DCA Query

[tomba90]

Hi,

A little help required, A firm has contacted me about a debt a was un-aware of having from 02 dating back two years.

My query is they want the money but have not given any detail as to what they are for, I hve conacted 02 and it looks as though there are unpaid debt but I dont agree with the amount

Any ideas ???

[lookinforinfo]

Send an Subject Access Request to 02 which will give you details of the debt and what charges
have been added over the years [some may well be unlawful and therefore
reclaimable]. You should also find from the documents you receive if 02 have sold on the debt and from that you will see if the debt collector has added
theri own charges [they shouldn't have].
Write and tell the DCA what you are doing as you do not agree the debt figure, and for them to accept the letter as a notice of dispute, which prevents any further action from being taken until the dispute is settled.

	Subject Access Request A Subject Access Request is a demand which you can make to any organisation to disclose any personal information which they hold on you. The right to disclosure of data is provided by the Data Protection Act. There is no time limit. The organisation is obliged to reveal everything they have about you - which you ask for - as far back as you ask for. There are very few exceptions. It does not matter whether the data is held on microfiche, in an archive, on tape, in a cardex system, in sound recordings or in screen notes. Some companies are saying that they do not have to disclose where it would be difficult to do so - "disproportionate effort". This is untrue. Disproportionate effort refers to something else under the Act. If you are seeking bank charges information then you should ask for "all data held on you" and you should make it clear that you want everything as far back as it goes. Do not be put off by excuses. Do not accept being fobbed off. It is not in your bank's interest to make full disclosure to you. This means that it is in your interests to get it. If you have not started gathering your bank charges information yet, then you should start now. There will soon be a big rush once the OFT test case has been settled. Get all of your bank account informtion as far back as possible. At least as far back as 1995. If your bank says that they don't keep data as far back as this, don't accept it. Be persistent. They've got what you need in some form or other.

	Debt collection library Follow this link to our debt collection library. This library contains templates and advice for dealing with debt collectors who act oppressively or unfairly. This library is work in progress and will be built up over the next few weeks. 17.03.09