mckenzie hall, need help please

grumbleweed2

Im new around here and I need some help, sorry if this is in the wrong place.
My daughter ran up a debt (about £150) with a mobile company using my address (she hasn't lived here for two years). We got many letters from the copay whilst she was being a silly teenager and phoned and sent letters saying she didn't live here any more, and told them her address. The letter kept coming. In the end we returned them 'return to sender, no longer at this address'. She told us about 12 months ago that she had settled the debt and has a a letter saying so. We heard no more.

Then one month ago we start getting very curt calls from mckenzie hall, initially it took us a while to get the message to hear who was calling. We looked them up on the internet and realsied they were a debt recovery agency, and assumed it was to do with the phone bill. They call often, and insists that she calls them back as a matter of urgency, and leaves a number and reference number. We have listened and listened and we cant make out the reference number. Today I took the bull by the horns and rang them back, wanting to explain that she hasn't lived here for two years , and what is the debt anyway.

they respond
cant do anyhting without a reference number

I try to explain that I cant hear it
they respond
cant do anyhting without a reference number

I try to explain that the person they want doesn't live here any more and Im sick of being harassed
they respond
cant do anyhting without a reference number

I suggest that THEY leave the messages wanting calls returned.
they respond
call back when you have arefence number!!!

What do I do? I am sick of these calls, my daughter has a metal health problem and she wouldn't cope with them on the phone so I don't want her to call them, we cant write to them because we don't know the !!!!!!! reference number.

In the meantime, i am scared out of my wits that they are going to come banging on the door any moment, and I am woried that this will affect my credit rating as its at our address.

What the hell do I do?

thanks

RAS

Welcome

grumbleweed2 wrote: »

Im new around here and I need some help, sorry if this is in the wrong place.

You are in the right place ok. We specialise in MH - a dozen queries this week already?

My daughter ran up a debt (about £150) with a mobile company using my address (she hasn't lived here for two years).

When did the debt arise?- it matters as MH specialise in old debts that cannot legally be recovered. They bully people into paying them despite this.

We got many letters from the copay whilst she was being a silly teenager and phoned and sent letters saying she didn't live here any more, and told them her address. The letter kept coming. In the end we returned them 'return to sender, no longer at this address'. She told us about 12 months ago that she had settled the debt and has a a letter saying so. We heard no more.

Then one month ago we start getting very curt calls from mckenzie hall, initially it took us a while to get the message to hear who was calling. We looked them up on the internet and realsied they were a debt recovery agency, and assumed it was to do with the phone bill. They call often, and insists that she calls them back as a matter of urgency, and leaves a number and reference number. We have listened and listened and we cant make out the reference number.

Sorry this is not your responsibility. Once you have told MH DD not longer lives her hareessing you regarding her debt is out of order.

Today I took the bull by the horns and rang them back, wanting to explain that she hasn't lived here for two years , and what is the debt anyway.

they respond
cant do anyhting without a reference number

I try to explain that I cant hear it
they respond
cant do anyhting without a reference number

I try to explain that the person they want doesn't live here any more and Im sick of being harassed
they respond
cant do anyhting without a reference number

I suggest that THEY leave the messages wanting calls returned.
they respond
call back when you have arefence number!!!

So do not ring them back. We will find you a letter to tell them to go away. They will not like it but tough.

What do I do? I am sick of these calls, my daughter has a metal health problem and she wouldn't cope with them on the phone so I don't want her to call them, we cant write to them because we don't know the !!!!!!! reference number.

We would not recommend this shower to anyone who was feeling robust, so we understand your concerns.

Even if your daughter ran up the debt in the last 6 years, it is quite possible that the necessary paperwork was not done and MH cannot do anything. Actually, I cant think of any instance when someone here was really liable for a debt that MH were chasing. Others may know otherwise, but I can't think of one.

In the meantime, i am scared out of my wits that they are going to come banging on the door any moment, and I am woried that this will affect my credit rating as its at our address.

They cannot do that and as long as the debt is in your daughter's name, it does not affect your credit rating (unless you have joint accounts).

What the hell do I do?

Go get a nice cup of tea, or something stronger, make supper and relax. it will be OK.

Zebedee69

Hello Grumbleweed,

First thing first dont pannick about your credit rating. There is a section on your daughters rating called "Gone Away Information Network" or "GAIN" as its shortened to. Its for people who move address to try and get away from paying bills etc etc. Your rating wont even come into the figures. The real issue is the pain in the !!! thats dealing with debt agencies!

Is it possible to get the number from your daughter? Or if you dont want to go that route you could try and get a younger member of your family listen to the call and get the number?

I think if you get the number you could nip this in the bud. Failing that could you send a letter thretening reporting them for harasement if they do not cease calling you?...

They are probably just trying to catch you out by ringing constantly. Thats the way debt companies work.

grumbleweed2

Thanks
My daughter has had no contact from MH as they always call here. She has only the original contact with the mobile phone company. I have their phone number (MH) but not their address, and even if I wrote to them, wouldn't I need the soddin (oops sorry) reference number that they keep bleating on about?
Do I just ignore it all then, and will it therefore go away? I feel Ive done everything I can and I really don't want my daughter to have to deal with this, quite frankly its frightening me to the point where I wont answerr the phone in case its them.

grumbleweed2

Sorry RAS, i use a screen reader and found it difficult to pick out your response.

Larumbelle

I'm not an expert, but I'm sure the cavalry will be along even as I write this letter.

What this company is doing is bullying, it is harrassment, it is morally wrong and also legally wrong. They also have an, ahem, 'reputation' that precedes them. It's not a good one.

There IS something they can do without a reference number - that is - STOP CONTACTING YOU.

Tell them this when they call. Or contact CAB, trading standards, the OFT or all three. Remember to log every time they call, what they say, what the voice was like (male, female, etc) and what you reply to them. Tell them you are doing this.

I wonder whether my mother's strategy for dealing with pervy phonecalls (blow a whistle down the phone as long and loud as you can) would help?!

Good luck and I hope you get this sorted. x

Edited to add: yup, cavalry were already here...

RAS

Please do not apologise. Just say and we can fix it.

You are in the right place ok. We specialise in MH - a dozen queries this week already?

When did the debt arise?- it matters as MH specialise in old debts that cannot legally be recovered. They bully people into paying them despite this.

Sorry it is not your responsibility to deal with MH. Once you have told MH that DD not longer lives with you, haressing you regarding her debt is out of order. You are NOT obliged to pass on her contact details.

Do not ring them back. We will find you a letter to tell them to go away. They will not like it but tough.

We would not recommend this shower to anyone who was feeling robust, so we understand your concerns about them ringing your daughter.

Even if your daughter ran up the debt in the last 6 years, it is quite possible that the necessary paperwork was not done and MH cannot do anything. Actually, I cant think of any instance when someone here was really liable for a debt that MH were chasing. Others may know otherwise, but I can't think of one.

If they were to visit your house, they could not come in, if they did not leave you could get the police to remove them and they would be guilty of haressment of the first order.

As long as the debt is in your daughter's name, it does not affect your credit rating (unless you have joint accounts).

grumbleweed2

thankyou
So if I write them a letter, what do I say, how will they connect me to my daughter without said reference.
I really am to scared to answer the phone as I really don't want to speak to them.

RAS

Ref. Your telephone number

Following recent phone calls from your company to the telephone number above, I require ALL communications cease.

I have explained repeatedly that the person you wish to contact does not live at this address. Do not contact me again by any means and remove this telephone number from your systems.

Your repeated communications are in breach of the Office of Fair Trading guidelines which forbids pressing for action with a person other than the debtor and the Data Protection Act, which forbids discussions with a third party.

If you continue with these calls after the receipt of this letter an official complaint, together with a log recording the times and frequency of the calls and copies of all corrspondence will be passed both to that office and to the Trading Standards office, the OFT and the Information Commisioner. For your information note that ALL telephone calls are now taped.

This type of debt collection method is contrary to the ‘Administration of Justice Act 1970’ in that it is intended to cause alarm and distress to the recipient. A formal complaint, containing copies of all correspondence including yours, will be submitted to the relevant authorities listed above if there is any further communication from your company. This will be relevant to questions of your fitness to hold a licence under the Consumer Credit Act, whether or not it results in a prosecution.

Take further note that continued telephone calls after the receipt of a request not to call may constitute a criminal offence under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

I trust that I have made myself understood on this matter,

Yours faithfully,

You might want to point out how you feel "its frightening me to the point where I wont answer the phone in case its them"and that as someone with visual impairment, the telephone is vital to you.

Ferreting for the postal address. Will be back

RAS

Mh
30 The Foregate
Kilmarnock
Ka1 1lu

grumbleweed2

many thanks RAS, I shall be sending that tomorrow. Should I also include my daughters name or just the phone number?