Old Debt? Mackenzie Hall

Gordon_Hose

Ignore them.

If they have got your business contacts from linkedin you're going to have to consider your options. Either lock your profile down so it's private to anyone other than your friends, or remove business contacts details.

I'd say it was highly unethical contacting past work contacts, so maybe a complaint to the OFT Trading Standards and FOS.

wareham2012

Hi all. I recieved a letter today from Mackenzie hall. Worried sick. I did not phone them as I didnt want the abuse as some people have had. I sent an email asking what this debt was. On it it said Sky queries. I am going through divorce and I cancelled sky last yr after my split from hubby. I sent the £15 they requested to cancel it by Cheque. My ex informs me that sky was no longer on tv the month I cancelled it last yr, Why are they contacting me as Ive had no correspondance from sky my ex says there was no post from sky only asking us to rejoin. I have enough worry with divorce and paying solicitors without more stress. What can i do. Im worried if I ignor them they will find where i now live and take everything Ive tried hard in getting back a life. please help

fatbelly

wareham2012 wrote: »

Hi all. I recieved a letter today from Mackenzie hall. Worried sick. I did not phone them as I didnt want the abuse as some people have had. I sent an email asking what this debt was. On it it said Sky queries. I am going through divorce and I cancelled sky last yr after my split from hubby. I sent the £15 they requested to cancel it by Cheque. My ex informs me that sky was no longer on tv the month I cancelled it last yr, Why are they contacting me as Ive had no correspondance from sky my ex says there was no post from sky only asking us to rejoin. I have enough worry with divorce and paying solicitors without more stress. What can i do. Im worried if I ignor them they will find where i now live and take everything Ive tried hard in getting back a life. please help

Did the letter actually say how much you are supposed to owe to sky and did it quote a sky reference?

If it did then you need to reply with a prove-it.

Actually in this case I'd also run the sky reference past sky to see what they say.

The basic rules with MH letters are to ignore them until they make a specific allegation, then get them to prove that (a) it's yours and (b) it isn't statute barred.

Don't talk to them on the phone and don't think that you're dealing with an intelligent life form. They have to abide by standard guidelines, and cannot use bailiffs until there is a defaulted court order (they rarely go for court action as they can't prove adequately most of the accounts they deal with)

Is that OK for starters?

wareham2012

HI Fat belly,
They gave me a reference number whereupon further detailed information can be provided. No mention of how much is SUPPOSED to be owed. All I can rememeber is speaking to a scottish guy from sky to cancel Sky and he said I needed to pay £15 or something around that figure. I can rememeber sending a cheque for the amount as I didnt want to pay by card over the phone as going through divorce didnt have the funds in there to pay by card, so sent the cheque as some money was to go into account. Im wondering if its been lost in post . Sounds like a weak excuse but it is the truth. I have no idea what happened as no letters were ever sent to me if any were from my ex from our matrimonial home as I moved away. All he said he got was asking to rejoin. As far I knew everything was paid and then Sky switched off the connection. I always paid every month by direct debit so I know no payments were missed. I had money then. lol Im just scared that if I want to apply for a mortgage with my partner it will get rejected because of these morons. I sent an email yesterday and my server sent it back as unable to send to Mackenzie hall. mmmmm What is going on. Im scared that a bill for £15 is now going to cost me hundreds even though I honestly thought it was paid. HELP!!!

fatbelly

Wait until they say how much you owe. Not much use as a debt collector if they don't say how much.

If that reference starts with an M it's just a made up reference from Mackenzie Hall.

Don't talk or email them or give them ANY information or you may find some creative billing going on.

I'd be surprised if there's anything on your credit file about this but, if you are going to be applying for credit or a mortgage, you should check your file. £2 statutory report from Experian should do the trick.

wareham2012

Hi Fat belly
Thanks for the info. Yes it does start with an M . I getting so stressed over this I am thinking of asking my solicitor who is dealing with my divorce whether she could suggest what I do even tho that will cost again. So a bit reluctant. I did email them but it couldnt be sent, my server will try to deliver the email in the next 2 days. Hopefully they will not get it. These morons should be allowed to do this to people. Do you think its wise to phone SKY up to ask what this debt is, IF they did not get the £15 can I still pay that off to sky. But surely my sky would not of been switched off if thats what I owed. God why does everything in life have to be a pain in the !!!. MONEY MONEY MONEY. THanks fat belly for your help

wareham2012

Also is there a way of stopping the email. You got me worried now that if they respond more and mmore money is being added. Thanks.

fatbelly

Stop stressing over this. It might not even be your debt.

Wait till they write saying how much they allege you owe and saying what the debt is for and quoting the reference that you recognise for the debt.

THEN you send the prove it letter (recorded delivery, keep a copy) and see what they come back with.

Honestly you've got more important things to think about at this stage.

sammy2332

Hi
If its not been mentioned before..
Mackenzie Hall are now sending threatners using bank logos on their letter heads.
At first I thought it was from my own bank but after reading through the waffle it was clear it was not.

No mention of the bank address, no bank telephone number etc, just their own address and email in small print at the bottom.

It seems their intentions are to mislead you into thinking the letter is from your bank.

I would think that would be illegal? but not sure...anyhow just to let you know if you see your banks logo on the letter make sure it is from your bank before replying.

Gordon_Hose

Illegal? no. Dubious, yes.