hi guys apologies if im posting in the wrong place or not following the correct procedure etc but here goes ..

Today i received a letter from acs law demanding money as apparently i have illegally file shared a cd

certainly not aware that ive done this nor do i even use the program mentioned in the letter

they are demanding £500 from me

in the letter it claims that they have obtained proof via a report from isp however i contacted my isp as soon as id finished reading the letter and was told that they have had no correspondence with this firm whatsoever they're advice was to just ignore it.

After reading conflicting msgs online as to what i should do im now extremely stressed and anxious and worried that i am now going to be hounded for money i dont have for something i havent done

other sites suggest sending a letter of denial but from what ive seen this sometimes just encourages more nasty letters and threats of legal action

ive contacted the trading standards guys who gave me some phone numbers who just told me to get some legal advice and speak to the local citizens advice bureau

i really dont think they're gonna be much help though

i wondered what others experiences with this situation are and what i can expect

has anyone successfully managed to get them to back off ?

i am disabled and living on benefits

i cannot afford a long and costly legal battle

nor can i afford the £500 this firm is demanding i pay to make this go away

i will certainly not pay for something ive not done!!!!

thanks in advance guys

You are one of many people who has received this letter. Have a look at this thread, read through it and send a letter of denial.

The only cases they have won are by default where no one has defended the case. I think it is just a way to get money out of people.

ACS Law thread here,

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collection-industry/198192-acs-law.html

thankyou i probably should have adressed my problem on that thread sorry

sounds like "[problem]" to me

Personally i would send them a letter of denial which i am sure is in the ACS law thread somewhere. You will have to read through it though.

It does sound like a ploy to extract money from internet users by threatening court action.

Davenport Lyons did the same thing last year then Watchdog did a report on them and they dropped it like a hot potato.

I will have a look and see if i can find it for you.

Here you go i found it.

BBC - Watchdog: Davenport Lyons - threatening letters

thanks very much for ur help

Hi guys I just wanted to inform you of the following:

Andrew Crossley has been reffered to a disiplinary tribunal.

He is a **** bag and a horrible man who has scared many innocent people into paying for something they have not done.

If you do or have received any letters from ACS: LAW, DO NOT PAY A PENNEY!!!!!!

It wont let me post a link but type in google ACS LAW TRIBUNAL and select the one on isp preview dot co dot u k

more info there