Complaint Review: FLM Loans/Advantage Loans

All was fine when I took out my loan with FLM, including supplying a guarantor (who is a friend and work colleague). Payments were set up via direct debit and were paid on time.

Until April 2009 when they requested their payment early from my bank account, of course incurring a 38 bounced direct debit charge from my bank as the funds weren't there.

When I got into work on the 27th of April, I recieved a text message saying that my account was in arrears and that I had forced them to contact my guarantor and to phone the number to make payment immediately.

I contacted them and asked them why I had forced them to contact my guarantor in which they replied that my direct debit had come back unpaid and I hadn't answered their phone call. My mobile phone had rang, whilst I was driving to work - I did not hear it, but if I had I couldn't have answered it due to driving.

The "missed call" came from a 'private number' and no voicemail left requesting me to contact them, so how was I to know they had tried to call me!!

After telling them that because they had requested their payment earlier than the direct debit date, they had cost me 38 in bank charges, they asked me to make the payment immediately. I told them I couldn't as the charge had made my money short. They told me to ask a friend or family member which I would not do, but this would avoid me paying a 20 late payment charge - cheek!

They therefore sent a text message to my guarantor threatening him to pay up. When he contacted them via phone (he was in a meeting when 2 text messages were recieved, which I told them he was), they told him they had taken the money from his account. Surely this isn't right as they should at least gain his authorisation to do this? He told them they they were unprofessional as I did. I told them their customer service was shocking! They are probably laughing at me as they do all the customers they bully, yet totally unecessary as it was their mistake to start with. It doesn't matter if it's their mistake, they throw all kinds of legality quotes at you.

BEWARE OF FLM LOANS/ADVANTAGE LOANS

Sian, prestatyn
Prestatyn
United Kingdom