Debt collector letter

TurboTommy

Quick update:

Formal complaint now raised with Telecoms Ombudsman.
They now take this case out of my hands, and their investigation should be enough to stop the DCA from trying to collect, for a while.
They say that their investigation could take 6-8 weeks, but you get your own portal page to view your case updates and upload documents etc.

I've not received a response from either the DCA or PO from my complaint letters that I have sent to them, which I stated they should acknowledge in writing two days after receipt of my complaint letters (sent first-class, recorded).

fusionx212

TurboTommy wrote: »

Hi Sambob,

Sorry to hear that you find yourself in almost exactly the same situation as myself - I know that it's really not a nice place to be. I find it strange that you have received the same letters, on the same date. I wonder if this debt-collector company has done a group buy of our accounts with TalkTalk?

I posted my Prove-it letter today, recorded, signed-for. Kept the receipt and attached it to a duplicate copy of the letter that I sent.

I've also done a bit of ringing around this afternoon:

Firstly, I spoke to the telecoms ombudsman (who I made the complaint to about PO, i mistakenly thought it was OFCOM). They were very helpful, but advised that they only keep correspondence for 12 months. Worth a try though. They were very helpful in offering advice, and even offered to take on this case again, if a satisfactory resolution was not reached with PO. They advise me to speak to PO and see whether they still had the documents - they said that they are required by law to keep them for 6 years, including all original correspondence between them and the ombudsman.

I called PO and they said that the 'debt' was "written off" in April 2015. I asked what that meant and was told that the debt was cleared as 'unrecoverable', which I was advised would probably have affected my credit rating. They said that they had tried to contact me on numerous occasions over the years since 2011 up to this date, by phone and mail, to no avail - I find this very hard to believe: my number hasn't changed for over a decade and my address is readily available from the electoral roll. The PO operative told me that they cannot see 'documents' within the customer service department, but if I get in touch with "back-office" via email, then they should be able to help. She then went to discuss this with her supervisor, when I questioned why there was any 'debt' in the first place, when the outstanding balance was cleared as "their error" after the Ombudsman contacted them... She returned to tell me that they can no longer discuss this case, as the debt and been "sold on" and is no longer with them, but with the debt-collection company. I would have to speak to them to discuss it.

This is where I am so far. As always, any points of note, feedback, suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

if they can update your credit record they an also see your addresses listed.. they are talking bull Plop. challenge it all the way

fusionx212

fusionx212 wrote: »

if they can update your credit record they an also see your addresses listed.. they are talking bull Plop. challenge it all the way

if the ombudsman rules in your favour request they remove all traces of the account from your credit file.

TurboTommy

fusionx212 wrote: »

if the ombudsman rules in your favour request they remove all traces of the account from your credit file.

Thanks for the response.
I've checked my credit report and can see no mention of either the original agreement nor the outstanding debt - another reason why I think that they are chasing a non-existent debt. I'll certainly request that though, in case a report has been made with a different credit report company (I'm aware that what appears on some, does not appear on others).

richardhingston

my wife got a letter from pastdue first it said she owed 22 pounds to talktalk then they sent another saying sorry it was owed to the postoffice telecom instead . The letters keep coming then thay sent a letter the amount had jumped up to 82.86 same account number then the next letter the price droped down to 22 again. The letters keep coming now for 22 and 82.86 now with different account numbers. My wife had wrote to them twice disputing the money owed has the phone as been in my name for years and ive never had a post office account. We have allso told them that my wife had gone bankruped two years ago and sent them heir number but they still keep sending the letters.

sourcrates

richardhingston wrote: »

my wife got a letter from pastdue first it said she owed 22 pounds to talktalk then they sent another saying sorry it was owed to the postoffice telecom instead . The letters keep coming then thay sent a letter the amount had jumped up to 82.86 same account number then the next letter the price droped down to 22 again. The letters keep coming now for 22 and 82.86 now with different account numbers. My wife had wrote to them twice disputing the money owed has the phone as been in my name for years and ive never had a post office account. We have allso told them that my wife had gone bankruped two years ago and sent them heir number but they still keep sending the letters.

Have a read of this thread and follow the steps turbo Tommy has taken to rectify his issues.

TurboTommy

Well it looks like some good news, after some persistence and numerous letters.
I've received a reply from PDCS to my complaint letter that I sent earlier on this month. The content of the letter is largely based around the Data Protection Act, reiterating their legal responsibility to confirm my data, blah blah...
However, it goes on to say how they [Pastdue] have been unable to 'assist' me in 'disputing the debt' because I would not give them the required personal details (as though Post Office sold this imaginary debt to them for them to 'assist' me in disputing it!!)
Pastdue advise that because 'full Data Protection has not been confirmed, we have been unable to resolve your dispute and have closed this matter and have returned it directly to our client'. They also state: 'you will not receive any further contact from PDCS regarding this matter'

Result!!

Still nothing heard from my complaint to the Post Office. The Telecoms Ombudsman have advised that their investigation into the matter has begun, and they will be in touch in due course. I doubt that it will take them too long!

TurboTommy

Well, it's been a while since my last post. All has been quiet with the DCA backing down and the Post Office not responding to my letter of complaint.

However, this afternoon I received a call from the Telecoms Ombudsman, the investigation officer whom has looked into my case. She has looked at my evidence and also Post Office's response on the matter and has come to the decision that Post Office are at fault. She explained that, originally, Post Office failed to wipe the 'debt' properly from their systems, following their initial investigation how ever many years back. They had since sold the 'debt' on, along with numerous others and admitted that this was a fault on their behalf.

Post Office have been ordered to issue me with a letter of apology within the next 28 days and the Telecoms Ombudsman are writing to me with their decision.

Damn, it feels good to win against these people. Thank goodness for the Ombudsman services!

So, given that they have admitted to being negligent, have sold my details on when they shouldn't have, left me incurring the financial costs of sending recorded delivery letters, and the distress that it caused me at an already traumatic time (my house flooded during the Boxing Day floods), would it be in order to ask to be compensated?

Thanks again to one and all whom have helped me with this matter. It's very much appreciated. I hope that others affected are also reaching the same outcome and are welcome to drop me a PM or a reply here for any advice I can offer.

Tommy

sourcrates

TurboTommy wrote: »

Well, it's been a while since my last post. All has been quiet with the DCA backing down and the Post Office not responding to my letter of complaint.

However, this afternoon I received a call from the Telecoms Ombudsman, the investigation officer whom has looked into my case. She has looked at my evidence and also Post Office's response on the matter and has come to the decision that Post Office are at fault. She explained that, originally, Post Office failed to wipe the 'debt' properly from their systems, following their initial investigation how ever many years back. They had since sold the 'debt' on, along with numerous others and admitted that this was a fault on their behalf.

Post Office have been ordered to issue me with a letter of apology within the next 28 days and the Telecoms Ombudsman are writing to me with their decision.

Damn, it feels good to win against these people. Thank goodness for the Ombudsman services!

So, given that they have admitted to being negligent, have sold my details on when they shouldn't have, left me incurring the financial costs of sending recorded delivery letters, and the distress that it caused me at an already traumatic time (my house flooded during the Boxing Day floods), would it be in order to ask to be compensated?

Thanks again to one and all whom have helped me with this matter. It's very much appreciated. I hope that others affected are also reaching the same outcome and are welcome to drop me a PM or a reply here for any advice I can offer.

Tommy

Well done, good result !!

I would think some sort of compensation for your time and effort fighting this would be in order yes.

Remember don't ask, don't get !!

fatbelly

TurboTommy wrote: »

Post Office have been ordered to issue me with a letter of apology within the next 28 days and the Telecoms Ombudsman are writing to me with their decision.

Is that all?

I agree that you should be compensated for what is now clearly an error on their part