Dear Claudienne,

My sister who is now deceased bought a two-door no-frost refrigerator from the Courts branch in the Oasis Plaza Spanish Town two years ago. Initially it was to be paid for in three months. However, because the account fell into arrears it was extended to a hire purchase agreement for the fridge to be paid for over two years or more.

My sister died in February 2009, at which time she was still owing about $20,000 on the fridge.

I spoke to the branch manager who told me to take her death certificate to show the company and the account would be written off.

In June, my father took the death certificate to Courts and he was told that everything was OK.

However, in July, I got a call from Courts head office at Cross Roads informing me that the balance owing on the account could not be written off because the account had fallen into arrears.

If the $20,000 was not paid, Courts would seize the fridge, I was told.

I would like to know why the $20,000 was not written off.

Are hire purchase loans from Courts covered by insurance that allows the balance owing on the loan to be written off in case of death?

Is Courts able to seize the fridge, seeing that only a small amount was still owed?

Does the hire purchase law allow this?

Isn’t there a provision in the law that prevents the company from seizing the goods after a certain percentage of the money has been paid?

DW

Dear DW

We asked Courts to investigate. Courts has informed Tell Claudienne that there were arrears of $20,000 still owing on your sister’s account.

There was no insurance on the account as no insurance is associated with the Courts 90-day payment plan.

The $20,000 that was owed would only be written off if the account was insured, Courts said.

The company’s spokesman explained that Courts can repossess its goods for any amount owed.

However, under the Hire Purchase law if more than 75 per cent of the loan amount has been paid Courts must give the customer at least three months’ notice before repossession of the goods.

Please contact a collection supervisor at the head office and your case will be dealt with on a one-to-one basis.

Good luck.

Dear Claudienne

For two years the street light at the corner of Toucan Way and Toucan Close has been out of service.

I have called the Jamaica Public Service Company several times to no avail.

Please help.

EG

Dear EG

Tell Claudienne contacted the JPS and notes that the light was fixed On Thursday November 19.

Good luck.

Have a problem with a store, utility, a company: telephone 511-2436 or write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue, Kingston 5; or e-mail: edwardsc@jamaicaobserver.com. Please include a contact phone number.