Yes - t'is the season for Mackenzie Hall -advice please?

Beanietdc

Hello,

Sorry if this has been asked before but there are soooo many MH threads I didn't know where to start!

I got the standard "we want to contact you for a personal matter" letter today and realised they were a DCA because of reading here all the time!

Now then... let me try and explain.... I DON'T OWE A PENNY! (well a loan and a cc that I have never been late or missed a payment but you get the idea!)

Reading this site I see that they work for Sky and I think this is where it has come from.

About 10 or so years ago (definitely more than 6 anyway) my sister took out Sky at my parents house. When she moved out she didn't cancel but my Mum took over the payments so that they could continue to get Sky. Somewhere along the line payments were missed (well this is what I can gather anyway) but Mum says she paid them.

Forward to around 4 years or so ago - phone call at Mums house saying that they are trying to contact Miss T Beanie and can she call back (My sister has the same initial) - Mum passed on the message (to me because my sister was married by this point!) and I called them. They asked for personal information to confirm who I was, I refused until they told me what it was about, etc etc, you know how it goes and basically they said that they couldn't tell me anything and Good-Bye:eek: . I knew that it was likely to be the Sky thing but because I didn't tell them anything I just forgot about it. This is when Mum told me that she thought she had paid up but couldn't find the receipt :rolleyes: -let's just say that her financial record isn't the greatest so I am not sure if she paid.

So.... today I got the letter, sent to my home address (three house moves later) and with my full first name on it. Are they just trying it on? I suspect that they are but want someone to tell me so! and should I reply or just ignore the letter completely seeing as I am sure it isn't for me.

Any advice gratefully received

RAS

Hi

Starting you own thread is probably better.

Unravelling your own debt situation is a bit more interesting.

First off, you, mum and sister need to get your credit checks done, to find out where this debt currently resides and whether there is any record of payments in the last six years. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan#help

There is plainly no point in you paying a debt you do not owe, but there is a chance that someone somewhere has confused your and DS (the classic would be that you have the same initial and they looked up the first name with that initial in the electoral register then traced you through the years). There is also a chance that your DS's credit record has been affected by your mum's payment slips. Certainly, DS should make sure that she cancels the account with Sky if it is still operational. get mum to arrange her own account.

If the last payment was more than 6 years ago, then it may be worth some-one (probably DS) writing to them and telling them to get lost, there are template letters on here.

If the last payment was nearly six years ago, as often seems to be the case with MH, then you do not owe it, so you should not pay it. If they push, you can demand the Consumer Credit Agreement and since your name and signature would not be on it, they would be stuffed.

It may be that legally DS does owe them money, even if mum was the one who paid late/did not pay, but since MH are not chasing either of them, they could just sit quiet until the 6 years is up.

If the payments are much more recent, the situation is more difficult,but this should show up on the credit checks.

tealady

If the debt is over 6 years old and you have never acknowledged it then it is statute barred. There are proforma letters on this site that you can send to them. Dont speak to them on the phone, if you write keep a copy and ensure that in the letter you state something like "I do not acknowledge this debt". Hopefully they will then "Naff Orf" (in the words of HRH the Princess Royal)

RAS

tealady wrote: »

If the debt is over 6 years old and you have never acknowledged it then it is statute barred. There are proforma letters on this site that you can send to them. Dont speak to them on the phone, if you write keep a copy and ensure that in the letter you state something like "I do not acknowledge this debt". Hopefully they will then "Naff Orf" (in the words of HRH the Princess Royal)

Hi

That is not correct. If you/DS or mum have not paid towards the debt or acknowledged it in writing at any point in the last 6 years, it is statute barred.

tealady

Sorry yes thats what I meand, need a tea infusion. Thanks RAS

Beanietdc

Thanks for the reply - now it might seem mean and heartless but to be honest I don't care about the situation when it comes to Mum and Sister and their credit record. They are grown ups and can sort themselves out. My sister now lives abroad and has changed her name so good luck in finding her!

I have spent goodness knows how long trying to get myself financially sorted and will reach a big landmark in October when a millstone of a loan is paid off so this is cracking timing!

If I phone them tomorrow can I just refuse to give them my personal information and forget about it or is this not a good idea?

Whichever way they want to play this I do not owe any money to them in any way shape or form.

As far as I know the Sky account was closed some years ago and then more recently my parents have opened a new one (but presumably in either Mum or Dads name rather than sisters).

I haven't got my credit record yet but I can't see this being a problem because I have never had problems getting credit (balance transfers etc) and would have thought I would have noticed before if this was sitting on my record.

If I phoned them and asked for a copy of the CCA would it have my sisters full name on it or just a signature? If it has her name on it why haven't they worked out that there is a difference or do they not check?

Thanks for the replies... I'm sure I will think of more questions - just want to be clear about what I do!

Beanietdc

Can someone link me the appropriate letters please?

Ta

Beanietdc

Just applied for my credit files... waiting for pin number from one and the other ones site isn't working properly. :mad:

RAS

Hi

Do not phone this bunch.

Get you credit record, then write to them advising them that you do not acknowledge any debt to them and that you have no outstanding debts in your name.

If they can prove otherwise fine but why should you pay £1 for the pleasure.

Beanietdc

Thanks for all the advice.

One more thing - is there a letter template I should send - all the templates I found are for people that do/did owe money in the first place.

Thanks

rog2

Beanietdc wrote: »

Can someone link me the appropriate letters please?

Ta

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/temp/4929_37501.pdf

If that link does not work (the link number seems to change everyday) just go to http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk and follow the links through to the 'sample letters' section.