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CISAS and Orange Bill Dispute
5 Answers
I contacted CISAS as I have trIed to get Orange to respond to my letters of complaints/dispute regarding roaming rates and service and querying a bill. I have been contacting Orange since July which was initially a query which led to my official complaints sent 18/09/2009. Orange have only contacted me since the involvement of CISAS. I was using roaming as I had to leave the UK unplanned as I had to go and bury my mother overseas in July 2009 and returned to the UK in September 2009.
CISAS has decided in favour of Orange given me upto 22/04/2010 to respond. However Orange has contacted me via two seperate debt collectors; Westmnsiters Solictors 24/03/2010 giving me upto 14 days to contact them which could result in a courty court judgement., Scot Call 25/03/2010 informing me to contact them immediately. The debt is £3k excess which I cannot pay off in full. I am not happy with the Adjucator's decision, and Orange's repeated form of communication via debt collectors and harassment. The bill was £3153.69 and is now £3350.59. I do not know what do do. Which agency / debt collector do I contact? Can Orange do this considering CISAS are yet to receive my response? I am finding this whole matter very stressful and have not found CISAS supportive or even challenged Orange on their Complaints / Customer service procedures. Orange have taken 6 months to respond, only for the matter to be in their favour. I also feel that Orange have up the anti with threatening to take me to court to pursue the debt. They have outlined to CISAS that they offered me a reduced offer. This is not factual as this was presented to me via debt collecting agency in November 2009 NCO LTD. When I sought advice I was told that under OFT Regulations a company cannot use debt collecting agencies to pursue a debt whilst during a dispute. They did not disclosed a sum. What should I do. I feel very powerless.
Please help DelBOy
CISAS has decided in favour of Orange given me upto 22/04/2010 to respond. However Orange has contacted me via two seperate debt collectors; Westmnsiters Solictors 24/03/2010 giving me upto 14 days to contact them which could result in a courty court judgement., Scot Call 25/03/2010 informing me to contact them immediately. The debt is £3k excess which I cannot pay off in full. I am not happy with the Adjucator's decision, and Orange's repeated form of communication via debt collectors and harassment. The bill was £3153.69 and is now £3350.59. I do not know what do do. Which agency / debt collector do I contact? Can Orange do this considering CISAS are yet to receive my response? I am finding this whole matter very stressful and have not found CISAS supportive or even challenged Orange on their Complaints / Customer service procedures. Orange have taken 6 months to respond, only for the matter to be in their favour. I also feel that Orange have up the anti with threatening to take me to court to pursue the debt. They have outlined to CISAS that they offered me a reduced offer. This is not factual as this was presented to me via debt collecting agency in November 2009 NCO LTD. When I sought advice I was told that under OFT Regulations a company cannot use debt collecting agencies to pursue a debt whilst during a dispute. They did not disclosed a sum. What should I do. I feel very powerless.
Please help DelBOy
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Speaking from personal experience;
About 2/3 years ago I took a contract out with Orange, and my first monthly bill was £120/£140. I rang up and questioned the amount, and was told about £80 was from using the Internet. (I had unlimited internet)
I signed up for a £40 per month contract which included everything I needed/wanted.
I got told that I did not have unlimited internet despite it being clearly stated on the documentation from the Orange shop.
I refused to pay the amount until the correct deductions were made, and cancelled the direct debit & for anything to be taken out of my account by Orange.
I heard nothing more for at least 2 months, then I was unable to make outgoing calls and 2 weeks later was unable to receive incoming calls (or text messages) then I got a letter demanding immediate payment in full from Orange (so contacted Orange again explaining everything and after speaking to 2 different departments was told I would have to pay the full amount and then send the documents off and see wether I could get the Internet charges refunded. I knew would be difficult/impossible to get money back so didn't pay them anything)
About 2/3 years ago I took a contract out with Orange, and my first monthly bill was £120/£140. I rang up and questioned the amount, and was told about £80 was from using the Internet. (I had unlimited internet)
I signed up for a £40 per month contract which included everything I needed/wanted.
I got told that I did not have unlimited internet despite it being clearly stated on the documentation from the Orange shop.
I refused to pay the amount until the correct deductions were made, and cancelled the direct debit & for anything to be taken out of my account by Orange.
I heard nothing more for at least 2 months, then I was unable to make outgoing calls and 2 weeks later was unable to receive incoming calls (or text messages) then I got a letter demanding immediate payment in full from Orange (so contacted Orange again explaining everything and after speaking to 2 different departments was told I would have to pay the full amount and then send the documents off and see wether I could get the Internet charges refunded. I knew would be difficult/impossible to get money back so didn't pay them anything)
*Continuation from above post*
3 Months passed without being contacted again, then Scot call sent a letter ... 14 days for payment in full ect ect. So I rang them and explained everything and was asked to put everything in writing and include original paperwork stating "Unlimited internet" - which I did and heard nothing back.
3 weeks later and I got another letter "1st warning" which I didn't respond to and same with 2nd.
Since then, I've heard nothing further
So really I would'nt worry too much, You will not hear anything further from neither Westminster Solicitors or Scot call and as a reminder, Always send photocopies of any paperwork (As they have a habit of losing/ "misplacing" it and keep a copy of all letters sent so they can't say you haven't responded and you can always re-send again)
3 Months passed without being contacted again, then Scot call sent a letter ... 14 days for payment in full ect ect. So I rang them and explained everything and was asked to put everything in writing and include original paperwork stating "Unlimited internet" - which I did and heard nothing back.
3 weeks later and I got another letter "1st warning" which I didn't respond to and same with 2nd.
Since then, I've heard nothing further
So really I would'nt worry too much, You will not hear anything further from neither Westminster Solicitors or Scot call and as a reminder, Always send photocopies of any paperwork (As they have a habit of losing/ "misplacing" it and keep a copy of all letters sent so they can't say you haven't responded and you can always re-send again)
Well, northernonkey's strategy may be a good one..... but it could also be a risky one.
In northernmonkey's case he had some grounds for challenging the validity of the debt, although once Orange had passed it on to debt collectors I would have thought the debt collectors would not have been interested in the arguments.
In delboy's case I can't see any reason for thinking the debt is not valid and I can't imagine the debt collector giving up on the debt simply because you ignore it- and you may find charges being added.
In northernmonkey's case he had some grounds for challenging the validity of the debt, although once Orange had passed it on to debt collectors I would have thought the debt collectors would not have been interested in the arguments.
In delboy's case I can't see any reason for thinking the debt is not valid and I can't imagine the debt collector giving up on the debt simply because you ignore it- and you may find charges being added.
I fail to see on what grounds Scot call decided to make attempts in recovering the outstanding balance, but no doubt was because Orange paid them ££. But 1 thing I forgot to mention but feel you really must be aware of, should you decide on not paying Orange, Your credit rating WILL be effected, but I don't really buy nothing on HP so thats why I am not too concerned about that being the only effect unavoidable as it's doing me a favour really preventing any chance of getting into debt. But I just thought you should realise this, incase you do want finance say in 3 months but get refused, this would be reason why especially the amount being £1000+ .
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