scary letter!

Debtconfusion

Hi, can anyone please advice me on what I should do after receiving a scary letter from Mackenzie hall?! The letter doesn't say much- "we are attempting to contact the above named person regarding a personal matter" but after a quick google search, I've discovered that Mackenzie Hall specialise in recovering old debt.....

My ex got me into financial difficulty resulting in a CCJ, but since we split in 2009 I've worked hard to pay off any debts in my name, irrelevant of who actually owed the money as I just wanted to clear my name. Anyway, I've been debt free since 2010 and have heard nothing from anyone regarding me owing any money. I still have a poor credit rating due to the CCJ, but I'm told that that will clear in 2016. So I'm a bit confused by this letter.....

If I phone them up then I'm worried that I'm confirming my details and I've heard that they are "rude" people, so probably wouldn't listen to anything I have to say and I'll end up paying out for something that hasn't got anything to do with me :-/

The letter is also addressed to a misspelt shortening of my name. Surely if I'd taken out any kind of credit agreement, then it would have to be in my full name as displayed on my birth certificate?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

fermi

MH often seem to send letters to people of a similar name, either deliberately or by mistakenly assuming they are the same person. As such, this may not even have anything to do with you.

The normal thing I would suggest is....

(1) Check your credit files to make sure MH haven't put anything nasty on there.

(2) Assuming they haven't, then just ignore them until they can be bothered to write a proper letter outlining exactly what they are chasing. If they are just fishing for a resonse from people of the same name, you may never hear anything again.

Debtconfusion

Okay thanks, that's reassuring :-)
Do you know of a way to check credit files without having to pay a fee? I know it's not much, but it seems a bit unfair to have to pay 'just to make sure' lol!
Or what I'm actually checking? I went on one website and the amount of possible searches just confused me!

fermi

https://www.noddle.co.uk for a start

and/or a free trial with Experian or Equifax. BUT MAKE SURE YOU CANCEL

Saying that, I mentioned checking your files as a precautionary measure. If it was me I would do it. It's not compulsory, and if MH are only "fishing" there "should" in theory be nothing on there.

Debtconfusion

I do think it's definitely worth checking, but I'm a bit naive about all this credit history marlarky and don't understand it at all!

This might seem like a really stupid question, but should I check my full name, or this misspelt variation?!

Thank you for your help :-)

fermi

You check your name as it is. You have to make sure nothing has been incorrectly put under your correct name.

As said, with the mismatch and likely "fishing", the overwhelming chances are that it is clear.

Debtconfusion

whooops! So after checking my credit history, apparently I owe T-Mobile £24. Any idea how I dispute this?! :-/

fermi

Have you ever been with t-mobile? If so, could anything have been left owing?

Is it listed under t-mobile or MH on your file?

Debtconfusion

I had a two year contract with T mobile from June 2009 until June 2011. The report shows that all payments were paid on time. I did not wish to renew my contract after the 2 years so I phoned up and paid any remaining balance and cancelled my contract. The report then shows that I didn't pay £24 in July. I continued living at the same address and T mobile never contacted me. Todays letter from mackenzie hall is the first correspondence. I admit that the letter from MH may not be related, but it is coincidental!
The report says T mobile, not MH

fermi

In that case I would get on to t-mobile and bypass MH for now. If it's on your report in their name, then they are responsible for the accuracy of the info they have recorded.

Debtconfusion

After giving T mobile an ear bashing it turns out that T mobile owe me the £24, which they are kindly refunding me :-) I have no idea what the letter from MH is for, so that can go in the recycling bin where it belongs!
Thank you very much for your assistance and brightening my day :-D