Advice to give my friend re: Connought Collections

fermi

And to make things absolutely clear...

- You still dispute that the debt was actually hers and require proof that is?
- If it was hers, then the debt would have probably have been statute barred when they first contacted her?

Any response is going to have to make quite a few points and refer to more than one cause of dispute, so just need to get all the facts straight to work out how to respond.

king100

Have you gone down SAR route to original lender?

LisaB1970

fermi wrote: »

And to make things absolutely clear...

- You still dispute that the debt was actually hers and require proof that is?
- If it was hers, then the debt would have probably have been statute barred when they first contacted her?

Any response is going to have to make quite a few points and refer to more than one cause of dispute, so just need to get all the facts straight to work out how to respond.

Yes and Yes. I have sent you via PM a copy of the last letter they sent her, it might be of some help? Its a bit long winded....sorry!

LisaB1970

king100 wrote: »

Have you gone down SAR route to original lender?

No havent done that yet. We just initially wanted to make sure this was all correct and that she did actually owe this debt.

king100

Ok, if debt is SB then sending a SAR request to original lender will not un SB it. Alot of people SAR companies all the time and yours wont be singled out.

I would personally SAR natwest then you have the evidence that debt is 100% SB. With the DCA you can continue to argue over the debt as well.

SAR request to Natwest should pull the CCA as well.

fermi

LisaB1970 wrote: »

No havent done that yet. We just initially wanted to make sure this was all correct and that she did actually owe this debt.

I think that is the most important issue.

There is no proof that the debt is hers, and she does not recall it.

Connaughts bullying a consumer into making payments for several years is not an excuse for that.

In fact 1st Credit (who trade as Connaghts/are the same company) were warned back in 2009 about their treatment on vulnerable customers.

See: http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2009/20-09

So their treatment of your friend was very typical of their bullying behaviour at the time.

Definitely start a complaint with the financial ombudsman.

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumer/complaints.htm

Perhaps demand a refund of monies paid if they are unable to prove that the debt was hers?

Remind them that they are not entitled to enforce the debt through the courts, and state that any attempt by them to do so for a disputed debt will be defended and their actions reported to the authorities?