Some financial companies are just scum! Here's some accounts of how they have tried to screw me! Its funny how you are never offered big financial products until you stay in one place for a while, then when you do, they use knowledge of where and who you are to continually try to screw you and tempt you into debts you can't afford (even when other branches of the same company are offering good debts that you can afford!).  Scum

 

 

 

Postcode Weakness

OK First to note is my weakness. a postcode that is in an area considered to be 'high risk'

Provident

Currently I am getting letters from the 'helpful' provident who are offering me the wonderful rate of 186% APR (yes, that is one hundred and eighty six!).

First Credit
(Activity Log)

I think this is because I am resisting the actions of First Credit, who seem to think they are onto a winner because they have bought an erroneous 'debt' (that strangely there is no paperwork or evidence for) from the Royal Bank of Scotland. They are trying to bully but unfortunately if they do go to court, they will either a) be unable to show any paperwork or b) be unable to show that they have shown me any paperwork. What idiots. I hope other people don't pay them - never reward bullies!

Halifax

Its important to note the Halifax in this case.  I hold a well-managed Halifax Platinum card.  One day the Halifax missed a payment to my Halifax card.   Easily resolved by discussion.  Funny that a week later a 'rebuild your credit rating' application came through my door with a) the same address error as my Halifax card b) a 'congratulations' interest rate of 36.5%) with a teeny tiny small print that said '.. is a Halifax group company'  Could have been coincidence... except that when I missed a payment again two years later.. I got the same mailout a week afterwards..

Blockbuster Video

OK not a financial company but I failed to return a DVD because I found out that a guy from work had committed suicide and I went to the funeral.  They were shitty about it, and made out I was stealing the DVD.  I'm sulking because they threatened to charge me £30 after a week.  They are now spending money and inconvenience trying to get the money.  I'll negotiate but only if they start.

Update 06/2009 - I still have the DVD and they have stopped their 'action' - bloody good thing too - pity the film was rubbish!

Bulldog Broadband

God knows why but after giving me no service at all, then admitting that owed nothing to them, they have still sold a year's worth of service payments to a debt company who have written to say that 'if I ignore their letter they will assume I am resisting the debt'.  Damn right!  I am resisting because I don't owe it!  Silly buggers.