PippA - HFO chasing unknown debt

DaveFF

This bunch of lowlifes came after me in April 2007 after I had cancelled an HP agreement with Welcome Finance in April 2004.
Despite my sending copies of the cancellation letters (and recorded delivery receipts) they still said that I was liable for the "debt".
This harassment continued until December '07 when I last spoke to their "solicitor" who said that they would be taking me to court.
Nothing happened until I received a letter dated 27 June 2007 headed Reminder-Notice of Assignment. By now they had added over £2k "interest". I ignored this letter. I then received another dated 6/7 - the "I have attempted to contact you" one that you are all familiar with. I sent them a letter, by recorded delivery, reiterating that I did not owe this money, neither was I legally obliged to pay it, referring to the previous correspondence. The letter was finished-off with the phrase " Any further communication from your company, or it's agents, will be construed as harassment, and, as such, will be reported to the appropriate authorities, including the police".
They phoned me on the day that they would have received the letter. I flatly refused to answer their security questions and told them that I did not owe them, never had, and would report them to the police if they called again.
Today I received the 72-Hour Notice of Litigation.
Having just returned to work after 18 months off with stress, this has made me ill again. I'm disabled and only work a few hours a week. However, I Googled HFO this morning and have been heartened by all that I have read both on this site and others.
Many thanks to all who have posted.
This afternoon I have advised Consumer Direct who have informed Trading Standards on my behalf. I am also contacting OFT, thanks for the contact details, and the police, in addition to my MP, Mark Reckless.
Is there any more that I could do?
I have always maintained that if HFO had a valid case then they would have taken me to court in 2004.

PippaA

Hiya,
Its me again! Cab advised me to ignore any further letters from HFO services and when the next one arrived repeating the request for proof of my identity etc, I did just that, but now I have had another. They are still asking me to provide them with proof of my identity, and proof of my addresses since 2001, only now they are saying that if I don't comply within 3 weeks then they will take my account off hold and actions will continue!
I contacted Consumer Direct again and they have told me to write to HFO Services and ask for the date the account was taken out, what name was on the account and when was the last payment.
This goes against what CAB told me to do, so who's advice do I take?
This is again causing me sleepless nights and a lot of stress.
Pippa A
PS My local Trading Standards office never contacted me and when I looked them up on the Council website, it seems they have been hit by cuts and their numbers have been severely reduced. I think they now have 1 officer for the whole of Buckinghamshire!

fatbelly

Hi PippA

I think the CAB advice for you to ignore them was probably best. HFO are going to try all sorts of intimidation and harassment. If you refuse to engage, the only options they have are court-based. They are unlikely to go down that route as they would have to prove something that was untrue..

But are the CAB still able to help on your behalf? Would they be willing to write a letter along the lines of 'you are still harassing our client without having proved your position. Please respond within 8 weeks or we will make a formal complaint to the Financial Ombudsman, and seek compensation'

That sort of approach might bring things to an end as far as you are concerned. They would then no doubt start to hassle someone else for this account,

PippaA

Hi,
The CAB told me to recontact the Consumer Direct who then told me to write to HFO Services.
I do not know which to do? I have already sent them one of the "prove it" letters as shown on here and their only response was them asking me for proof of my identity etc!
I have sent copies of all correspondance to the OFT.

PippaA

PS Should I go to see a solicitor? Would they send a letter for me? Would that do any good? I know it will cost me but its worth going without for a while to get peace of mind.
Pippa

fatbelly

PippaA wrote: »

PS Should I go to see a solicitor? Would they send a letter for me? Would that do any good? I know it will cost me but its worth going without for a while to get peace of mind.
Pippa

A solicitor will charge - the CAB won't, which is why I asked if they still have an open file on you or could be persuaded to re-open it.

I am a debt adviser with the CAB (as regular posters will know). The advice to contact OFT was correct - they need to know how HFO are behaving. But they will not take up an individual case. I do not often involve Trading Standards - unless a criminal act has taken place. HFO's local Trading Standards are probably well aware of HFO and no doubt supplied the OFT with a chunky file before the 'minded to revoke' action.

The organisation that might be helpful is the Financial Ombudsman. You can complain to them yourself but I'd prefer to see you helped by someone (the standard complaint form has two spaces for the client and the party helping them). It's clearly unreasonable for HFO to pursue you for the debt, demand payment, threaten court, bailiffs, etc etc. - then when you request proof of their position, they ask you to prove who you are!!!

If you were in my catchment area, I'd do it for you. Could you just ask your local CAB again? Or would you be happier to take HFO on yourself?

DVardysShadow

PippaA wrote: »

Hiya,
Its me again! Cab advised me to ignore any further letters from HFO services and when the next one arrived repeating the request for proof of my identity etc, I did just that, but now I have had another. They are still asking me to provide them with proof of my identity, and proof of my addresses since 2001, only now they are saying that if I don't comply within 3 weeks then they will take my account off hold and actions will continue!
I contacted Consumer Direct again and they have told me to write to HFO Services and ask for the date the account was taken out, what name was on the account and when was the last payment.
This goes against what CAB told me to do, so who's advice do I take?
This is again causing me sleepless nights and a lot of stress.
Pippa A
PS My local Trading Standards office never contacted me and when I looked them up on the Council website, it seems they have been hit by cuts and their numbers have been severely reduced. I think they now have 1 officer for the whole of Buckinghamshire!

It is not for you to prove anything, it is for them to prove everything.

It seems to be a relatively common experience here that DCA's can and do forge signatures and undertake other dirty tricks to manufacture proof. So the best advice is not to offer them anything out of which they can construct anything.

You should not be telling them 'In 2006, I lived at 13 Acacia Avenue', because before you know it, that address will appear in 'proof'. They should declare their facts first - for instance 'In 2006 you lived at 15 Beech Boulevard', to which you can reply 'Actually, in 2006 I lived at 13 Acacia Avenue - here is my council tax bill'.

DorsetGirl_2

DVardysShadow wrote: »

It is not for you to prove anything, it is for them to prove everything.

It seems to be a relatively common experience here that DCA's can and do forge signatures and undertake other dirty tricks to manufacture proof. So the best advice is not to offer them anything out of which they can construct anything.

You should not be telling them 'In 2006, I lived at 13 Acacia Avenue', because before you know it, that address will appear in 'proof'. They should declare their facts first - for instance 'In 2006 you lived at 15 Beech Boulevard', to which you can reply 'Actually, in 2006 I lived at 13 Acacia Avenue - here is my council tax bill'.

This is good advice PippaA. I hope this isnt distressing you too much.

DVardysShadow

DorsetGirl wrote: »

This is good advice PippaA. I hope this isnt distressing you too much.

Well, i did actually miss a point. Only dispute evidence you receive in writing! Don't deal with anything verbally.

PippaA

Thank you all for your support. I am finding it very distressing. As a disabled pensioner on pension credit the thought of having to pay a debt of £10,000 that I know nothing about or having the bailiffs in to remove what little I have accumulated over the years, is causing me sleepless nights. I am beginning to think I am going senile!
I have tried to recontact my local CAB but cannot get through. The last time I rang I did not find them very helpful. The young lady just told me to ring someone else. I didn't get any firm advice. I would like them to either write to HFO for me or tell me what exactly I should write and tell/ask them (Not giving them my personal details under any circumstances!). Or even to point me in the direction of a local solicitor that knows about this sort of thing.