Harassment from Credit Cards (Capital One)

[JanineG]

My fault - I missed a payment last month and owe them the grand total of �49. Unfortunately, I'm really short of funds at the moment and can't pay until 15 Dec. They phone me constantly at home and on my mobile - at least 10 times a day, and into the evenings too. I have a policy of not giving my personal details over the phone when they call me as I'm concerned about identity theft, other companies accept this and make a note that I am aware of the outstanding amount and will pay in near future. Capital One just keep on calling - and the one guy who phones has become quite abusive now, telling me that if I refuse to give my details he'll send the system to phone me back evey 5 to 10 minutes - which he did! so I went out.

Question is: Who can I complain to and is there anything I can say they are breaching?

(I'm very sorry for the length of my question - and appreciate anyone who has bothered to read so far!)

Many thanks,

Janine x

[Ethel]

I find this incredible for the sake of one missed payment !

Have you got a history of not paying with this company?

There is good advice on this site for people who are being harrassed by creditors - you need to scroll down to find it, but it does give links for contacts.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/Consumer/Money/problems. htm

[JanineG]

Thanks Ethel for the link. I don't have a history with them at all - in fact I've only had the card about 10 months or so anyway. I'll certainly be paying them off soon and cutting up the card though! Thanks for your help.

[Ethel]

I don' t like Capital One - had one of their cards years ago.

Hope you get sorted.

[Mrs_Pegasus]

The next time they call, once they have identified themselves, inform them due to harrassment and going on the advice of the CAB or a solicitor you have to inform them that the telephone conversation is being recorded. If they then continue the conversation, tell them when you will be paying them, try and give them a date and tell them the amount you will be paying. Ask them if they have a record of the 50 odd other calls you have had from them and if so could they put a stop on further calls until the date you have promised them the money.

[WendyS]

Do you have an answerphone? If so, leave it on permanently so that it can screen all your incoming calls. I find it uneblievable that any company would harrass you in this way for one late payment. Perhaps they have just allowed their lending capacity to get out of control and are now worried that with consumer debt rapidly rising, they may not have debts repaid. However, that does not excuse their behaviour and I would pay of what you can as quickly as possibly and give them a wide berth in future.

[Carby]

Think about it this way it's probably costing them more than �49 to constantly call you!

[Pharlap]

Janine, if you know you can and will pay, please don't worry. When they ring again tell them to hold while you get the information they require and put the phone down right up against a tv or radio and let them listen to that untill they hang up. A few calls and they soon give up.