Mackenzie hall should i pay.

smiffer

I recieved a letter from this company about 3 months ago (the standard on everyone seems to get)about money i owed to a company for a mobile phone i had on contract.The contract for the phone started on 03/03/04 i defaulted on the contract on 01/10/06 (i checked this on my online credit report) the amount outstanding is £133.Now i am assuming because i defaulted in 2006,that this makes the age of the debt less than six years,so i am guessing that i will have to pay this?i have had the customary letters,phone calls from mackenzie hall saying that if i dont pay that legal action will be taken.I did say to them that i would pay them half the debt,which they said would be £66 and this would clear it.Would that be a wise move,and will they have to give me it in writing?i am happy to pay them the £66 as long as it is settled,because it is still showing on my credit file.Any help,or advice on this will be much appreciated.
I do owe the money,and i have no trouble in paying.

redpete

smiffer wrote: »

I did say to them that i would pay them half the debt,which they said would be £66 and this would clear it.Would that be a wise move,

It seems a wise move for you because you will pay half of the debt to clear it.

and will they have to give me it in writing?

I would only trust it when you have it in writing, and I wouldn't pay the £66 and assume it cleared the debt until I had it in writing.

BitterAndTwisted

Mackenzie Hall have bought this debt from the mobile supplier and are extremely persistent. I suspect that as soon as you acknowledge this debt they will not accept anything less than 100% settlement and will also slap on some hefty collection penalty as well as that's how they make their money. I would try and settle it direct with the mobile suppler if you can.

peter_the_piper

Am I missing something? If MH have bought the debt, will the Mobile Company even be able to clear it if its not theirs anymore?

fermi

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Am I missing something? If MH have bought the debt, will the Mobile Company even be able to clear it if its not theirs anymore?

If they have genuinely bought it, then no. Only way to settle it would be to pay the purchaser.

fermi

Don't settle for a % unless you have it in writing that:

1) You will not be liable for the remainder, and it will not be sold on.
2) How your credit files will be marked to reflect the settlement.

Paying this will not get any default off your report. It will stay for 6 years from the initial default date, settled or not.

If you pay in full, the default must be marked as settled.

If you pay a %, then they can mark it as a "partial" settlement

bottleofred

Totally agree with Fermis last post.

smiffer

Thanks for the replies.
I was going to email them,should i email or ring?i was going to ask them if they will accept £66 as FULL settlement,and could i have that in writing,and
1) You will not be liable for the remainder, and it will not be sold on.
2) How your credit files will be marked to reflect the settlement.

what do you think?