Restons solicitors

A question about : Restons solicitors

I have today paid off a sum of money outstanding from an old credit card account which had been sold on by MBNA and ended up with the delightful people who operate under the name of Restons.

I asked for a settlement figure a week ago and was told Ј5285. This week, when I came to pay, it had risen to Ј5671. My question is: has anyone else had any success with challenging Restons on this sort of thing?

I suffer from a brain condition which leaves me partially deaf and makes it difficult for me to conduct business over the telephone. I have explained that time and again to Restons, but their response has been to continue to use the telephone (even on occasion mumbling to make it even more difficult to hear!).

At all times, I have acknowledged the debt, but explained that my current circumstances made it difficult for me to maintain the full payments.

Letters I have sent asking for a response in writing have also been ignored.

This matter finally proceeded to the stage of a bankruptcy petition, although I had made offers of part payment. I detailed all of these matters to the Solicitors' Regulation Authority, but that seems to be fairly toothless.

I have been able to borrow the money from a relative to get Restons' not so merry men off my case, but I fear their behaviour would be enough to tip some people over the edge, so I would like to make some sort of complaint to try to get them to review their policies and practice.

To top it off, they had the audacity to ask me where the money had come from to pay off the debt. That is apparently a legal requirement, but it did not chime with their attitude throughout the several years for which this matter has been going on.

Has anyone tried to challenge Restons or similar organisations with any success?

I would be grateful for any help you may be able to provide.

Thanks.

Best answers:

• First off dont pay them anything until you have a figure in writing, if you do it could come back and bite you later on
• Have you asked for a reduced settlement or are you trying to pay the full amount?
• Matters like these are far too important to be carried out by phone IMO. You should write and insist that they communicate strictly in writing.
  Did you bat the Statutory Declaration away or is it still hanging over you?
  If you beat the SD away I would now apply for a copy of the agreement using a CCA request. A properly formed request will include the requirement for a Statement of Account, which is legally binding.
• Lensmans advice above is excellent.
  You may yet have the last laugh if restons cant come up with the required paperwork.
  How old is the debt, and when was the credit card account opened ?
  And just to echo the above, get everything in writing before you pay them anything, only a letter on headed paper from them with something like :
  "we accept Ј0.00 in full and final settlement of account number : xxxxxxxxx.
  and can confirm you will not be chased for the remainder, nor will it be sold on".
• Thanks for all of the useful responses. I have in fact paid the sum in full, but am now awaiting clarification as to why the sum increased between the two telephone calls.
  In the interim, I have contacted the MP for the area in which Restons operates, just to let her know what sort of employers she is dealing with in the area and to ask for her advice on any other authority which may be able to look into the matter.