Question:
About six months ago I got a demand from Onetel for £22 which I disputed. I
complained to them on the phone but they eventually put the debt in the
hands of a debt collection agency. Subsequently Onetel have admitted their
mistake and in early January sent me an invoice for zero amount showing the
disputed amount being credited to my account.
On receiving the invoice I phoned the debt collection agency (on their
premium rate phone no), told them of the development and gave them the
invoice number so that they could go back to Onetell . They declined this
information saying its not in their procedure and demanded that I obtain a
photo- copy of the invoice and send it to them. I found their attitude
annoying and said that as I live in a rural location, obtaining a photocopy
and mailing it put me to a lot of inconvenience and expense and it is not in
my procedures to do this. So we have a rather petty impasse - but as they
undoubtedly have more money than I do I am feeling bloody minded. So now
they have taken to phoning me almost daily both on my home phone and mobile
(it must be costing them a fortune). I have already warned them that if they
continue to call me I will make an harassment complaint.
My question is how do I actually go about this- who do I make the complaint
to?
Answer:
-You could also talk to BT's "nuisance calls" people - details in the
phone book - if they provide your landline and make a complaint to
Ofcom.
You may like to send a recorded delivery letter to Onetel's chairman
first at their registered office, giving him seven days to call off
his hounds and asking for compensation for the inconvenience and
distress.
-It might be worth remembering that when they "put the debt in
the hands of a debt collection agency" they probably *sold* the
debt to that agency, who are now trying to turn their investment
into cash.
