Debt dispute

wackyone

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this thread (if not i'm sure someone will help put it in its right place):) I have a so called £70 debt with a book company, over the past months I have e-mailed them asking where this amount has come from, no reply, asked again several times, no reply. Today I get a letter from a recovery company asking for the money. Now I'm not refusing to pay its just I dont believe I owe that much. I e-mailed the company asking if they could look into this as I'm having no luck with the book company. Recovery people mail back saying they want my D.O.B house phone number and mobile number before they will go into detail with me. Why would they need that info? it seems illrelevant to me, unless they want to start harrassing me with silly calls.What are they going to find out that they dont already know from the info the book company has given them? All I want is to sort this out and get out debt!!

Ames

I had a similar thing with a book group wanting to charge me £50 for books I'd returned. I got BF to phone them and say that I wasn't paying for books I didn't have and eventually they let it go, it took a few phonecalls though.

RAS

try this with the debt collectors

National Debtline "prove it" letter

Quote:

1 High Street,
Newtown,
Kent
R21 4RH
October 9, 2007

The Loan Company
Company House,
Church Street,
Newtown,
Kent,
R1 7HG

Dear Sir/Madam

Ref: xxxxxxxxxxx

You have contacted us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by ourselves.

We would point out that we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to The Loan Company.

We are familiar with the ‘Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance’ which states that it is unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

We would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore, ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

We would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above accounts unless you can provide evidence as to our liability for the debt in question.

We await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise we will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

We look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully





Mrs A N Other



AND IN THE MEAN-TIME yell at the book company.

wackyone

Thank you RAS I will be sending them that letter. But do you know why they wanted to know my DOB and phone numbers?. I'm guessing it is so they can annoy the hell out of me!

dancingfairy

maybe so they can fill in a form to prove you owe the debt? they could easily make it up. And yes quite probably to harass you. Maybe to try and add it to your credit records? I don't know but it isn't going to be good whatever they want it for.

wackyone

Well I know one thing they certainly ain't having any of my phone numbers, had enough with the company that I'm paying the overdue water bill to ringing me twice every month, just because they haven't had the money on the said date. I really cant see what data protection has to do with them having to have your phone number!!