Capquest & Littlewoods

loucah

I'll try and cut a long story short.

Back in 2005 I instructed Citizens Advice to act on my behalf regarding debts I had accrued with various companies. Most companies have been fine except one, that being Littlewoods. I had an outstanding debt with them of approx £1000. CAB were soon onto it and got me to send £1 to ask for proof of my physical signature which we knew didn't exist as I'd signed up online.

I received a letter from Littlewoods a few days later advising that they were not going to pursue the debt. In November 2006 I was surprised to receive a letter from a company called Debt Managers requesting full payment along with the usual 'reply within 7 days' this was resovled simply by producing a copy of the non pursuit letter from Littlewoods.

On Tuesday this week (14th August) I received a phone call from a company called Capquest advising me that Littlewoods had handed the debt over to them. I tried to explain to the chap I spoke to the situation, and eventually I gave up and advised him that I would get Citizens Advice to contact them. I immediately sat down and wrote a letter to the CAB. I usually do things by letter to them as they only open a couple of days a week and are located a few miles away. Very often you can't get through on the phone.

Yesterday I received two letters in the same envelope one from Littlewoods Finance instructing me of the hand over of debt and one from Capquest with the usual information, are these the same company? Bearing in mind yesterday was the 16th and the letters dated 12th (Sunday, back dated?). They requested my contact by 17th today. I have posted copies of these to CAB this morning. The balance owed has also increased by £300.

Yesterday morning my phone rang however rang off after 2 rings, I checked the number it was an 01252 code, I thought 'wrong number', in the afternoon the phone rings again, I answered to received an automated message (cannot remember exact message) 'This is a message for (got my name wrong) please press 1 if available', I thought it was one of those marketing calls so hung up. I checked the code, it was the same number as the previous call.

This morning I received the same call, although my father answered thinking it was the same marketing. I checked the code on the net this morning it relates to Fleet in Hampshire where of course Capquest is based.

My questions basically are:

Despite having proof in writing that Littlewoods would not pursue the debt, they continue to do so, can they be reported to Trading Standards for this?

Are companies such as Capquest known to back date letters?

Do I continue to ignore their phone calls, until Citizens Advice conatct them? My CAB is very good on the legal stuff however I cannot get hold of them until Monday.

As I have proof in writing from Littlewoods of non pursuit, would a debt collection company have any case in court?

To be honest I know the debt is of my own making, but Littlewoods are really starting to hack me off.

rog2

CAPQUEST are known to use 'every trick in the book' to make people own up to 'alleged debts' EVEN when the 'alleged debt' is not legally recoverable.
REGARDLESS of the date that they put on a letter, if you have a letter, from Littlewoods, that clearly states that they are no longer going to pursue the debt, then there is LITTLE that Crapquest can do.
As you have been dealing with the CAB, I suggest that you take the letters, plus the original letter, from Littlewoods, to them, and ask for further advice.

vanilla

What if you sent a copy of the letter from littlewoods to capquest. Or i'd let CAB deal with it, i wouldn't waste the time talking to capquest.

RAS

And report Littlewoods and capquest to the trading standards in in the areas where they are based.

Littlewoods know the debt is uncollectable, but have set on capquest. They are responsible for their own and third party behaviour.

Capquest are chancing it and need as many compalints as possible.

loucah

Thanks guys, I'm leaving it in the hands of CAB to deal with despite the fact that Capquest have phoned me twice a day for the last 3 days.

Annoyingly when they ring possibly due to the system they use it rings off after 2 rings, checking the 1471 confirms it's a Fleet code so it's obviously them. They did get through tonight although they got my mother, who also explained that CAB were dealing with it (not that it counts for anything). Apparently the woman who rang was 'extremely rude' and told my mother that I still need to speak to them. Why? was my reaction, in the terms of their letter I had to contact them by 17th August, surely the fact that I was contacted by them on the 14th where I advised them about CAB covers that.

I've decided that whilst I'm at home on my own I won't take their calls as CAB advised me when I first started all this to either try and explain to companies the situation or put the phone down if I'm getting hassled.

I must admit I feel like reporting them for making nuisance calls (when the phone rings off).

Depending on what CAB say I definitely look into reporting them and Littlewoods to trading standards/financial ombudsman for being complete pains in the backside. Knowing my CAB they'll probably set that in motion themselves.