CreditCards Blog

Hi I have missed a payment of 9.74 on my Halifax credit card and told them I can pay it next week. However they are still calling me 5-6 times a day including the weekend from 08.00am until 9.00pm harrassing me for payment. They have also sent me four letters regarding this in 10 days. Are they allowed to continually harrass me like this? its making me feel physically sick.

Possibly not...I am looking into this currently. I believe (and this is what I wish to verify) that they CANNOT do this to you if it is their intent to cause you distress or harm. I would suggest that as you've spoken to them about the issue, and they've now ignored it/not noted it/chose to keep calling that you may indeed have a case of harassment...but I'm no lawyer. Common sense tells me just because you are in breach of an agreement does not entitle them to hound you until 9pm at night!

Thanks for your reply. Its a nitemare isnt it constantly getting calls! I have phoned the Halifax this morning as received four calls already today. They have said they will continue to call until I pay the amount. I have asked for a call from the manager but still waiting!! The number that they keep ringing me on is a 08445 number which isnt the number for Halifax but for a foreign call centre.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970040_en_1#pb1-l1g1


turn the tables on em girl

makes my blood boil, if i done this as a private individual to someone who owed me money,i'm sure i would get done for harassment.

turn your phone off
answer machine
change phone number

Hello i can relate to this,and i`ve got a caller ID so able to monitor the calls i get i`ve had so many recently (that i`ve unplugged the phone but still able to view who`s calling me as mentioned.

I started Googling the numbers to find out who the companies are

Found this site to be useful the link is :-

http://whocallsme.com/

More than likely the companies will be on this site,just type in the number and you will probably identify the culprits (i`m being polite here :)

If the caller is genuine they will leave a message although some are so called "silent calls" which i thought were illegal now?

Regards M

Is your phone with BT, If so subscribe to their "Choose to refuse" service. It allows you to bar numbers. I used it when my Wife was being harassed by her Ex, You have the option to bar last caller etc,etc. There is a subscription fee, but it's extremely useful. :j

http://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz=1C1CHMB_en-GBGB297&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=harassing+phone+calls+from+credit+card+companies

plenty to read here

I make the guy who said as a private individual he'd expect to get done for harassment.

Just because you owe them money doesn't mean they can make you feel ill, threatened, unsafe or otherwise inflict harm on you (harm doesn't have to be physical).

I wouldn't wait for the manager to call...they never will. Do what I did today and fax them a signed letter stating you are under stress and that you are feeling threatened by them and are suffering. State CLEARLY that you now feel harassed.

If they continue then they are breaking the law!

These call-centre people make me want to puke. They speak to us like we are plebs and they are "gid" or the government themselves...they are neither, they are credit providers and they are also more than well insured should you default on your 9 debt.

They do NOT have a right to treat you this way.

I have a friend who justs mioaws at them until they hang-up....but she's bored and unemployed!

Personally, I would call your local Police station (or better still pop-in) and lay a charge of harassment for the simple reason alone they've stated that they will continue to keep calling you until you pay. It's just NOT legal! You have basic rights!

Thankyou all for your really useful replys. It means alot. Since I posted this message at 11.47 am today I have had 4 calls from them which I have ignored. I have registered there number with offcom and looked on the website whocallsme.com and there are hundreds of people reporting the same thing from the same number. Next time they ring me im gonna scream down the phone!!!

I think you could report them to Trading Standards for this.

As others have said you have a right not to be harassed depsite owing them (an incredibly small) amount of money.

If you have explained your circumstances and asked them to stop the calls then they are obliged to respect that.

Good Luck.

If as the O.P says, the debt is £9.47, then Halifax are taking disproportionate steps.One or two calls are acceptable, any more is harassment.I suspect the cost to date to Halifax is more than the amount owing. This should be reported immediately.

Thankyou for your reply. I appreciate it. Who do I report it to though? I phoned the Halifax this morning and asked to speak to a manager to put in a complaint. They said the manager would call me back to take my complaint but havent as yet. The 08845 number has called me 6 times today so far. My husband has just answered the last call and told them to go away (in a fashion)!!

Revel in the knowledge that to collect this paltry sum (9!) is going to cost them far more in wages and telephone calls and they will be making loss here !

Or do as i do and waste as much of THEIR time as you can (and run their phone bill up !)

Verify their id ...what is THEIR full name and add, dob. Place of birth, password etc.
Because clearly until you have identified who THEY are you cannot possibly continue the call !

I ask all sorts of ridiculous questions:
Do you enjoy your job ?
How Long have you been working there?
What is your middle name ?
Favorite colour/number/ car etc...

Then explain that the person they need to speak to (you) is actually not available right now but if THEY could leave THEIR home tel no you will get them to call back at 2am when they return .....if they object to being called at home explain that so do you !!

Take control of the conversation, have fun and wind them up !!!!

Also promising that the Check is in the post

The Rodent

Typical Halifax.

I'd go and waste a few hours of their time if you've got an afternoon free.

Keep a record of each call.

Once it's sorted go in person to the Halifax to see a Halifax manager.

Go through the list of calls one by one and ask the manager for an explanation of the call. Make them answer for every single call, one by one. Insist they explain each call.

As it's clearly costing them more than 9 to make all these calls ask why they are wasting their customers money. Say you are not satisfied with their conduct and ask for the procedure to take the complaint further, whether you'd want to or not is not the point, just make them explain the procedure.