Threatening Letter ????

goodhind4

Hi, I recieved a letter today from a debt collection agency (Mackenzie Hall) asking me for £325.04 for a debt I owe to a company called Acquired Debt Limited. It is addressed to my maiden name. It states if I don't pay then litigation proceedings will be taken against me if I don't make a first payment by standing order by 11th April. Funny thing is I have been paying a debt to Mackenzie Hall which, on 1st Jan 2007 I made a final payment of £32.50 by standing order which I had been paying for 10 months for a debt I had with Creation Financial Services for a store card debt. This letter contains a different reference number, so is obviously for a different debt.

I have read through previous threads about Mackenzie Hall and am now a little worried! I thought I had paid all my old debts (it has been a long struggle, but I got there in the end). Any debts I did have were from a long long time ago, over 8 years ago - even the Creation Financial Services one, but stupidly it seems, I thought they had just caught up with me, and so made arrangements to pay them off. I didn't want it hanging over me, and as I am now in a better position, thought this was the best thing to do.

I have emailed Mackenzie Hall, cos was unable to get through on phone, and asked them to send me a copy of the original credit agreement containing my signature, as I have never heard of the company in question. Should I have done this? I am a little worried now, and any advice will be much appreciated.

Many thanks

immoral_angeluk

Hi, you've done the right thing but it might be worth writing a letter saying the same and sending it recorded delivery so you've at least got a paper trail to fall back on.
I wouldn't worry too much though. All DCA letter's I've ever come across have been full of threats but they're just to scare the unknowning into paying up without checking it out first.

tomterm8

Asking McCrappyHill for the credit agreement won't work. You need to send this letter to Acquired Debt Limited :

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/temp/9468_16321.pdf

staple the postal order to the letter, and take a photocopy of the letter with thye postal order attached.

Then send by registered post. (This puts the claim formally in dispute).

Then send a copy to McCrappyHill via email.

If McCrappyHill try to claim the money while the account is in dispute, they are breaking OFT guidelines and you register your complaint.

smashedbooboo

Make sure also when you write this letter you put on the top I DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEBT TO YOUR COMPANY, When you find out exactly what this debt is you then sort it out later. If as you say this debt is 8 years old then it should be statute barred unless there is a ccj on it. Check your credit file. The DCA wont start litigation. They are trying to scare you. Also there could be charges added on from them. They have 12 days plus 2 for posting etc to supply you with original copy of agreement. If they do supply within that time they are in default themselves and should be reported. Also if no credit agreement they should not be chasing you for this debt.

smashedbooboo

Also do not accept a copy of your application form. The DCAS tendency to send these out but this is not your credit agreement.

tomterm8

rog2 wrote: »

In your case, it looks as though they have 'acquired' this 'debt' from another Debt Collection Agency - Acquired Debt Limited..

Yeah... it certainly LOOKS like McCrappy Hill bought the debt from Acquired Debt Limited... until you realise that Acquired Debt Limited is owned by a certain Paul Mackenzie.

lestinch

Sorry to hijack this thread, but could that letter be used for any company who's debt you don't recognise?

Thanks & sorry again!!

tomterm8

Yes. It's a standard letter from the national debt line.