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Marlin Financial Services - Dispatches TV
Page last updated Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Monday night’s ‘Dispatches’ programme on Channel 4 focused on Marlin Financial Services and the way they handle the recovery of debts which they have purchased from banks and other high street businesses. This is a multi-million pound industry with many such firms involved in recovering debts from the public. Their activities are controlled by the Office of Fair Trading and there are strict rules governing the way debt recovery agencies work.
With the aid of an undercover reporter Monday night’s programme revealed how Marlin operate and it was clear that some of the tactics employed by some of their staff were in breach of these rules. These involved the clever management and manipulation of telephone conversations which misled, pressurised and sometimes threatened vulnerable debtors.
The programme showed that Marlin do have a training programme and rules as to how debtors should be handled but as staff are paid on results there is pressure on them to stretch these rules in order to get results.
In their defence Marlin said that that they were a responsible company with a good record of compliance. However they recognised that retraining was necessary in some areas.
Last year the OFT carried out an investigation into aspects of the debt recovery industry whilst it uncovered evidence of wrongdoings amongst a number of firms it did not take any punitive action.
On the whole I though it was a very well put together documentary but I felt that the last part of the programme covering bankruptcy gave the false impression that bankruptcy was the last resort and that you are left with no money to live on: for some however it is the only and right option
If Marlin’s activities are typical of those of other debt recovery agents then there is clearly much more for the OFT to do and I intend to write to Channel 4 asking if they are going to report their findings to the OFT. If they are not then I will.
There was evidence in the programme that this firm was preying on the vulnerable and gullible, those who do not know their rights and who are intimidated and frightened by misleading statements threatening legal action when there is no intention to do so.
Some of you will question whether Mark (employee) should be allowed to work within the debt collection industry and whether MFS are fit to hold a consumer credit licence.
Those consumers who feel they have been subjected to harassment and unfair recovery tactics should contact the Office of Fair Trading or Consumer Direct telephone number 08454 04 05 06 or their local trading standards office.
To help you we have the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) guidelines on debt collection that debt collection firms must adhere to, they can be found here
Remember, being in debt is not a crime, so insist that you are treated properly and politely at all times.
You can view the programme here (49 minutes) but will only have 28 days to do so from the 20th July 2009, alternatively you can watch it on repeats on the following dates;
Wednesday 22 July, 11.05PM More4
Thursday 23 July, 3.15AM More4
Friday 24 July, 4AM Channel 4
Mike Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Mr P Daughtrey
I am very interested in your story, is it possible for me to give you a call? If so then please call our support line on 0845 225 0025 and leave you contact details and I will be in touch.
Regards
Debtwizard
mr p daughtrey (Guest) Monday, 19 October 2009
i recently contacted marlin about a debt which they tried to get me to pay more then what i owed i have since been sent a letter saying that over £3000 was over stated and they are now chasing the sum of £247.00 to settle i pointed out to these people that if i had not checked these figures would they have sent me the overpayment back which they said they would but i fail to believe this i therefore will not pay any more money to this firm of blood suckers and i will be contacting the office of fair trading
ex (Guest) Thursday, 10 September 2009
i worked for the company Feb 2007 to April 2008. I came from a repatable, very compliant debt recovery company. The small few whose greed for money make customers and collegues life hell!The staff are bullies, Marc was a nasty piece of work and the lady speaking on film is a complete bitch who push targets so far to make life difficult for you.
I wish i shopped them 2 years ago!
A company whose collections manager i
Rockape (Guest) Thursday, 27 August 2009
The best way to stop these people from doing what they do is to instruct them in writing with your £1.00 cheque to prove reciept, as they will undoubtedly cash it, to remove you telephone numbers from their records under the 1998 Data Protection Act. and all future communication will be in writing. If they dont want to, or argue, you threaten to report them to the Controler of Data Protection. The Office of Fair Trading considers more than two telephone calls from the same company a week to be harassment, which is a criminal offence, if they persist in frequent calls phone the police, report them to trading standards and to the Financial Ombudsman, it Worked for me!
geezerbird (Guest) Friday, 24 July 2009
i think its discusting how marlin treat there customers and staff
Frederick Wednesday, 22 July 2009
I have experienced all the pressure that these firms put on you. We are very vunerable and sometimes frightened when we are in debt, we only want to find a way out which is best for all concerned. The trouble is when you are in debt you trust these firms with your affairs and bank details, credit card details etc,. I have just spent about two weeks trying to get £135.00 back from a firm who withdrew this sum without my permission. It still is not in my account to date. They are a big company who only want you on a Debt Management Plan because its big business On my £8,600.00 debt they would have made £4,700.00 in fees.
The industry stinks and even some of the charities need sorting out.
I am 73 with a basic State Pension plus £25 per week Pension Credit I was told by a young girl that I was going out too much, I was eating too much, and I needed to stop smoking. I dont drink bye the way: This was a National debt firm and charity. The law wants sorting out.
