Bishop Investigations anyone?

[Cymraeg]

Received a letter from these people threatening bankruptcy proceedings against me for a debt I really cannot remember or recognise.
Allegedly from Connaught Collections through 1st Credit via BOS (no confusing tactics then!)

So I phoned them and asked them for an address.
"One moment I'll put you thru to Connaught now" (so Bishops and Connaught one and same)

"I believe I can send you a request in writing with a £1 and you must send me a copy of the original agreement" I enquired
"No need , I'll send you that out straight away.The account is now on hold.Bye" came the reply.
Had a message on answer phone when I returned later to say "there was a problem with my request, please call us back"
Outside their hours by then so haven't yet.

Anyone had anything/any dealings with these people ?
If the initial call hadn't been so abrupt he may have got chance to get my new address , but he rung off a bit quick.

Reading another thread , can bankruptcy only be, realistically ,for a 5 figure sum ?
Are these major scare tactics?

I saw a report recently on something like Watchdog I think where a DCA was sweeping an area with everyone of the same name in the hope of getting a hit. Could this be happening here me thinks.

All replies appreciated.

[pfens]

Hi Cymraeg, have had dealings with Connaught. Sent me the standard 'GOING TO MAKE YOU BANKRUPT' letter from them back in September of last year. This related to a LloydsTSB accdount and loan. Wrote back with a CCA request. Within 7 days had a letter back saying that they do not hold/have that sort of information but would pass my request onto the relevant party. Now in February and still waiting. One thing does your letter state that they have bought the debt or are acting on behalf of the client?

[NailPost]

Send them the CCA letter. It'll cost you a quid. Send it recorded delivery. That's another quid. If there's a problem their end then that's their hard luck. They have 12-working days to comply. After that they will need a court order to enforce any threats they might make. If they don't produce the required documents within a calendar month they commit a criminal offence. They would be very unlikely to take legal action after that because a judge would take a dim view of their failure to comply with a lawful request.

[diskmandave]

Originally Posted by NailPost

Send them the CCA letter. It'll cost you a quid. Send it recorded delivery. That's another quid. If there's a problem their end then that's their hard luck. They have 12-working days to comply. After that they will need a court order to enforce any threats they might make. If they don't produce the required documents within a calendar month they commit a criminal offence. They would be very unlikely to take legal action after that because a judge would take a dim view of their failure to comply with a lawful request.

NailPost, correct me if i'm wrong, but whilst in default the agreement can't be enforced at all, even in court?? To be re-enforced the agreement would need to be produced in acceptable form (at whatever stage), and then it would be upto the judge or an out of court agreement between the two parties.

Certainly send the CCA request though! By Recorded Delivery.

Regards, Dave.

[Cymraeg]

Thanks all for your replies.
Bishops say that they've been instructed by Connaught via 1st credit through BOS so no real allocation of where it's actually coming from or who it's still with.
I'll send the CCA request off with my quid and see what happens.
Thanks again.

[Smoothy]

This seems very similar to other cases. See this one.
Im wondering if some mass complaint about the way they proceed regarding debt collection could be made to OFT.
Ill do some more digging.
Smoothy