HELP Cabot / Ruthbrdge -New Approach?

[Thebhoy]

Have raised several complaints with local TS about being harassed by DCA's for someone else's debts - they have similar name and same date of birth but live about 350 miles away.

Cabot / Ruthbridge being one party.

Have heard nothing for about five weeks from the DCA's and no update from TS who said they were raising it with the OFT.

Have just found a letter that arrived yesterday and wife didn't think much of (left it beside my pc).

I just picked it up and recognised the address immediately.

The letter is as follows...

The Occupier
(My Address)

EXPRESS DELIVERY

URGENT

PLEASE CONTACT THE UNDERSIGNED
IMMEDIATELY
ON TELEPHONE NUMBER

020 xxxx xxxx

QUOTING REFERENCE NO: XXXXXXXX

All calls will be charged at the national rate

Yours sincerely,

xxxx xxxxxxx

Miss xxxx xxxxxxx
OPERATION CONTROLLER

XXX THEIR ADDRESS XXX

Have checked the reference number etc with previous letters received and as per my complaint to the TS - they are the same.

My understanding is that this is in direct breach of OFT guidelines and, as I have previously informed them both verbally and in writing that they have the wrong person, a violation of OFT in relation to a disputed debt.

Any suggestions on next step would be VERY VERY welcome.

[gni03349]

Just ignore it, but keep it for future evidence to hit them with a harrassment letter, and also keep a note of all and correspondence (letters, phone calls etc). There is nothing they can do except inconvenience you, but let them dig their own hole, that they are already digging with you and countless other people.

As its nothing to do with you, you have no obligation to reply to them and waste your time and the cost of postage. Others will pop in though and give you advice, some of which might be to send a CCA letter (dont worry about this just yet though, unless you want to search on some other threads to see the process that is involved). IF you send a CCA letter, and they respond with some kind of "evidence", they have broken the Data Protection laws by supplying you with somebody elses information (ie. they didn't take reasonable care in safeguarding any data they have). This is when the fun really begins, if you want, even if its nothing to do with you.

Hope this little snippet helps... at least until somebody else comes in on this
.

Regards

[42man]

You are right...this is against OFT's guidelines on debt collection, and it sounds similar to mine....(from Ruthbridge) - I had heard that these jokers were under investigation...I am just about to send their information to everybody, as they have ignored averything I have requested, CCA, relevant details, and their complaints procedure (they obviously don't have one).....

[gni03349]

I just noticed that they addressed it to "The Occupier". Thats a load of crap if ever I saw it. How could they possibly send a letter like this stating express delivery etc etc, if they dont even know who this express delivery is for.. lol. Biggest load of bow larks I've seen today (seen bigger on here, but that was before lol).

Just one thing - DONT communicate with them in any way. If they call and try the data protection ruse on you, refuse to answer any questions regarding their so called data-protection, and hang up on them, but note the time date of the call.

[Thebhoy]

Thanks for the heads up.

I have already had meetings with my MP about them and others, have been dealing with different DCA's etc for about 7 years because of the other person and have found the info available here fantastic. (wish I had found it years ago instead of just a couple of months ago).

Had considered the CCA approach but held back as had sent letters highlighting they were wrong and it is now with the TS.

Just thought this latest 'letter' to the occupier, failing to state who they actually are, not mentioned on the 'letter' is another serious breach of OFT rules.

I was lucky to have found this as it is another to add to my file - nearly got away as the wife would have shredded it tomorrow.

Thanks agin for the heads up,

Thebhoy

[42man]

Section 2.2 from the OFT's guidance on debt collection...

UNFAIR PRACTICES

c. those contacting debtors not making clear who they are, who
they work for, what their role is, what the purpose of the

contact is

f. pursuing third parties for payment when they are not liable

2.8 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:

i. failing to investigate and/or provide details as appropriate, when a debt is

queried or disputed, possibly resulting in debtors being wrongly pursued

MAKE SURE YOU REPORT THIS COMPANY.....AND FOLLOW IT THROUGH...

(and keep us posted)

[Thebhoy]

Thanks again,

Have complaints in about this crowd and also Lowell and AK.

Will be following up with more for posting Tuesday.

Will keep all updated.

Cheers,

thebhoy

[Thebhoy]

Has anyone else experienced this type of approach from this company?

[gni03349]

Look here... a thread with Cabot related information

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...t-threads.html

Regards

[Thebhoy]

Thanks again.

It was through my initial research in Cabot / Ruthbridge a few months ago that I stumbled upon this site - this was after I had telephoned, sent letters to them, spoke to various other organisations and had been to visit my MP.
It is a pity none of them pointed me in the direction of this site as it has been more helpful and useful than the others put together.

The letter received on Friday, as per my first post in this thread, is a new take on it for me - as the property belongs to my mother-in-law it was her who was in receipt of it as it was addressed to The Occupier.

I have thought about phoning them and when they ask me my name answering with The Occupier and then going down the line of demanding information from them seeing as they sent ME the letter urging me to contact them immediately.

Downside is that when I telephoned them the first time I received a threatogram from them, and being based about 12 miles away, I was of the frame of mind to go door knocking afterwards

Don't want to do anything 'silly' now

Well, actually, I do!

But I won't YET.

[42man]

If you are going to phone them RECORD your conversations as they WILL lie to coerce you into paying....

[Thebhoy]

They have a snowballs chance in hell of getting me to pay them anything as it's not my debt

But while they are harassing me, the guy with the real debt is closer to having it statute barred as they will have run out of time -I assume.

[ODC]

Phone them from a call box. Give a ficticious name and change the reference number. Imagine the probs you will cause them each time they ring a call box and speak to some random member of the public. Of course there are plenty of 'other' phone numbers you could give them

[Thebhoy]

When I had their first letter months ago I did call them and gave them my phone number willingly as I knew it wasn't my debt.
The To$$er then got a bit narked when I refused to give him my mobile number - he was basically told to go copulate with himself.

I had followed up with letter and complaint to TS when the threatograms kept coming with each one stating the have tried to phone me many many times.

I thought that was nice of them to admit they were harassing me when the debt was disputed -verbally and in writing and their actions were in direct violation of the OFT guidelines.
This formed a part of my complaint.

This new approach is still a violation as they are sending out a letter to The Occupier, without stating who they are or what it concerns but demanding a call Immediately.

My second complaint will be posted on Tuesday so the more tips I get here the better it will be.

Thanks again to everyone as this is very much appreciated.

[Thebhoy]

Here is my draft letter which I will need to post on Wednesday to TS.

Any suggestions to improve it are very welcome.

Ref: Ruthbridge Ltd – Complaint xxx xxx

Dear Mr xxxx,

Following on from my previous letter and email communication to yourself / your department to raise a complaint in respect of Ruthbridge Ltd., Ruthbridge House, 15 London Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 3ST.

I now enclose a further letter received on Friday the 2nd of May, addressed to the occupier at my address and in clear violation of the OFT guidelines in relation to Debt Collection.

These violations are as outlined below;

OFT Guidelines:

Communication

2.1 It is unfair to communicate, in whatever form, with consumers in an
unclear, inaccurate or misleading manner.

c. Those contacting debtors not making clear who they are, who they work
for, what their role is, what the purpose of the contact is.

The letter received does not state who the sender works for, the purpose of the letter and is misleading and deliberately vague in the message title – EXPRESS DELIVERY, in the sub heading – URGENT, and in the main body of text requesting the recipient immediately contacts the sender by telephone.

False representation of authority and/or legal position

2.4 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:

f. Pursuing third parties for payment when they are not liable

h. Ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are
disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment.

This company has previously been advised verbally and in writing that they are harassing the wrong person, they chose to ignore this and continue to send communications / threats.
A complaint has been raised with TS in respect of this and is still being dealt with.
By their actions in continuing to send communications, albeit done in an underhand way, to my address whilst this complaint is ongoing is again in direct breach of OFT guidelines.


Deceptive and /or unfair methods

2.7 Dealings with debtors are not to be deceitful and/or unfair.

2.8 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:

k. Not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt.

The nature of the attached letter is in direct violation of the above as the company is using deceitful and unfair practices within the wording and deliberately vague content attempting to force the recipient into making an unnecessary telephone call.

In sending this letter to the address of an individual who has / is disputing any debt(s) and has communicated this verbally and in written form as well as raise a complaint with the TS this company are once again in direct breach of the OFT guidelines.

I would ask you to investigate this situation as an addition to my current complaint into this company.

I would also be interested to know what actions have been taken, to date, in respect of my complaint and whether you have had any reply back from this company following my complaint.

I look forward to hearing from you soon and thank you for your time in dealing with this serious issue.

Yours,

[42man]

You will get a response, but it'll say something along the lines of 'we are now recommending our client to make you bankrupt etc etc. If you request a copy of their official complaints procedure they don't respond....th