PippA - HFO chasing unknown debt

PippaA

Finally got through to Local CAB this afternoon - just as they were closing. They have told me to resend the "Prove it" letter and/or download the Financial Ombudsmans complaint form and fill that in myself and send it off. They have also told me of a local solicitor that does a free half hour consultation - but, of course, I would have to pay if they actually did anything on my behalf. CAB did not offer to write anything or act for me. Seems Buckingham believes I can go it alone.

RAS

pippa

Do you have an AgeUK office anywhere near you?

PippaA

I actually do some volunteering for Age Concern Buckingham which is now a part of Age UK. The local office is in Aylesbury, 15 miles away.

fatbelly

Hi PippA - sorry the CAB were not more supportive. It is the sort of thing they should be taking an interest in and doing a 'social policy' report on.

If you can find a third party to join you in your complaint to the FOS, I do think it changes the dynamics for the better. But you can go it alone - the procedure and forms are very clear:

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

You have to give HFO 8 weeks to respond to a complaint and I have been told by FOS that I can't just send a complaint and wait 8 weeks - I have to remind the creditor during that period. So I send a reminder at about five weeks. You will gather I'm a serial complainer!

So I would resend a copy of your prove-it letter, stapled to one that says 'you have not responded adequately in that you have declined to prove your position. Nor have you ceased collection activity as required by OFT Debt Collection Guidance. You now have three weeks before I report your behaviour to the Financial Ombudsman Service.'

PippaA

Ok, I have done as you suggested. Now I will wait and see what happens.
The gentleman at Customer Direct mentioned something about debts over 6yrs old are not collectable or something but I really was too upset to take proper notice. If this is true, or something similar, why are HFO asking me for proof of my address from 2001? I really have no idea what they are on about. I have lived at my present address for 7yrs and never had any notification of this supposed debt before. I find the whole thing very, very distressing. I was brought up never to owe anyone anything. I don't even have a credit card!
PippaA

RAS

PippaA wrote: »

Ok, I have done as you suggested. Now I will wait and see what happens.
The gentleman at Customer Direct mentioned something about debts over 6yrs old are not collectable or something but I really was too upset to take proper notice. If this is true, or something similar, why are HFO asking me for proof of my address from 2001? I really have no idea what they are on about. I have lived at my present address for 7yrs and never had any notification of this supposed debt before. I find the whole thing very, very distressing. I was brought up never to owe anyone anything. I don't even have a credit card!
PippaA

Pippa

If the the debt belonged to you and you have not paid anythign towards it in the last years years (5 years in Scotland) then the Statute of Limitations comes in. That means that you can be asked to pay the money but if you say no, then the creditor can do nothing.

What HFO are doing is buying up lots of statute barred debt (athats what these very old debts are called) for very little money and hoping to frighten people into paying the money even though they do not have to.

Given that some people with old debts they were paying were offered full and final offers at 5p in the pound last year, you can assume that HFO paid less than this for the debt.

So if they manage to frighten one person in 20 into paying, they have made a profit.

fatbelly

They also appear to be chasing people who have no connection whatsoever to the debt...

It's very nice for Consumer Direct to give you a lecture on statute barred debt but, if it is not your debt to begin with, how are you supposed to know whether anyone has acknowledged it over a six-year period?

PippaA

I notice that the registered office for HFO is in Croydon. Need I say what I am thinking?

RAS

:rotfl::rotfl:

PippaA wrote: »

I notice that the registered office for HFO is in Croydon. Need I say what I am thinking?

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well we can only hope.

PippaA

Today I have received another letter from this undescribable firm. In it they say, I quote,
"We are writing further to our last letter regarding your fraud claim you raised on this account in your name. We have received none of the requested documentation, for us to investigate this matter for you. We will not send out any documentation to you, until we have clarification on what you situation is
As we advised you previously we are only able to hold an account for 28 days with no action taking place. If we do not hear from you withing the next 7 days from the date on this letter we will assume you do not wish to proceed with your fraud claim and the account will be referred back to collections department. However should you require more time to collate the documentation we have requested, please contact our offices to confirm the same.
We look forward to hearing from you!" end quote
So this looks like stalemate. I am certainly not sending them any proof of my identity or proof of addresses since 2001 and they will not send me the name on the debt, the signature on the credit agreement or the date, place and who made the last payment (if any) .
What on earth do I do now!