Clarity - debt collectors
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calibrax
Posts: 385 Forumite
This may be of interest...
I had some debt problems in 2000/2001, and only last year managed to finally clear all the outstanding debts which I was aware of (having made arrangements with creditors to make payments as well as paying extra when I could afford it) - it took a long time but I'm finally back on my feet financially.
Anyway, on June 13th I received a letter for a company called Clarity, representing Arrow Global Ltd (Alliance and Leicester), demanding payment of just over £8,000 for an alleged debt. Firstly, I don't recall ever having had finance from A&L, and certainly not in the last 6 years. The letter contained underlined headers with their options if I didn't pay, phrases such as "warrant of execution", "charging order", "insolvency act 1986". A bold box at the end of the letter mentioned possible court proceedings after 10 days. Basically the letter was designed to scare me into paying.
As I had no knowledge or recollection of the debt, and could find no paperwork for it, I sent a "without prejudice" reply saying I disputed any liability, and in any case no acknowledgement or payment had been made regarding this debt for over 6 years, and that the Limitations Act 1980 meant that the debt was statute barred, the OFT would regard further pursuit of it as harrassment., etc etc.
Today I got a reply from them.
Anyway... any bets on which debt collection agency it will be sold to next?
I had some debt problems in 2000/2001, and only last year managed to finally clear all the outstanding debts which I was aware of (having made arrangements with creditors to make payments as well as paying extra when I could afford it) - it took a long time but I'm finally back on my feet financially.
Anyway, on June 13th I received a letter for a company called Clarity, representing Arrow Global Ltd (Alliance and Leicester), demanding payment of just over £8,000 for an alleged debt. Firstly, I don't recall ever having had finance from A&L, and certainly not in the last 6 years. The letter contained underlined headers with their options if I didn't pay, phrases such as "warrant of execution", "charging order", "insolvency act 1986". A bold box at the end of the letter mentioned possible court proceedings after 10 days. Basically the letter was designed to scare me into paying.
As I had no knowledge or recollection of the debt, and could find no paperwork for it, I sent a "without prejudice" reply saying I disputed any liability, and in any case no acknowledgement or payment had been made regarding this debt for over 6 years, and that the Limitations Act 1980 meant that the debt was statute barred, the OFT would regard further pursuit of it as harrassment., etc etc.
Today I got a reply from them.
Huh? They say it's ok to "seek repayment of a contractual debt on a voluntary basis"... well, given the unenforceable threats contained in the first letter, I'm not sure the word "voluntary" should be used in that phrase... it was expressly written to make people panic and pay up. Nothing voluntary about it!We are aware of the Limitation Act and the guidance provided by the OFT in this respect. Neither questions the right of a creditor to seek repayment of a contractual debt on a voluntary basis. As I'm sure you appreciate many people honour their contracts irrespective of whether there is a legal remedy to enforce.
Given the circumstances, however, I can confirm that we will be returning this account to our client and you will receive no further communication from Clarity.
Anyway... any bets on which debt collection agency it will be sold to next?
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Comments
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Can I suggest you get a formal complaint in to the OFT and TS. The OFT now have some teeth and have warned one quarter of the DCAs about their behaviour, so more complaints aid them.The person who has not made a mistake, has made nothing0
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I really shouldn't be surprised at reading that, but the more I read about DCA's actions, the more surprised I get at how low they can go.0
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Standard bull from a DCA and once you show you know your rights they !!!!!! off... more to the point they might have realised the debt isn't actually yours... It happens
It's possible that someone with a similar name to yours had this debt and they managed to find youDFW Nerd #025DFW no more! Officially debt free 2017 - now joining the MFW's!
My DFW Diary - blah- mildly funny stuff about my journey0
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