DVSL, HL Legal and now Capquest Recovery letters

Shippster

Over the last three months I have received the following letters that appear familiar to those who keep an eye on the Internet -

1. DVSL Letter trying to re-establish (?) contact with me

2. HL Legal letter acting on behalf of DVSL again asking me to contact them in case I'm not the person they are looking for

And today a letter from Capquest Debt recovery re a £809.49 debt with Santander Uk Plc requesting I contact them to arrange a payment plan and if I fail to do so the account will be "escalated" to the collection process.

I researched various forums after the DVSL letter so was expecting this series of letters but obviously wasn't sure what they were chasing. Many responses I have read on the net are for questions relating to debts which are accepted or actually have nothing to do with the recipient of the letter.

In my case I am not aware of any debt with Satander and have had no correspondence with them even though I do have an active Santander credit card so would have been easily found. About 12 years ago I had an account with Abbey National which was closed with no debt.

I have so far ignored these letters but am now seeking advice of what I should do next, now they are naming a debt, even though I don't recognise it.

Many thanks in advance and sorry for such a long post.

fermi

Well, if you decide to respond rather than ignore these "fishing" letters then you would start with something like.

Letter when you know nothing about about the debt - AKA "Prove it" letter

If after that they confirm that it's a debt on the Abbey account then even if valid - which sounds unlikely - then it would be statute barred.

See: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2606811

There are some example letters on that thread including one that just deals with the issue of a debt being statute barred, plus a "hybrid" one where you are also disputing the validity of the debt.

Where you start is up to you and how much you think you know about what they are chasing.

However, if you are unsure then start with the straight prove it letter in the 1st link. Then based on any reply you can go from there.

fatbelly

Good advice.

Just to clarify. DVSL is HL Legal is Capquest.

Just different letterheads used by the same muppets.

Shippster

Thanks for your advice ...... I really don't remember any debts but am a little intrigued so may send one of the templated letters at some stage.

Funnily enough today I received a letter from today (who I apparently owe money to) and was quite expecting it to say they have sold a debt to Capquest etc but no it was offering me 12 month interest free balance transfers to my Satander card

Shippster

A quick bump to the thread.....I've chosen to ignore the various Capquest letters even though they have offered to halve the alleged debt. I have now received their threats re door step visits. Although this does not overly concern me or my two very big dogs I feel it's time I dealt with this annoying pest of a company.

Please could somebody reconfirm if the following would be the correct course of action (or have I left it to late ?)

1. Send a prove it letter ( I don't recognise the debt but have had had a Abbey account)
2. Send the letter, common law I believe, re attending my property without consent
3. Request further details

Any further advice or links to current templates would be gratefully received

Many thanks in advance

fermi

If you feel you want to reply, then perhaps a letters based on the one in this link?

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=34906257&postcount=5

If it suits your circumstances?

It is very very very very unlikely anyone will turn up at your door. If they do, you just tell them to naff off.

You could tell them you refuse permission for them to visit if you want. Up to you really.

Shippster

Another Bump - advice please


Thanks for to you all for your previous advice. I eventually sent a "prove it" letter to CapQuest and all their associated names and also the letter regarding home visits. They replied with the normal "if you have a complaint" letter and I have heard nothing since.

Sometime later I received a letter from Santander stating they will be referring my account to Robinson Way Ltd and they supplied their address should I wish to contact them.

This is the first time I have had any correspondence from Santander and appears to related to a very old joint account but no further details have been disclosed.

I have since has three letters from Robinson Way stating they are managing my account and that the amount owed is £809.49 and requesting that I contact them to arrange a payment plan. I have also received the threat of the "home visit" letter.

I have checked my Experian account and have now seen the the old Santander account (which I was closed) is now showing as a defaulted account with a red code 8 showing against it. This appears to indicate that the credit agreement has been ended and have not responded to requests to get my account in order. I also note that the account is shown as being opened in June 2001 and defaulted in Feb 2012.

This account would have been opened sometime in the late 80's and closed (so I thought in the late 90's and at a push very early in 2000.

Now that this is affecting my credit report I really would like to get some advice as what to do next. I am not aware of any debt owed to Santander and I do actually have credit facilities with them. I must also stress that to this date I have only received one piece of correspondence from them and that was the notification of referral to Robinson Way.

On a separate note I have also received a missed call from a number that appears to be linked to McKenzie Hall, another DCA.

Sorry for such a long post but I really would like to know how to rectify this issue and get rid of the stress that goes with it

Many thanks in advance

fermi

Do they say they have sold the account, or just that RW are collecting for them? is the default still listed in Santander's name?

So two/three issues....

- You are being chased for a debt you are unaware of or believe you don't owe.
- Even if you did owe it, the recent default date of 2012 is completely incorrect, and on the face of it a maliciously false entry designed to harm your credit record when they are no longer entitled to do so.
- Even if you did owe something on that account, if would be firmly statute barred by now

So you currently have relationship with santander and they still own the account, I would at first be getting on to them for a clarification and/or dispute all those issues with them.

Shippster

Fermi..... Having looked at the Santander letter it states "we will be referring your above referenced account to our agent Robinson Way & they will be responsible for managing your account on our behalf and they will take steps to come to an amicable arrangement with you "

The letter also states that all future corres to be directed to RW

The Experian still shows it as a defaulted Santander account.

This all seems to refer to a joint account I had many years ago when a friend and I first went onto the property ladder.

The letter only supplies a Milton Keynes PO address for Santnder

fermi

Well, personally I would still start off trying Santander, as RW are unlikely to have any paperwork or records apart from the fact that they have been instructed to collect. if Sanbtander own the alleged debt still, then it is their responsibility still.

Shippster

Ok I'll do that.....I guess it's best to send them a letter, not admitting to any debt and ask for all details including when the debt occurred and what efforts they have made to contact me.

If, as I expect, this is an old account that has gone overdrawn at some stage, without my knowledge and I still accountable and would the debt be subject to statute barred rules ? More importantly will I be able to clear they "default" off my Experian account ?