Cap Quest

willyoungfan.

Hello i am a new member and this is my first post. We have been paying American Express £2.50 for the last ten years due to a county court judgement. We have received 5 letters from Capquest asking for the whole amount (2802.48) or the bailiffs will be sent round. Capquest say they have bought the debt from American Express. Each time Capquest have added £27.00 to the debt for the letter. We have sent proof of our CCJ and proof of our recent payment and now we have had a letter asking for further proof of our CCJ. How do we do this? I know £2.50 is not much but we have had no letter asking us to increase our payments just nasty letters from Capquest. We have been to CAB and they said to keep paying £2.50 and not to speak to Capquest and to contact Office of Fair Trading. As i have 2 children i am worried sick about bailiffs knocking on the door and trying to get in. We pay £2.50 with a card to a company called Graham White & Co. I would appreciate any helpful advice that you could give me.

Snaggles

Oh, what a horrible situation for you to be in, I can understand your worries. I'm sure someone who knows the answer will be along soon to advise you. Surely you shouldn't have to put up with this. Have you contacted the office of fair trading yet?

willyoungfan.

Yes i contacted fair trading and they told me to get in touch with the fair trading office in the Portsmouth area where I live. I have done this and they have told me to contact an organisation called consumer direct. I have not done this yet I thought I would try this forum first.

CLAPTON

they would need to go back to court before bailiffs can be instructed, so you who have an opportunity to put your case to the judge.

rog2

Hi WYF

As Snaggles says - it's NOT a nice situation to be in. However, the advice given by CAB is, basically, correct.
CAPQUEST are a particularily nasty Debt Collection Agency who try all sorts of intimidation tactics to 'bully' money out of you, but they are not above the law. If you were given a payment order, by a Court, then there is nothing that they can do to force you to pay more.
I also think that their 'charges' are illegal.
I suggest that you contact the Office of Fair Trading as soon as possible.

rog2

willyoungfan. wrote: »

Yes i contacted fair trading and they told me to get in touch with the fair trading office in the Portsmouth area where I live. I have done this and they have told me to contact an organisation called consumer direct. I have not done this yet I thought I would try this forum first.

It looks as though you are being pushed 'from pillar to post'. You can register a complaint to the OFT on-line.

willyoungfan.

Does anyone know how long a County Court Judgement lasts as we received ours in 1997. How do i get further proof of a CCJ as they have asked for this?

rog2

willyoungfan. wrote: »

Does anyone know how long a County Court Judgement lasts as we received ours in 1997. How do i get further proof of a CCJ as they have asked for this?

This may be the root cause of your problem WYF. A CCJ is held on your Credit File for 6 years. I suggest that you contact the original County Court Office, where they should still have the Judgement on record.
Some DCA's literally trawl for 'Old' debts, which are often not collectable under the 'Statute Barred' legislation - unfortunately the majority of the public do not understand this, and there are rich pickings to be had for the less scrupulous DCA's, like CRAPQUEST.
I also suggest that you write to Graham White & Co. telling them that you are being hounded by CRAPQUEST even though you are adhering to the payment orders.

willyoungfan.

I have just spoke to someone at Graham White and explained the situation and they are going to pass it on to someone in accounts who will ring me and discuss the situation with me. Hopefully they will be able to help. Thanks for all your helpful advice and i will let you know how i get on.

rog2

Thanks for letting us know WYF - and please keep us informed of the outcome as it could be of help to others.