Debt collection agency

rawn

My dad was receiving phone and internet from a certain company for years. Then all of a sudden the internet started cutting out periodically and at the same time we had no dial tone on the land line. He called the company and they basically said the problem was with his phone and it wasn't their problem and he'd have to buy a new one. He bought a new one, still no dial tone. He just kinda gave up after that, til a while later the internet cut out completely. After having technicians out several times, new router, cables checked etc the phone and internet still wouldn't work. This all dragged out over the space of at least 2 months, with no service. We were no longer under contract so we left the company and asked them to send us an amended bill, because we don't believe we should have to pay the full monthly price for the the months that we had zero service from them. They never responded, but kept sending full price bills, we kept asking for amended bills, now we have letters coming in from a debt collection agency threatening to start adding interest, show up at the door or bring us to court.

Legally do we:
Have to pay the full bill?
Have to pay it all at once?
Have to deal with debt collectors at all?

I was told before that we are under no obligation to pay the debt collectors, that we can say we will pay the internet company and refuse to deal with them, is this true?

Just legally wondering where we stand in all of this, so any advice would be helpful.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

234

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Unless the telecom company has assigned the debt in which case they are no longer involved.

As to the bill the OP should look at the contract. It's usually easier to try and resolve these disputed internally so go though the complaint's process and if this doesn't produce anything then go to the regulator.

Speaking to a solicitor is really a last resort in these situations but if you plan on getting all legal with the telecom company then at least get the benefit of proper legal advice first.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

234

I'm aware of that having done that kind of work before myself. But it's prudent to flag the possibility and avoid absolute statements.

AmyM092a

I owe meteor 700euro which I have been paying in small weekly installments. Today I went to pay another 20euro off my cancellation fees, and they told me my details have been passed on to a debt collection company. What is the process for these agencies? Will I be able to arrange a payment scheme with them or is it more of a "pay everything at once" kind of situation?

Advice greatly appreciated!

Egass13

AmyM092a wrote: »

I owe meteor 700euro which I have been paying in small weekly installments. Today I went to pay another 20euro off my cancellation fees, and they told me my details have been passed on to a debt collection company. What is the process for these agencies? Will I be able to arrange a payment scheme with them or is it more of a "pay everything at once" kind of situation?

Advice greatly appreciated!

Not that I'm telling you to do this , but I ran up a 600+ bill with meteor when I went to oz , got one letter from them . Never paid anything off it and havnt heard a peep from them since. That was 4 years ago ! Probably get a letter tomorrow now !

Egass13

AmyM092a wrote: »

I owe meteor 700euro which I have been paying in small weekly installments. Today I went to pay another 20euro off my cancellation fees, and they told me my details have been passed on to a debt collection company. What is the process for these agencies? Will I be able to arrange a payment scheme with them or is it more of a "pay everything at once" kind of situation?

Advice greatly appreciated!

Not that I'm telling you to do this , but I ran up a 600+ bill with meteor when I went to oz , got one letter from them . Never paid anything off it and havnt heard a peep from them since. That was 4 years ago ! Probably get a letter tomorrow now !

Corkbah

Egass13 wrote: »

Not that I'm telling you to do this , but I ran up a 600+ bill with meteor when I went to oz , got one letter from them . Never paid anything off it and havnt heard a peep from them since. That was 4 years ago ! Probably get a letter tomorrow now !

so your solution is to emigrate ? - I think you can legally be pursued for a civil debt for unto 7yrs (open to correction there) …. of course that could have been changed with the insolvency bill !! and recent legislation updates.

davo2001

Egass13 wrote: »

Not that I'm telling you to do this , but I ran up a 600+ bill with meteor when I went to oz , got one letter from them . Never paid anything off it and havnt heard a peep from them since. That was 4 years ago ! Probably get a letter tomorrow now !

Yeah sure, stick your head in the sand, that's great advise!

Egass13

davo2001 wrote: »

Yeah sure, stick your head in the sand, that's great advise!

First off at the start of the post I said don't do it and secondly I didn't emigrate , I went on holidays and u came back 4 years ago . I simply let her know my experience with meteor . People get spooked by these companies and in extreme cases it drives them to do desperate things , which I've witnessed first hand . Pay what you can and that's all you can do, no point stressing over it

Egass13

Corkbah wrote: »

so your solution is to emigrate ? - I think you can legally be pursued for a civil debt for unto 7yrs (open to correction there) …. of course that could have been changed with the insolvency bill !! and recent legislation updates.

Well If they come looking for it I'm lucky to be in a position to pay it , but I won't be ringing them

Pro Hoc Vice

rawn wrote: »

My dad was receiving phone and internet from a certain company for years. Then all of a sudden the internet started cutting out periodically and at the same time we had no dial tone on the land line. He called the company and they basically said the problem was with his phone and it wasn't their problem and he'd have to buy a new one. He bought a new one, still no dial tone. He just kinda gave up after that, til a while later the internet cut out completely. After having technicians out several times, new router, cables checked etc the phone and internet still wouldn't work. This all dragged out over the space of at least 2 months, with no service. We were no longer under contract so we left the company and asked them to send us an amended bill, because we don't believe we should have to pay the full monthly price for the the months that we had zero service from them. They never responded, but kept sending full price bills, we kept asking for amended bills, now we have letters coming in from a debt collection agency threatening to start adding interest, show up at the door or bring us to court.

Legally do we:
Have to pay the full bill?
Have to pay it all at once?
Have to deal with debt collectors at all?

I was told before that we are under no obligation to pay the debt collectors, that we can say we will pay the internet company and refuse to deal with them, is this true?

Just legally wondering where we stand in all of this, so any advice would be helpful.

If I was in this situation, I would write a very clear letter to phone company and to debt collection agency. That letter would set out the history of the dispute, the long history of prompt payment and a list and copy of all letters saying we don't owe you. Then I would say I owe your company x or 0. That I believe service and contract was terminated on x date due to failure of company to perform the contract.

Finally I would say if the company believes I owe it money please set out in what basis, if the company issues proceeding I will engage the service of a solicitor and if sucsesful in my defence I will seek my costs from the company.

For a jolly CC the CEO, CFO and legal department.