MIL collections wrongly trying to collect debt

GDB2222

theartfullodger said:

Take court  action for harassment.   A criminal offence.

Why is this harassment? And are you saying that the op should make a private prosecution? Really?!

Fdbjg123

eddddy said:

Connells are members of the Property Ombudsman Scheme.

So one approach is to make a complaint to Connells, and if they don't resolve the matter, make a complaint to the Property Ombudsman.  (Assuming the Ombudsman agrees with you, the Ombudsman can tell Connells to cancel the bill.)

See: https://www.tpos.co.uk/consumers/how-to-make-a-complaint


There's no charge for making a complaint to the Ombudsman, plus the process is a bit more 'consumer friendly' than a court, and the Ombudsman tends to side more with a consumer than a court would.

But if you want to go down that route, maybe you need to act quickly, before Connells starts a court claim against you. Once court action is started, the Ombudsman won't consider a complaint.

I’ve gone ahead and complained to Shipways and Connells. Hoping I’ll get somewhere with this today as no response from MIL collections as of yet. I just want it sorted as it’s stressing me out. 

Fdbjg123

Quick question. I just noticed the email was addressed to ‘Sir/Madam’. Is that a red flag that they don’t even know my name? They didn’t provide any proof of the debt just stated connells sent them based on that they supposedly introduced my buyer. I’m worried I gave them info I shouldn’t have because surely connells would’ve told them my name? 

eddddy

Fdbjg123 said:

Quick question. I just noticed the email was addressed to ‘Sir/Madam’. Is that a red flag that they don’t even know my name? They didn’t provide any proof of the debt just stated connells sent them based on that they supposedly introduced my buyer. I’m worried I gave them info I shouldn’t have because surely connells would’ve told them my name? 

The 'Sir/Madam' is probably just an indication that they cut & paste the same email content each time, or the emails are computer generated (and they haven't bothered merging in names). Connells have almost certainly given them your name anyway.

Fdbjg123

Just wanted to update that it’s all sorted. Connells told MIL to cancel the ‘debt’ as they checked and my buyer wasn’t the same person that they had introduced. Happy days 👍🏼

steeve26

I was approached by MIL Collections in December 2022 alleging that I owed an estate agent money (£4050) for  nonpayment of an outstanding estate agency debt. I contested the matter and took it up with the Property Ombudsman. I was awarded modest damages of £400 against one of the estate agents concerned and another £100 awarded against a second agent.
I reported MIL Collections to their trade body, the Credit Services Association in Newcastle  and went through four different levels of complaint culminating in a complaint to their CEO. MIL Collections were found to have done very little wrong, and what they were found to have done wrong (not following the correct complaints procedure) had  more to do with protecting MIL Collections and their reputation with the FCA than with giving me redress. I also complained to their then independent Chair but with no success. I based my complaints around the failings of MIL Collections in not following their Code of Practice and misinterpreting their own Code, amongst other things.
I have found out many inconsistencies with the CSA, their Code of Practice and how they interpret their Code Of Practice! The CSA is a trade association which does everything to protect its members