Thanks for that. I have told her she needs to speak to a solicitor as a matter of urgency.

Does this then stop the 3 yr statutory limitation clock running? Thank for your help.

Almost 3 years ago (exactly on the 19/7/05) my mother had an operation at the Bradford NHS Hospital. Unfortunately they cocked up the op AND she contracted MRSA. I lived abroad at the time and she did not tell me anything about it. But she asked me last night if I could start the ball rolling on legal proceedings cos time is running out (3 year statute of Limitations). I was horrified when she told me the 3 years was almost up. She has just had a 2 stage corrective surgery in another PCT area and is currently bed bound. The initial flawed surgery curtailed her ability to walk and get about quite considerably. Even the corrective surgery may not help. we have to wait and see. Please can someone advise me what I have to do? Do I send them a Notice of Intention to bring proceedings? Is there a draft cos i have no idea at all. HELP!!!!!!!?:?:?

Send an email to the CEO's office - it worked for me. The acting CEO is Neil Berkett. I have found his office very helpful and got a response within 24 hours. pm me if you want his email, i won't post it willynilly. Good luck.

Complain straight to the CEO's office. Google the name of the CEO, write to him/her and give them the history, dates, times etc, the fact that you have requested their complaints procedure but it has not been forthcoming etc. I did this with Virgin and received a response by email then phone call from the CEO;s office within 24 hours.

What motivation is there for them to accept your offer? You seem to be a good payer. In time they can get it all back. Only chance they'll accept is if they want a quick settlement of if they have no CCA. Remember, they may accept a partial settlement and then do the dirty and sell the remainder on. Some of them ARE that low. I'd CCA them first, it will make them more amenable if they can't get hold of the paperwork.

Please can you advise how you got the total reduced in the past?

New letter drafted and will go off tomorrow. Isn't this just sooooo much fun?! Lets see who will blink first. Bets anyone?

Marvellous! Thanks guys. I have heard nothing from Fredricksons at all since I reminded them that they had not complied. Now this out of the blue. At least the new CCA will stop them in their tracks. I shall send the other letter as recommended by Percy above or the Scarlet Pimpenel as we all know and love him. I love this site - restores my faith in mankind. Oh, and has anyone noticed, we all get these blasted sh*tty letters on a Friday when there is really not much we can do but fret over the weekend? Its a tactic by these creeps. ;)

OK, well got a nasty pay up or else letter today from.......Robinson Way in Salford AND its for over £3k more. Looks like Fredrickson threw in the towel. They are threatening Court Proceedings if there is no response within 10 days (note the letter was dated 19th December 2007 so I have only just got it!!!!!). I have CCA'd them and sent it special delivery. So, what do I need to know about this group of lowlife's? Any advice anyone, or successes to tell? I'm really depressed about this. Bummer. Crappy New Year everyone!!!

If you are complaining, try an email to the acting CEO Neil Berkett. he has a very impressive CV, and has been in the temp role of acting CEO since August after CEO Steve Burch left the company at short notice and returned to the US. Prior to being acting CEO he was COO - Chief Operating Officer. I did and I had a response quite quickly and they are looking into things for me. I understand he is trying to implement a "do less properly" strategy whilst they are seeking a replacement. For debt issues email Steve Wrench, Head of Debt Management. A very nice approachable man who seems to want to help. I can pm those who who wish their contact addresses. And a word of advice - when you go to the top, be as polite as possible. It gets you further.

DO NOT touch Virgin. Their customer service is the worst by quite a long way and if you have a problem they will pursue you to the end of the earth when they have done something wrong and you try and cancel. Experience has shown they are not on a level with you and will do and/or say anything to get a contract then not honour it properly.

Its been ages since I posted, but I gotta tell you all about this one. Now I know its not broadband or internet but it IS Virgin Media and they have driven me to distraction. I moved house. Can't get Sky in my area so arranged (against my better judgement) to have Virgin installed as they were the local cable provider. I paid extra for a Saturday install. The Saturday (Dec 1st) arrived - VM rang - can't do install cos problem under road with the cable. They turned up to repair it 9 days later and we asked for another instal. Told 4th January - told them NO, its before xmas or not at all. After loads of phone calls they said they would install on the 21st but the cable had to be pulled through to the house. That would be done on the 20th. On the 21st, the engineers turned up - can't do the install cos the cable had been pulled through at the wrong address, a street away - right house number but wrong street DOH!!!! And the repair done the previous week had not been done properly and the road needed digging up again. We went bonkers. They said they would come and check over the weekend and then either visit us on Monday (xmas eve) or call us. Guess what? They did neither. We tried ringing them and they said emails would be sent to the various people concerned. No response. So we rang them again first thing this morning. More emails were to be sent cos they could not get hold of the people concerned. By 3.30pm I lost my rag with it all and the bother and rang and cancelled. They have promised to refund me my money for the V+ box but I don't know if they will be true to their word. I have emailed Neil Berkett, acting CEO, Steven Burch CEO and Steven Wrench head of Collections - just because I am sooooooooo angry and I want someone to apologise for mucking us around sooooo badly. I am still seething. Rant Over.

You need to be sure that these DCA's actually have the right to collect. Read some other posts and you will see that the first step is to ask them for a copy of the agreement. Without it they cannot enforce any debt. You will find it in Letters and Templates - letter N. Send it with a £1 P.O to each DCA. They have strict timelimits to comply with this. If they can't then they can't enforce the agreement. Can you clarify what each of the debts are so that we can ensure that you are given the best advice? i.e. credit card, loan etc with whom and when taken out? When was the last payment made on each and have you spoken to the DCA's or written to them recently? NEVER EVER SPEAK TO THEM! There are some great people on CAG - I have had tons of help from these fabulous people.

Ah so Grasshopper - you are so wise. (Please don't tell me you are too young to know what I am going on about! )