Hi all,

I'm starting to get used to the forums now. Hope someone can confirm my understanding on this.

My GF had a Mint card with a debt of about £3k. It has gone into Default and she is paying a £1 month.

Now this is where it all gets a bit vague.

She thought they has sold the debt to Allied International Credit (UK) Ltd, so we CCA'd them on August 10th 2009. They replied a week later saying they are acting on behalf of Mint and were unable to comply with the CCA request. They gave the address for Mint (RBS) for us to request a CCA. They kept the £1 postal order and said they would refund in 7 days, but never got anything.

Now have letter from APEX Credit Management Ltd dated 18/9/09, saying that they have been instructed by their client, I assume AIC, to pursue this. Stating that their Client has been unable to contact us. We have been paying a £1 per month.

Therefore I did the following on Monday :

1. Wrote to Mint (RBS) with the CCA request

2. Replied to AIC stating that I have writted to RBS requesting the CCA and that they take no further action.

3. Replied to APEX stating that I have writted to RBS requesting the CCA and that they take no further action.

Yesterday I received a letter from APEX, must have crossed in the post, a letter dated 25/9/09 that their client has requested they commence proceedings to recover the debt and I need to contact them within 72 hours. Bearing in mind my letter yesterday, I assume I am covered there. I also reminded APEX that I sent a CCA request to AIC which they rejected and therefore it was clear AIC did not have it, therefore until a CCA is produced APEX should not take any further action.

How have I done ? Good or bad ?

Thanks, S.

any news

Nothing yet, but I plan to keep the forum updated, as I will need the advice.

What you have here is a game of pass the parcel.

RBS still own the alleged debt, and are giving various DCAs a crack at getting the funds from yourself - and believe me these companies will do and say anything to attempt to get funds out of you as they operate on a commission basis only.

The threats of legal action are the majority of times just that, an attempt to scare you into parting with money. They very, very, very rarely result in any action because it would be the responsibility of the creditor (i.e. RBS) to instigate legal action, as the DCA does not own the alleged debt they have no right to bring proceedings.

OK, what i'm going to suggest is writing to AIC stating that you'll report them to the Office Of Fair Trading, if you do not receive written confirmation from them that they are passing your £1 onto the Royal Bank Of Scotland for the purposes of the s78(1) request under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, or refunding the fee immediately by return post. The funds were not a payment towards the account as outlined by the letter.

Creditors such as RBS are under a duty to treat customers in financial difficulty with understanding as outlined in the British Banking Code, you have come to an understanding with the bank in paying £1 a month. However they are employing the services of some unsavioury DCAs to try and turn the screw and get more money. If you get badgered anymore by the DCAs or RBS I would consider contacting your local trading standards department to ask for their assistance, likewise DCAs normally back off if you inform them that you are reporting their behaviour to the OFT - and od it.

You no doubt have found that DCAs like to use the phone, they put the pressure on by phoning multiple times a day, making all manner of threats and trying to apply pressure to get more money out of people. This is obviously a criminal act of harassment, which not only goes against Law by OFT guidelines.

Here's something that would be good for you to familiarise yourself with, the OFT debt collection guidance on unfair practices. Normally DCAs disregard it..... but its what governs their industry.

These companies fully try to exploit peoples lack of knowledge to twist their arm, sometimes by illegal means. You wouldn't get RBS phoning you multiple times a day, but they're quite happy for outside companies they contract to harass you contrary to law and guidelines.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

I've dealt with Mint, AIC, Apex so if you need any further advice just let me know.

Enron,

Thank you for your post, it is very enlightening.

Ok, i've not heard anything more from AIC/APEX.

But I did fire a CCA to RBS(Mint), which in hindsight it would have been better for me to go back through AIC/APEX with your comments.

Anyway, when I sent the letter to RBS I specifically stated "I enclose a postal order in the sum of £1.00, which is the statuatory fee. Note that these funds are not to be used for any other purpose".

Their response :

My questions now are :

1. The agreement is dated Jan 2003, but I can find no record of any payments being made and the account appears (from my Credit report) to have gone into default on December 2004. If no payments have been made since December 2004, does the debt meet the statute of limitations in December 2010 if no payments are applied to the account in 6 years ?

2. There have been payments of £1 a month paid to AIC/APEX, but these do not seem to appear on the account or listed on the credit file?

3. Enclosed with the letter was :

• A Photocopy of the Application form signed and dated in 2003 by me, stamped by RBS Advanta. It does not detail any Credit Limit and it does not show any Interest Rate.
  
• The Photocopied Terms and Conditions state at the top "Credit Agreement Regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974", however in a box below it is detailed "This is a copy of your agreement for you to keep. It includes a notice about your cancellation rights which you should read". Does this constitute the correct Terms and Conditions they should have provided, as they do not appear to be those as required by the CCA 1974 ? The quality of the photocopy of the Application Form and T&C's are of a much different quality.
  
• A letter that seems to be the one provided when a card is issued, as it details "I am pleased to enclose your replacement MINT credit card......", this is not dated. However it is attached to "Credit Card Agreement regulated by the CCA 1974".
  
• A copy of their General Conditions
  
• Statement of account
  

Any ideas on which way to go ?

Thanks, S.