How do I deal with debt collection agency- JCA, East Sussex

pooraschurchmice

Hi

The threads I've read about DCA's all appear to deal with bank or CC debts. I have a debt with a building contractor so I'm not sure whether the same rules apply about asking to see letter of assignment and original CCA. so I need your advice.

Through a phone call out of the blue, I've discovered my debt has been passed on to JCA. i've had nothing from the building contractor to inform me of this.

The letter says "we have been instructed by xxx" and I've asked for proof that this is the case. He says he does n't need !!!!!!, check his website and if I don't pay up..see you in court etc. when I phoned him this morning - he did not identify himself and was very cagey and I get the feeling from the way forum members have been dealt with by other DCA's, that this may be a one man band. When told him I had not been informed that my original creditor had sold on my debt, he told me he had not bought the debt; he was a debt collection agency, and according to him very few DCA buy the debts. This is not what I've picked up from this forum. Can anyone advise:

• Anyone heard of JCA Associates, East Sussex? Are they ligit?
• What's the difference between buying the debt and 'being instructed'?
• Am I right to ask for proof that the debt has been transferred or at least they have the authority to act on behalf of the building contractor? or will the court just think it's delaying tactics, as he claimed?
• Do the same things apply regarding asking for assignment/ original CCA etc as the credit card debts I see on the forum.
• any other advice? the debt is not huge £2600 + £240 costs, and I had already confrimed with original contractor that I should be in a position to repay in July/August once I've remortgaged.

Now what?

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

tell him you will not be paying him and you wish no further contact ,
if your happy to pay the debt then contact the builder by writing and explain also say you will not be paying a collection agency if they are awkward then state you will see them in court and will pay the bill when ordered to by the court , you say you will have the funds july and august make sure you can afford to remortgage ?? so tell them to wait or take you to court , if you go to court admit pay in full with in the month you will not get a cj on your credit file .

pooraschurchmice

thanks.

I thought when a company passed on their debt, they washed their hands of it and would not deal direct with me again. I'll try writing to the contractor again. If I do end up having to go to court, will I still have to pay the £240 'statutory interest/debt recovery costs' and will the court add court costs on top of that?