BCW / Mackenzie hall question

SouthCoast32

Hi all,

Looking for some help / opinions.

Going to try and summarise this story into the salient points.
On the 19th may totally out of the blue, I was given a letter saying I owe something like £380 to 'a client'. On it, the letter detailed an address I had when I lived with my parents 13 years ago.

Not having a clue what this was about, I came to these forums and posted this thread:

//forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4983573&highlight=bcw

The advice was excellent (I seriously cannot stress enough how much this helped put my mind at rest with all the advice)

Anyway, I printed out the letter template provided and sent a prove it letter as suggested and said I had no idea what the debt was. (This was also recorded delivery as suggested)

Shortly after, I received a confirmation letter from them saying they would look into it. If I heard nothing in 8 weeks, I was to assume the matter was settled.

That was back in May.

About a month ago I received a very strange collection of paperwork. from a Barclays account my parents opened for me when I was born. Basically, there was some sort of small 5 pound penalty on there, which over the years grew to £380. At no point had anyone contacted me, frankly I don't remember this even existing. There was no context with the letter, no heading letter, just a collection of statements.

I didn't really worry about it, as the advice was to ignore .

Shortly after, I received a letter from a Mackenzie Hall, saying a debt had been transferred to them (Figured BCW was shaken up as they couldn't prove anything and the debt was so old)

Anyway, today (27th Nov) I have had another letter from Mackenzie Hall saying 'We advise you that our client Barclays bank will accept £115 to settle the above account'

No my concerns are as follows:
Who are mackenzie hall... are they another bottom feeder like BCW?
Should I consider settling this account? I'm looking to buy my first house soon and don't want anything to go against the mortgage?
Is there any sort of consideration into the fact that this debt is at least 13 years old, with no contact etc?
Is there any sort of consideration into the fact that this has been (presumably) transfered from BCW to Mackenziehall.
Should I just pay the £115 to get them off my case? Will 'Settled' actually make a difference as it's not 'satisfied'

Sorry for all the text - But I've been advised on here (along with many other people in similar situations) not to ring them directly or acknowledge anything.

Any and all advice welcome.

happy_bunny_2

What kind of account was it?

MCH are same type of losers, you are correct.

Is it on your credit report?

Sounds like it would be statute barred, but hard to know for sure...

HB

harveybobbles

If I sent you a letter asking for £115 would you pay me? Or would you want some sort of proof as to what the money was?

Send the same prove it letter to the latest bottom feeding scumbag DCA, pointing out that the alleged debt they have been given is a nice juicy lemon.

SouthCoast32

Yeah, it's awkward, as I want to get a mortgage. I'm not sure about the credit report, but that's a good call. Will get a check done tomo morning and see.

sourcrates

If its a rolled up bank charge from 13 years ago, there's a good chance it will be statute barred.
It should not be on your credit file, but the latest DCA may be reporting on it.
Basically if you have not acknowledged this debt, either in writing, saying "this is my debt", or have not made any kind of payment to it, for a period of 6 years, then it will be SB, and they cant obtain a CCJ against you.
If the above applies, then when they have sent you there "proof" of the debt, you should respond with the SB letter, and that should end the charade.

SouthCoast32

Thank you for your advice
I'll do a credit check, then follow with a SB letter to them (again)

Jane.E

I wonder if anyone can help me. I just received a letter from Mackenzie Hall asking if someone by my maiden name lived at this property if so could they get in touch for a personal matter ect ect. I looked up the company to see it is a debt collection agency which obviously now has me loosing sleep! On the back of my search on the company I have not called them. I check my Experian credit report which is 999 (excellent). The only thing I can think is the following....

Took out a mortgage in 2007 with my now ex £95,000 plus £25,000 to do up the flat (unsecured). We split in 2010 and I left the property and he wanted to keep it on, we couldn't remove my name from the mortgage with Northern Rock as they would then refuse my ex. So I left it on (STUPID). He sold the flat for roughly £100,000 in 2013 and I think paid off the mortgage amount but then took out an IVA on the unsecured as far as I can make out. I am worried they may now be chasing me for the money. I have since married. I never had anything to do with the repayments on the mortgage even when we were together as I was home with children, working part time and he paid all the bills.

I have had a constant sick feeling since getting the letter and don't know what to do...

Would be so greatful of any help!

PPI_GURU

I just want to make a point about bottom feeders. The reason these people exist are not because of good payers. The Debt Collection industry exists because quite simply, they are in debt. They exist because the banks have allowed them too.

I would ask for the original signed account documents from Barclay's to let you know that the account existing in the first instance. If they cannot produce the evidence that the account existed, then ask for the 13 years of letters & statements against that account. If they cannot produce the document there is no debt.

Just go direct to Barclays and ask for the original terms and conditions that were signed with this apparent account. I am certain them if they can't produce evidence that they will have to remove the harmful information on your credit file.

PPI_GURU

Dont answer them. They have a tracing system for names.

harveybobbles

Jane.E wrote: »

I wonder if anyone can help me. I just received a letter from Mackenzie Hall asking if someone by my maiden name lived at this property if so could they get in touch for a personal matter ect ect. I looked up the company to see it is a debt collection agency which obviously now has me loosing sleep! On the back of my search on the company I have not called them. I check my Experian credit report which is 999 (excellent). The only thing I can think is the following....

Took out a mortgage in 2007 with my now ex £95,000 plus £25,000 to do up the flat (unsecured). We split in 2010 and I left the property and he wanted to keep it on, we couldn't remove my name from the mortgage with Northern Rock as they would then refuse my ex. So I left it on (STUPID). He sold the flat for roughly £100,000 in 2013 and I think paid off the mortgage amount but then took out an IVA on the unsecured as far as I can make out. I am worried they may now be chasing me for the money. I have since married. I never had anything to do with the repayments on the mortgage even when we were together as I was home with children, working part time and he paid all the bills.

I have had a constant sick feeling since getting the letter and don't know what to do...

Would be so greatful of any help!

Wait until they bother writing with more info. Until then, stay off the phone and dont contact them as they will trick you into paying.

sourcrates

PPI_GURU wrote: »

I just want to make a point about bottom feeders. The reason these people exist are not because of good payers. The Debt Collection industry exists because quite simply, they are in debt. They exist because the banks have allowed them too.

I would ask for the original signed account documents from Barclay's to let you know that the account existing in the first instance. If they cannot produce the evidence that the account existed, then ask for the 13 years of letters & statements against that account. If they cannot produce the document there is no debt.

Just go direct to Barclays and ask for the original terms and conditions that were signed with this apparent account. I am certain them if they can't produce evidence that they will have to remove the harmful information on your credit file.

If its a mortgage shortfall they can chase you for up to 20 years.
Mortgage providers are much better at keeping accurate records, than say, some loan or credit card providers.
Your credit file will reflect actual events, and unless these events are inaccurate, they cant be "amended".

I would wait until something properly addressed to you comes in writing, detailing a specific debt, at the moment it appears they are fishing, hoping to get a bite.
Of course you could send them the "provit" letter if you want to find out what the debt is, it may not be the mortgage, it may be something else.

If your ex has included the shortfall in his IVA, for the full amount outstanding, you may have a case for telling them they have been paid, therefore no further debt exists (you would need to confirm this with your ex first obviously).