Mackenzie Hall Debt Collection! Unreasonable!

CrazyPaul

I have been receiving letters, phone and text messages from Mackenzie Hall for the last two months, I have never taken any of them seriously as the letter were unprofessionally written and phone calls did not sound genuine.

But yesterday I received a letter from a Debt Collection Agency called MeritForce (used by MH) who said they would be coming to my home within the next ten days, and if they could not recover the money we would be liable for further costs and action. Up until this point none of the written letters from MH have provided me with any information as to what the debt is and the amount, until this last letter which now tells me the amount of £94 is due and will be collected by the debt collection agency in ten days. Obviously this has now made me anxious.

I have rung Trading Standards and OFT who basically tell me to write to them, asking for the credit agreements etc... and asking for this matter to be put on hold in the meantime.

So I have rung MeritForce and told them that I will be sending them a letter by recorded delivery requesting proof of debt and will be enclosing a postal order of £1, as requested, and asked that the debt collection be put on hold. They seem fine about this.

The OFT also told me to send the letter recorded delivery. They told me NOT to send it to the PO Box Number on their letter, but contact Royal Mail for the specific business address as it is recorded delivery.

So I have rung Royal Mail who are now telling me that the PO Box Number of Meritforce is inactive, and they DO NOT have another address.

I have rung back Meritforce and told them that their PO Box is incorrect, and they tell me that it isn't, and they are receiving post from it. They will not give me another address to use, so now I am a bit stuck.

I think I will ring Royal Mail again to double check that this is definately an inactive PO Box... But if it is, I am concerned that I will not be able to contact them by post, and want to send this letter as soon as possible.

Has anybody else been able to contact MeritForce via post? Should I write to Mackenzie Hall instead, or is this now in the hands of Meritforce?

According to the letter their PO Box Number is 311.

Any advice would be appreciated...

rog2

CrazyPaul wrote: »

Has anybody else been able to contact MeritForce via post? Should I write to Mackenzie Hall instead, or is this now in the hands of Meritforce?

According to the letter their PO Box Number is 311.

Any advice would be appreciated...

Try this, CP:

MERITFORCE LIMITED
C/O J2 SOLUTIONS
SUITE 503 DAISYFIELD BUSINESS CENTRE
APPLEBY STREET
BLACKBURN
LANCASHIRE
BB1 3BL

Company No. 01615338

Source of Information - Companies House Register

For Information - J2 SOLUTIONS are ALSO part of MacKenzie Hall.

GeorgeUK

CrazyPaul - not all debts require a credit agreement. If the debt they are chasing does not require one then sending a CCA will not be of any use. Intil you know what debt they are chasing you for i suggest sending the "prove it" letter instead. Again, i would send it by recorded delivery and do not sign the letter.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=11570893#post11570893

CrazyPaul

I have sent a letter to them requesting proof.

I also double-checked with Royal Mail and they have now provided me with an address.

Thanks for all your help on here, and I hope to sort this out soon.

CrazyPaul

To continue the saga of the meritforce/mackenzie hall.

I sent a letter requesting proof of debt on the 16th August 2008.

This week I have received a text message asking me to contact them urgently and now a letter dated 25th September 2008 with a standing order mandate requesting me to pay £10 a month.

It basically states 'to avoid the inconvenience of having a doorstep collector visit you.... we have enclosed a standing order form... Please Note: It is imperative that you do not default on your payment plan... Default may result in your account being forwarded for Legal Action'

If I am correct they still have not acknowledged my previous letter, even though it was sent recorder delivery and it know it was received. And they still have NOT proven the debt to me in any way.

Does this current letter hold any weight, am I correct in thinking that if I had not recieved a reply to my 'proof of debt' letter within 14days then they do not have any further right to contact me?

Any advice appreciated...

I have lodged complaints with OFT and Trading Standards, also the Newcastle council, so I am hoping that this matter soon be sorted out.