HFO Hassles

llenm

Hi, I dont post on the net at all so I hope this is ok.

I have been getting letters from HFO Services telling be they will sue over a card I allegedly had in 2007. The thing is in 2007 I was suffering serious psychiatric issues and under section for most of 2006 - 2008. I did own cards and loans back then but everything was taken care of most things had some kind of insurance on (PPI and stuff ) and family and support workers sorted all my finances at that time. Anyway they have sent two letters in the last week telling me the courts will not go my way and they will sue me. I rang after recieveing the first and explaind as best I could but they sent another more scary letter about sueing me and I would not win if it went to court.

I would really appreciate any advice, I have made an appointment with citizens advice for next week but this is very concerning to me. I cannot communicate well over the phone but I am normally on the ball these days but as soon as they found out I was in hospital they started asking and pushing more until I had to hang up.

Any advice would be appricated.

Thanks, lle

Tixy

Hi and welcome

I think the first thing to do is probably to write to them to ask them to prove that you owe this money. We have a prove it letter here which you can use - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11570893&postcount=2

As to talking to them on the phone - best advice for anyone is not to ring them as they don't listen and cannot be reasoned with. Keep everything by letter instead.

Hopefully by the time you have sent that letter you'll have spoken to CAB for some advice.

If you get a response to that letter then come back and tell us what they have replied with and we'll try to advise.

barbiedoll

The first rule for dealing with debt collectors is ...never speak to them on the phone. They are specifically employed to bully, harass and scare debtors and they will do this no matter how many times you tell them your story. You say that you "allegedly" had the card, if you cannot remember the card or the debt then send them the "prove it" letter here..

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=33792241&postcount=37

HFO are quite famous on here for their dubious business practices and you may not even be the person that they are looking for, they could just be "fishing" for a debtor who is mug enough to pay them. Does the letter tell you who the debt was originally owed to and how much it is for?
And don't panic, even if it went to court, a judge would only award them payments that you could afford, it's not a matter of "suing" anyone or about anyone "winning." These letters are designed to scare people into paying, don't be fooled by them, send the letter above (using recorded delivery so that they cannot deny receiving it) and we can take it from there.