Mackenzie Hall

McKneff

Last week I had a message left on my mobie phone asking me to contact these people. I didnt, i just thought that they had a wrong number.

Tonight I get a text message asking me to make a payment on line.

I have heard of these !!!!!! by being on here but I have no idea why they are contacting me.

I have no debt whatsover, never had any, own my house, have plenty of savings. Owe no one nothing.

Never had any correspondence on anything from anyone about any debt,
Do you think its just a case of someone has given them a wrong mobile number and it just happens to be mine.

I must admit, even though I know I have nothing to fear it still makes me feel anxious.

The text was unanswerable and i wouldnt send them an eamil from their site because they want full personal details so that was a big no no.
Any ideas anyone.

fermi

McKneff wrote: »

Do you think its just a case of someone has given them a wrong mobile number and it just happens to be mine.

Quite possibly.

They are the sort of 'bottom of the pond' outfit that doesn't bother to check the accuracy of much of the contact info they get. To do proper checks costs money, and is not in keeping with their operation, which is all about a fast and easy buck.

Did any message mention your name?

I don't know how widespread you give your mobile number out? But there is also the possibility that they have mis-traced a debt to you. It certainly happens with companies like this. If you have the same or a similar name as someone on their books, then again these people do not always do all the checks that they should to confirm that they have traced the right person.

Personally I would just ignore it for now. They will probably slink off.

But if you do start to think they might have mis-traced a debt against you, then keep a careful eye on your credit files. Again, this sort of company might record nasty stuff on your files without checking that you are really the correct debtor.

bottleofred

Hi McKneff,

Totally agree with fermis advice. They are barstewards who will use any means necessary to get money. Ignore it for now, but if they come back, send the prove it letter to them!

McKneff

Thanks Fermi, never thought about credit files, and no, no name has been mentioned, only their reference number, no other personal details. So if they actually ring again I will be careful not to give them any. (I'm only sorry i missed the first call last week when they left a voice message.)

Thanks again.

I'm a receptionist and often get these sort of calls chasing some of our lads on the factory floor, I usually just tell them Ive never heard of them, or they have left the company, serves 'em right if they stoop to tactics like this.

davidryan

Hi guys, new to the forum. Great website.

Basically my story, is; In 2004, I was the victim of identity fraud. My fiance! at the time, now my wife, was selling her home. I had never actually been registered there, as technically I was still living at home with my parents. I think that maybe I left a bank statement or something at her house, and someone got hold of it and committed the fraud. It was nothing massive, just an online account with NEXT. They spent £235.

But the thing is, this DID NOT come to my attention until late 2006, when my wife and I went to open a new bank account. I had no idea what it was and then started digging. I opened up a hornets nest by contacting the collections agency dealing with the debt. At this point, may I make it clear that I am not the type of person to owe money to anybody. It's just the way I've been brought up. So you can imagine how I felt when the letters started coming. I made the mistake of telephoning these people. (Not initially Mackenzie Hall)

After explaining that I was a victim of fraud, I kept on being asked for a crime reference number from the Police. A fair request you might think. Sorry, not that simple. The Police very kindly informed me that from their point of view, I was NOT the victim of crime. Nothing had actually been taken from me, and the perceived 'victim', was NEXT! They said it fell in a 'loophole', but that was how it stood from their point of view. After several other letters and phonecalls from the collectors (I forget which firm it was) I went back more than once to the Police, PLEADING with them to give me a crime reference number. I telephoned them once, and ended up speaking to quite a senior officer within their command centre. She was sympathetic and told me that my case was so common, but unfortunately the law, as it stands, did not see me as the victim. So I was going round in complete circles. After more phone calls, and lots of stress, I went to the C.A.B. I went through everything with them. They helped me no end, with letters and helping me document and keep a track of everything. I seemed to be getting somewhere. And then a new debt company started chasing me for it. Back to square one. The calls started getting nasty, with quite open threats. It seemed nobody wanted to believe me. They were threatening me more than ever. I was saying to them "Please take me to court", and they were saying "We won'ty take you to court, because it will cost more than the debt". I just wanted it all brought to a head. I WANTED my time in court to bring everything out in the open. But no. It was all a case of going round in circles. Eventually, it all took it's toll and I ended up being rushed into hospital with chest pains. Luckily, it wasn't a heart attack, it was down to stress. I came out calmer than before, but still they were chasing me. I pestered the Police in my local station that much, that eventually I got a PC's name and collar number. I put everything in writing, the Police contacts details (in lieu of a crime reference) along with a complete documentation of what had happened (that I had been a victim of Identity crime, etc) and put it all together in a letter that the C.A.B. helped me compile. (similar to what is on here, but adjusted to my own situation)

That was in 2008. I had no further correspondance from anybody. I assumed, perhaps naively, that the matter was closed..........


...and then 2 weeks ago, I received a colection letter from our 'friends' MACKENZIE HALL. My heart really did pound when I opened the envelope. 'Oh no. not again!' was my thought. I was just about to grab the phone and go ballistic when I though 'no, hold on a minute. Why should I bother?' I really could not be bothered going through all that again. What? back to square one? No thanks. I simply ripped the letter up and binned it. But to be fair, it did me a favour. It reminded me that the 'debt' against my name, as listed on my credit report (the only blemish, a big, red '0') was due to expire after being on for 6 years. I remembered that it was due to expire THIS MONTH (Sept) so I registered on Experian, to check how things stood. Yes, it was still there, but I could see it was due to go off the report on 24th September. I checked again on the day, and it HAD vanished. There I was, with a clean credit report. Fantastic.
However, I knew this would NOT stop Mackenzie Hall from chasing me. I KNEW they would be sending me another letter as a follow up. Surely enough, I received one. It made me an 'offer' to settle the debt for £164. (How desperate ARE they for business?) I showed my wife the letter, before binning it.
And then today, 30th September 2010, I had a text on my phone asking me to contact them urgently. I use my mobile a lot for work purposes, and get all kinds of people calling me. I very nearly called them, before I realised who it was. The question I have, is:

HOW THE HELL DID THEY GET THE MOBILE NUMBER? Some of my friends don't even have this number! To say I am annoyed is an understatement. However, I noticed it was an '844' number, which leads me to believe it's an automated dialler system they use. ( I might be wrong, I don't know) So I simply went into my phone settings and listed the number in the 'caller reject' option.
But it seems that people are getting hassled at home off these people. If they get hold of my home number, I will be LIVID. We are 'ex directory', but we still get a few 'cold callers'. If these people start harrassing me I will be furious, as we have a baby that goes to bed at different times of the day for a nap.
And if they even consider sending anybody around to my home to knock on the door, again, I will go ballistic. They'll be in for a shock, as I am actually an ex-heavyweight boxer! I've no criminal record, or actually no history of violent behaviour. But that might just change if someone is daft enough to come knocking. I do not like people tresspassing on my drive at the best of times.

The best scenario would be for them to TAKE ME TO COURT. At least then I could get it all out in the open, and off my chest. And I do not care what any judge or anybody says. I am NOT paying a penny. I have no debts. I have never ever stolen anything in my life. Not even a penny chew,or anything like that. But that's all too easy and too simple. They know only too well that they WILL NOT win, and so they won't do it.

I wonder what's next? I am expecting a letter threatening court action. "Oh dear....I'm scared. Not."

Clearly, they have bought this debt in a pile of others. Frankly they've been sold a crock. Ha ha!! Serves them right.

If they want to keep sending me letters.....it's up to them. Maybe they are lonely? Ha Ha!!!:rotfl:

McKneff

Hello David, and welcome to the boards, It just goes to show how unscrupulous these people are, especially in my case when i dont owe anyone a penny,
Well, I borrowed a tenner from OH this morning for the window cleaner, but i dont think it will have got to debt collector status yet:rotfl::rotfl:

mr.ton

Report Mackenzie Hall to the OFT & trading standards.

McKneff

mr.ton wrote: »

Report Mackenzie Hall to the OFT & trading standards.

Would I do that at this stage, with just a voice message and a text.

I have kept both on my phone,

fermi

McKneff wrote: »

Would I do that at this stage, with just a voice message and a text.

I have kept both on my phone,

Not yet.

It could still be a genuine mistake, and they will stop when they know this.

** cough **

However, if they persist once they should know better, or use tactics/methods that are unacceptable, then a complaint would be in order.

missworks2jobs

McKneff wrote: »

Would I do that at this stage, with just a voice message and a text.

I have kept both on my phone,

If you are registered with the telephone preference service you could always try reporting them for unsolicited calls. "The TPS has no enforcement power, so all complaints are passed on to the information commissioners office. The maximum penalty is currently £5,000. However, there have been no prosecutions undertaken as the legislation does not allow for prosecution".

They might not know that though......I'm sure you can always threaten to report them if they call, after all you have nothing to do with them. You could also mention those other feared words "DATA PROTECTION ACT" :eek:and demand to have your details removed from their database as you do not give permission for people to pass your personal info such as your telephone number to be sold on.

magpiecottage

I have put details of how to make a complaint on this thread.

Note that if you can persuade the Financial Ombudsman Service to investigate the complaint you may get redress for "Distress and Inconvenience".