Is this genuine?

squibbs25

Good Morning,

I have recieved a letter from a company called Mackenzie Hall, i have read other posts on here that state they are a debt collection agency.
The letter is addressed in an old name. (not my married name- been married for just over 4 years) and to be honest i have no idea what this letter could be relating to.

Do i just ignore this letter or ask for paperwork to what this is relating to?

I'm kind of scared of getting in contact as i dont like what i have read about them. (not one positive word against them!)

Can someone advise what to do and how to go about it?

Many Thanks,

Squibbs

ps. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Emmzi

Can you think of any unpaid debts you have from a while ago?

It may just be a random shot - they write to everyone with the same surname as the person they're trying to get, in the hopes that one of the many addresses comes up trumps for them.. so may be nothing to do with you at all.

squibbs25

Hello Emmzi,

I've been thinking about this since Saturday (when the letter arrived)
and so far i can't think of anything.

quantumleap

If they are saying that you owe them money for a debt that you do not acknowledge then you could write back clearly stating one of two things. Firstly, that no-one by that names lives at this address and you'd appreciate no further correspondence.

Secondly, if you know that it is you they are looking you could write back stating that you do NOT acknowledge the debt as yours and unless they can provide evidence that the debt is yours, in the form of a signed contract, then you'd appreciate no further correspondence.

twiglet00

Hi so am i right in thinking if after 6 yrs, if they cant find you and u havent made any payments at all and they dont have a signed contact of who they say u owe money 2 they cant make u pay the debt anymore beacuse of the staue limatation thing?thanks

JonnyBravo

twiglet00 wrote: »

Hi so am i right in thinking if after 6 yrs, if they cant find you and u havent made any payments at all and they dont have a signed contact of who they say u owe money 2 they cant make u pay the debt anymore beacuse of the staue limatation thing?thanks

The way you've phrased this makes it sound very much as if you know what debt they are chasing, but have your head in the sand as regards facing up to it.
That said if they can't provide evidence of the debt of course you won't have to pay it.
They are however, usually persistent, it's their business to be persistent, and to hope they will go away when they have found you is a hope too far in my opinion.
Ask them for evidence of the debt. If none is forthcoming then you won't have to pay. If evidence is forthcoming make an arrangement of how much you want to pay them and how often. There is plenty of advice on here on how to do that.
The one thing I do advise against is doing nothing.... they don't often disappear for no reason.


Whoops you're not he OP...... sigh

I've just had lunch all the blood is in my belly not my brain

twiglet00

Hi well about 4 yrs ago i called ics home learning 2 do a course, however i canc this course in writing b4 it started and never signed anything, this was passed to this horrible company and over the yrs chased me saying i owe £800 4 a course i never did- i have not paid a penny , i was just wondering if they could make me pay if there is no contract that has been signed? i think this company is vile and on the number of times i have spoke to them 2 explain i have been in tears, therfore will never talk to them on the phone ever again.

JonnyBravo

twiglet00 wrote: »

Hi well about 4 yrs ago i called ics home learning 2 do a course, however i canc this course in writing b4 it started and never signed anything, this was passed to this horrible company and over the yrs chased me saying i owe £800 4 a course i never did- i have not paid a penny , i was just wondering if they could make me pay if there is no contract that has been signed? i think this company is vile and on the number of times i have spoke to them 2 explain i have been in tears, therfore will never talk to them on the phone ever again.

They will have a problem proving any debt without a signature.

Write to them asking for evidence of the debt and letting them know you will only deal with them in writing.

In_Search_Of_Me

I would just ring & ask what it relates to & ask them to confirm conversation in writing & send evidence. Start making notes of all calls!

climbgirl

You need to send them a copy of this letter below. If this debt is indeed yours, they are obliged by law to prove it. So let's establish that first and if it is indeed your debt, we'll deal with the next steps!

Dear Sir / Madam,

I do not acknowledge ANY debt to your company. I require you to supply the following documentation before I will correspond further on this matter.

1. You must supply me with a true copy of the alleged agreement you refer to. This is my right under your obligation to supply a copy of the agreement under the legislation within s.78 (1) Consumer Credit Act 1974 (s.77 (1) for fixed sum credit). Your obligation also extends to providing a statement of account. I enclose a £1 postal order / cheque in payment of the statutory fee.

2. A signed true copy of the deed of assignment of the above referenced agreement that you allege exists.


3. You are notified that you are obliged to supply these documents, whether you are the original creditor or not under s.189 of the CCA 1974.

Non-compliance with my request is a criminal offence under the above Act and will result in a report being submitted to the relevant statutory authorities.

As you are aware, a credit agreement that is not properly documented and signed by the customer is totally unenforceable under the CCA and therefore is a complete defence to any court claim that is issued.

Take noted at this stage, that any legal action you may contemplate will be both vigorously defended and contested.

Yours,

Tirian

climbgirl wrote: »

As you are aware, a credit agreement that is not properly documented and signed by the customer is totally unenforceable under the CCA and therefore is a complete defence to any court claim that is issued.

I haven't signed anything in order to get my Sony Amex card, as I applied and was approved online. I presume that does not that mean that any debts I run up on it are un-enforceable ... in which case this can't be strictly true. Or am I missing something?