Question re First Active

[Ally2004]

Hi,

Just wondering if somebody could give me some input regarding First Active. I have an account with FA and borrowed 371K over 40 years at 4.99%. Due to unforseen circumstances at the start of this year we fell two months behind in arrears and paid everything bar 800 which we are clearing by paying an extra 100 a month starting from last month. I pay my bills through a company called homepayments and find them great for myself as we pay a set amount weekly and whats left is ours. They started paying in November and have paid it on time every time. This afternoon i was collecting my son from school and came home to find a representative from FA waiting outside my house, when he came in he proceeded to tell me my account was 5K in arrears which is impossible. I also received a statement from FA this morning stating that the actual interest paid was 18,657, tax relief at source was 3731.80 and net interest paid was 14,925.75, when i inputted the details on the prima finance calculator this was correct. I showed the representative the statement and he said clearly there is over lapping some where, he also said he would call me when he was back in the office on Monday and to be blunt said the computerised system doesn't lie??????

Just wondering if anybody else has had any other experiences like this with FA. I may also add that I have had nothing but trouble with this crowd not allowing me to change dd date, cheques that i paid into their branch going missing.

Many thanks for your help.

 

[MentalNote]

See also the thread further down the page:

http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?t=100608

 

[rameire]

they obviously have their wires crossed.
they have made an agreement with you to clear the arrears,
yet they are sending out people to your house telling you other things.
id get on to the credit management in first active and advise them of the person who came out to you, give full name and details of the person, and then get them to confirm you have an agreement regarding the arrears and to put this in writing to you.
first active and ulster bank have a huge amount of arrears and they have pulled people from other areas like new business areas into the arrears team to get as much money in as quickly as possible, so there might be a lack of understanding or training for the person they sent to you.

 

[irishlinks]

Having a thirs party involved like this Homepayments you mention - is always going to increase the chances of mix ups and incorrect payments. I don't understand why anyone would pay someone up to €200 a year to pay bills for them - when you could pay them yourself. (Not to mention the interst they make on everyones money by paying the bills at the last minute). I'm not saying it's their fault - but it is going to be messier to sort out when someone else is making the payments for you.

 

[agapanthus]

I have seen this problem arise where debt collection agency is being given money for payment of arrears, money doesnt reach customers account for ages, in fact it still hasnt been found. Are you sure the money has been passed on the FA?

 

[exbroker]

Hi, first thing is to make sure you keep all documentation you send and receive to and from First Active and keep a record of all conversations with agents (dates etc.) I would contact FA both by phone and in writing and if there is no resolution in a week, contact the Financial Services Ombudsman. They will look for all documentation as mentioned above. Don't worry, it seems you are in the clear. Communication in FA has always been bad, but they have transferred some staff into arrears collections recently who have poor people skills, and also moved some of their Irish operations to the UK. It's very frustrating but you're not the only one in this boat. Staff on the inside in FA have said its "worse than usual" in there at present, and they have just finished paddy last in the PIBA service excellence awards. Take matters into your own hands and good luck.