can i just ignore it? iv recently got married, moved away and changed my name so im thinking they wont find me?
or is there a way to sort it- bg dont want to know- they say bill is in my name so pay. id nearly rather just pay as i dont need the hassle but i honestly dont have the money- its hard enough to pay my own bills.

[Srameen]

Quite basic really. BGE are correct that as the registered customer you are responsible. All you had to do was contact them at the time. As for changed name/married etc - you just said they contacted you!

Strictly speaking you were liable for the debt but the collection agency may cut a deal.

[riffmongous]

Originally Posted by Srameen

Quite basic really. BGE are correct that as the registered customer you are responsible. All you had to do was contact them at the time. As for changed name/married etc - you just said they contacted you!

Strictly speaking you were liable for the debt but the collection agency may cut a deal.

She said that she didnt and they wouldnt let her change then name

i explained that i rang bg to change my name off the bill and they wouldnt let me- they said the new tenant had to do it so i told land lady who told me she did this.