ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

[ken100464]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

I understand what your saying. But most people who understand debt and all the lying cheating and underhand behaviour that goes on from the industry have either been in debt or are in debt. Probably not the sort of thing people really want to discuss as they are ashamed of it and society reinforces the fact you should be ashamed.

People who havnt been in it or worked closely with people who have dont really have much concept. Indeed most of society dont realise they are one life event from being thrown into this sordid world. And when you are there its a pretty scary place.

Eventually you even work out that many of the organisations in place to help you are all intertwined and underwritten by the finance industry.

When you see like today an ex director of the step change charity being employed by Wonga you know they all move in similar circles.

The horror stories you could unearth if you gained people's trust would make your hair curl. But doubt its good TV because the silent masses dont understand and think we are all not paying our dues. All in all the majority dont care till it happens to them.

But everyone is one car crash, one redundancy, one illness away from meeting this dispicable industry head on.

[BenITN]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

Hi Ken,

Don’t suppose I could have your number please? I’d quite like to discuss.
My email is ben.miller@itn.co.uk in case you want to send it through there.
Please don't PM me on here because it doesn't seem to work very well


Thanks!

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

PM works fine. You're restricted right now - so just post a few more times and that restriction will vanish

We protect users hence stop PM's to newbies to stop any hassle being sent. I'll explain later, will call you myself tonight.

Cheers.

[ATW]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

It seems like a good opportunity to explain how people end up with debt problems and how far reaching its consequences can be.

[ken100464]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

Ben

I thank you for your kind offer.

What I know about debt and the dispicable industry it is, Niddy knows a million times over.

If Niddy comes back after chatting to you and thinks it might be worthwhile I may consider. But a few hours reading on debt forums and you see some real horror stories. Everyone is a person an individual who has come upon hard times. Being in debt isnt a crime. But the lowlifes out there try and make you feel like your a crimminal. Despite fraudulently making stuff up lying cheating and generally being out of control.

Most of us would engage to get through our life events if the financial industry actually had our interests at heart. But they dont. Debtors are a nasty offcut from the process of screwing society out of interest and charges and gawd only knows what scams. Once you have been bled dry you get hung out to some of the most lying decietful scoundrals you would ever care to meet.

The people who make money out of distress because you as a taxpayer have paid for a tax break on the bank selling these debts.

Sad thing is society encourages us to engage with them and when you do and when you are down they kick the proverbial shit out of you.

[PlanB]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

and how far reaching its consequences can be.

Ben, if you don't already know it was ATW's own firm which won the case against Santander who took one of our members to court for a debt which the bank had no legal right to collect.

You can read about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17670803


The judgement is here: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/Misc/2012/14.html

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

I'll explain later as well planB

[pompeyfaith]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

Debt originates from "The Ugly Face of Capitalism" never had these problems pre 1980's when we had the friendly bank manager on every high street , indeed money is the king now not the human and humanity.

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

True - but they can be there simply as a person who has a view about debt and the issues surrounding it, whether that be advice for viewers or criticism of lenders.

The fact that they may or may not have/have had debt problems personally is irrelevant and doesn't even need to be suggested, let alone mentioned.

That's a nice thought, but you know as well as I do that the programme won't work like that.

When the spokes-wallah for a debt collecting parasite is confronted with a tale of how they've hounded someone mercilessly, the first reaction will be to attack their critic. The DCA's representative would probably ask if the critic had experienced such difficulties themselves...

If the answer is "yes", then they can be called a debt-dodger and essentially blamed for the current recession.

If the answer is "no", then the representative will claim that hearsay isn't valid and that the situation described didn't actually happen that way.

[PriorityOne]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

Hi Ben…. this is a very emotive issue.

Although I've been in a lot of debt myself; due partly to the cack decisions made by the Government of the late 1980s/early 1990s, I count myself fortunate that I had the strength to stand up to the finance industry and all of its incestuous little links while my life was falling apart around that time and for some time afterwards…..

I doubt that anyone in a studio debate could appreciate, or would even want to, the horror stories I could tell them,,,, and for that reason, I would not choose to share those experiences in such an open and public way….. and put up with the moral backlash from people in the audience; some of whom will have had such a privileged middle-class existence, that they won't have a clue about the causes of debt other than irresponsible people choosing to live it up on credit cards, etc.

All I will say is…. there but for the grace of God go any one of us….

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

Maybe they need some Niddy & Andrew there; to level the playing field... I'm sure we could tackle a room full of banks, DCA's & PDL spokespersons. Hell if I was really lucky I might meet a CRA spokesperson in the process. They're as bad. Paid for & work to the banks.

Nothing about any of the TLA's mentioned above suggests they're consumerists!! They're not....

[SaltnVinegar]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

Hi Ben

Its likely that you are reading through this thread and feeling that everyone is being overly negative towards something that I'm sure you think would help expose the debt story and maybe foster understanding in those that have never been there.

Please don't take that personally!

Unfortunately for those that have been on the receiving end of it who are so frequently exposed to the vile conduct of the debt collecting industry, and the ill-informed opinions of others, that you can only forgive them for not wanting to put themselves in such a public position.

Just a personal example:

1) I have received threats of physical violence because I choose to help people with payday loans as a result of my own experiences of that 'industry'

2) My children have been spoken to by debt collectors telephoning my house telling them that 'daddy owes a lot of money and is in a lot of trouble'

3) My wife has been told (incorrectly) that we will be made bankrupt (impossible as debt was under the BR limit), and that we would lose our house and she would fail her children as a mother due to making them homeless

4) I have been subject to 14 phone calls an HOUR from the Shop Direct Group who told me the phone calls would never stop

5) I was telephoned frequently at 10pm in the evening and subjected to constant harassment from American Express (who admitted as such by paying out over £1000 in a 'goodwill gesture' but not admitting any liability)

6) Have been accused of not communicating with creditors when postal evidence (recorded delivery), proves the contrary

7) I have received letters stating to ignore the 'dangerous advice' of internet forums and that my use of such would be used in court of evidence of debt avoidance

I literally could go on and on and on, as could many others.

So why do things not change?

Well simple fact is that they could. The OFT is a toothless regulator and I fear the FCA over time will not be much better. There is more than sufficient evidence for the OFT to revoke the licenses of many DCA's based on individual complaints and those from debt charities yet they continue to turn a blind eye.

For example, it is well known that Lowells routinely issue statutory demands as a mechanism for collecting debt, an abuse of practice that the OFT claims to frown on, yet Lowells, and several others have barely received a slap on the wrists.

The 'system' is heavily weighted against the consumer which explains why so few people are prepared to go public with their experiences. Perhaps if you could hide people behind screens, alter their voices etc to guarantee anonymity you may have more luck.

Best wishes

SnV

[Spud]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

Personally I think the biggest hurdle regarding this is that the folks on this forum are "Too switched on" to the reality of the world and the way in which it operates. We need to be in this game!!!

As Clever Clogs has correctly stated " Its a nice idea but anybody with any intelligence will realise that things will not work out that way"

Ask the question.......For who's benefit would it be? Certainly not little johnny debtor who through no fault of his own lost his job and had to fight DCA's just to be treated fairly..............Another "Benefit street" style programme? Keep the ratings up?

Others have posted some very real and accurate accounts/Concerns which are very relevant

An AAD "task force" possibly but as an individual would not be sensible.........A lamb to the slaughter........But its ok because it would make good television for those people who are too ignorant to understand that they are only one life event away from this very real nightmare like most of us

Where would that leave Poor old johnny debtor? Well ITN wouldn't care would they? They would be onto their next programme and johnny would be tomorrow's chip paper

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

I've just spoken to Andrew -> Ben -> Andrew -> Ben.

As the real debt experts it's only right we should tip up and give our point of view. I've just explained to Ben my hatred for banks & the system and feel that we might have something to offer this - so long as they let us get our point across.

I'll be talking to both again tomorrow but we may well attend. Assuming we do, I'd like to bring a few of you with us (andrew & me) - you'll not be embarrassed or treated like shit. We'd ensure that did not occur.

My understanding is that this will be an hour debt show at 9pm next week followed by a live studio debate, aka this request.

Niddy

[oscar]

Re: ITN looking for people with debt stories for a TV discussion

I'd like to bring a few of you with us (andrew & me)

Niddy

Don't think I am brave enough!