Advice on how to deal with debt collectors

barklyboy

Hello. I need some advice. I have been hounded by a debt collection company called Red Castle Recoveries for some time. They claim I owe over £400 for a laptop I purchased from Dell Computers in 2006. I did buy a laptop from Dell and I believe it was paid off via direct debit but it is so long ago I have no details.

I have spoken to them a couple of times but they were not very helpful. I have requested in writing, proof that I owe this money. They replied saying they would speak to their client and get back to me with the information.

The next correspondence I received was demanding the money again and I have had no feed back with regard to my request. They now have, somehow, my mobile number and are texting me! The latest letter, last week, was to threaten me with a warrant of execution to send in the bailiffs.

I may well owe this money and I am happy to pay it if it is outstanding but I will not pay it just on their say so and if that is the true amount or if there has been interest accruing. I have no debts and have no record as a credit risk. How do I deal with this and can they send in the bailiffs without proof that I owe this money?

Aymz

I would send another letter asking them to prove that you owe the debt and send it recorded delivery so you know they have received it. They cannot send in bailiffs without going to court, and I doubt they would go to court if they cannot prove you owe the debt, so i wouldnt worry about that too much for now.
I'm sure there are others who can explain how long you'd need to wait once you'd sent them your 'prove it' letter as I've never sent one so i wouldnt know.
Dont call them, write to them each time. Keep copies of everything you send and receive. Obviously if it comes back that you do still owe, then you can go ahead and make any arrangement to pay that you are happy with.
Actually, someone else can either confirm this or even tell me i've got my facts completely wrong, but I was under the impression that if an account is in dispute then they cannot try and keep asking you to pay? I might have that wrong, so dont take my word for it!