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Help re Mackenzie Hall Please

I've had a letter today from Mackenzie Hall chasing a debt of £46 relating to Sky Subscribers, threatening to send a door step collector.

I phone sky and apparantly it relates to a debt from August 2006 from a previous property. This is the first I have heard of this and the strange thing is that I sold that property in April 2006 when my husband and I seperated. There was a direct debit set up at the time (which was never cancelled) so there is no reason why it couldn't have been collected in the usual way. The account it was set up on is still live in fact.

There is no evidence of this debt on my credit file. If it is genuine then I have no problem paying it but as far as I'm aware everything was settled with sky years ago. I was going to send letters to both Sky and Mackenzie Hall asking for proof of this debt as it seems strange that they are chasing for a debt relating to a period 4 months after I moved. I know I'm tight but I'm pretty loath to pay for something unless I know it's genuine.

But there again it's not a huge amount and maybe I should just pay it to make them go away. Does anyone with any experience of MH know what would happen if I request proof? Would they be likely to issue a default or take me to court? Am I being too pig-headed on this?

Comments

  • mazza25
    mazza25 Posts: 158 Forumite
    There are a few threads about MacKenzie Hall and I'm sure someone will come in and help you out, at the moment though don't pay it and don't acknowledge it.
  • DarkConvict
    DarkConvict Posts: 6,338 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It has happened several times will sky already, that for some reason the collections department is told payment is outstanding when it is not. Contact your bank and see if DD payments were made for those 4 months. If the bank refuses to give you information for that far back, send them a SAR (but generally a phone operator should be able to tell you) - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=30356311&postcount=22

    Whilst waiting on the bank, send the debt collector - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11570893&postcount=2
    Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.

    There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies
  • Thanks very much for that.

    I've checked with my bank and the last payment I made was on 17th May 2006 which makes a lot more sense as I sold the house in March so I guess I gave a months notice and final direct debit would tie in with this. The monthly amount was £21 as well not £46 as I didn't have sports or films or anything. I know I wouldn't have cancelled the direct debit either as I was incredibly slack at that time and never cancelled anything...

    The man I spoke to at sky says they received payments right up until the July bill which is not the case. I think they've got me confused with the new owner possibly so I've used the template suggested and am going to send to MH and Sky.

    I just don't want people knocking at door or my credit rating destroying over a realtively small amount. But equally I don't want to be paying someone else's sky bill either!
  • DarkConvict
    DarkConvict Posts: 6,338 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If you can show the DD was still setup the bank can confirm, then it is possible sky/Mh are chasing the wrong person. Ask for sky to investigate further (speak to a team leader) as MH are crap at dealing with disputes.

    Even if you quit sky early, the final bill would be taken by DD. Do you have a paper copy of your final sky bill?
    Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.

    There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies
  • No - unfortunately don't have paper copies of anything that far back due to flooding in cellar. Just binned the lot:mad:

    I've spoken to Sky again and got a really nice girl on the phone. It is my account it seems but they sold the debt on years ago so she can't tell me when they received my termination notice. I'm 80% sure that the debt is valid and I even got my debit card out and picked the phone up to pay it - but there's the 20% doubt that it's not valid. I can't believe that I forgot to cancel sky when I moved as I managed to change everything else over - gas, elec, water etc.

    I guess my question would be what's the worst mackenzie Hall can do if I ask for proof of the debt? Can they issue a default or add any charges on?
  • And also there's the fact that I had a re-direct on my mail for a year and never got anything from Sky. It just feels a bit odd.
  • DarkConvict
    DarkConvict Posts: 6,338 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Only sky can add charges unless it was part of the contract a 3rd party could add charges but i doubt it, very much doubt it.

    MH are !!!!!!s for ignoring anything you say until they pay them, and for £46 i dont see they will do much as they will buy it for like £10.
    Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.

    There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies
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