May be worth noting that the Ford Motor Company had a similar issue on the Jaguar X Type. There was a safety recall which involved replacing the automatic handbrake adjust mechanism with a manual one. Although I never had the issue myself, it was believed that the parkbrake could fail. Might it seem that Ford only care when it's cars from thier PAG?

woops - i accidentally wrote to barclaycrime (sorry, barclaycard... must stop getting things muddles up) and told them about some sort comings in thier security policy. i also (purely by accident|) included the date, time, and sender of the email. i got a very nice letter back, asking me to keep this private, to which end I have accidentally posted a message here to warn anyone with a barclaycard account that is passed to a third party to be very vigilant on your credit file. they sent unencrypted data, over public email, to large user groups (including temporary staff).. woops, there i go again... me and my big mouth

i didn't use the CAG template for my claim, but one which was a little more 'harsh'. Whilst many of the CAG folks would probably read it and say 'that's to harsh, you can't say that etc...' it worked, and the reply to my letter was 'Sorry Mr ********* that you complain blah blah blah. Here is the £3000(ish) you have requested we repay'. Job done!

Lets bring these **** down. I cannot post the evidence on the site (as some of it contains personal account details of thier debtors, and unkile barclays bank and the dca in question i value the privacy of the individual) but I used to work for a DCA. i'd like to hear from anyone who has had 1 phone call after the CCA request and subsequent default, or harrassment following requests for this not to happen from either of the following: mercers or equidebt. i have some ammo already against these 2 outfits, but want a little more. we can them make a report to the oft, and try and get these 2 kicked into touch. let's fight back, not winging on a forum, but lets really start using the same Consumer Credit Act that they use to threaten against them. it really is time to show these cowboys that they can either respect people, or suffer.

rings once then dies... perhaps they haven't paid the phone bill, and are being chased for it

Also, as for your inceasing balance, they cannot add charges (lawful, unlawful, interest or even plain fairytale fees) whilst the account is in dispute (ie they have not provided the CCA). As for the default, it has to be for a seperate breach. They cannot use the same missed payment as cause for default. If you missed a payment to each though, then yes technically you have defaulted twice. However, I would suggest that you DO NOT send any further information to them (as their letter appears to request). This is what is know as a dirty trick. You send something which they can use as proof you are acknowledging the debt. These people are sneaky, beware

Is the letter (sorry, document) from a DCA or a County Court? (Note, if its a court it will be stamped). DCA's are not courts, and cannot send letters which 'prentend' to be court documents. Also, who is the DCA in question, jsut out of interest?

Tried to look them up on SayNoTo0870.com (they also list 0845's) and nothing. If you do find out, lets have the name and I will try and source a non revenue generating number for them. Alternatively, I might just call it. I have a few minutes free

Regardless of what they have done, they always appear to $**t themselves when you suggest that you might be recording the conversation. strange, what do they wish to hide i wonder? still, breaches of the DPA are nothing new i am affraid. i used to work for a dca, i will say no more. still, B******* bank isn't any better, sending account information around over public email, not encrypted... woops, did i let the cat out of the bag? Good job i didn't actually mention the bank's name... Is it too much to ask that banks operate within the law and current legislation? now there's a thought...

It's time to report fred west (sorry nat west) to the OFT. Advise the debt collection cowboys that the account is in dispute, and the original creditor had no right to pass the account for action. Advise that they speak to the original creditor, as further calls to you will be treated as harrasment, and reports will be made to the OFT for a breach of the Consumer Credit Act, with further complaints being registered with the police and phone company for harrassment. Also advise that you reserve the right to pursue the dca for damages resulting from stress, as shoudl they ignore your advice you will hold them responsible for thier subsequent actions

what would it be worth to have a link to CAG / Similar Forum included with the initial red letters (or whatever colour letters they have now) sent by DCA's. Does anyone know how tempting it was when i was with equidebt to do this? They had awards of thier own, with strange titles like the 'Mossie Motivator', basically, be rewarded for the number of people you sucker in. Ethical huh. I am in the process of writing to the banks and credit card firms, as well as DCA's. I like the 'Worst bank, Worst dca, dirtiest trick, Poorest service etc ' awards. I will share replied with the group, although i don't imagine it will be much of a read. they probably all think they are crap enough towin outright anyway!

CCA is a request for the Consumer Credit Agreement. Basically, without it there is no debt. They have 14 days to send you an original copy else they are in default. when in default, they cannot legally chase you for the debt, nor can they add interest, as the debt is in dispute. as for mercers, they are a joke. they are part of barclays, and are pretty much just there for effect. Don't worry, they cannot turn up at your house any more than i can, and if they ever did, tell them to move along. if they don't, call the police to do it for you. Soon, the stress will turn into an entertaining game for you. As ObiWan once said 'Strike me down (or send me a nasty letter), and I'll become more powerful than you can possibly imagine', although you will be using more of your consumer rights and UK legislation than you will the force...

HAK - how it works? anything with lloyds tsb associated with it probably doesnt work. they are the 3 biggest joke of a bank around. (only beaten by hsbc, the worlds local bank, although india is not really that local to me, and barclays, who seem to have strange ideas abotu being above the law). lloyds on the other hand, well, a laugh.

Delfi - I did forget to mention, mercers, being part of barclays, are not required to abide by uk legislation. they are above it, and can continue to add interest even if they are in default of your cca. as for the pre legal visit, yes, they have te power to come to your house,gain access, take your possessions and even demand you make them a cup of tea. Yes, my statement is about as valid as thiers. if they turn up,give them 30 seconds to get off your property (more if you have a long driveway, they are slugs after all) after which you call the police. if they sit outside,call the police anyway saying there isa suspicious vehicle outside. barclay, mercer, barclaycard, snotcall (at least i've heard of the other 3) are not really above uk legislation. i woudl also write to the OFT, and request thier Consumer Credit License be reviewed, and revoked if they are found to be in breach. Make sure you tell them this is what you will be doing though, they'll be shocked you know what a CCL is (the person you speak to probably won't)

Go Go Having a Nightmare! lloyds tsb are pretty poor at record keeping, and timekeeping i might add.

tash - this is a case of passing a hot potato. There are many people liable for the money before you, starting with the card holder. If the casrd is stolen, and the use was after the theft was reported, it is down to the card issuer. Failing that, it is down to paypal to prove they took steps to ensure the card was legitimate. It is cheaper and easier to pay robinsons to call you than it is to claim from thier liability insurance, which is exactly what they should do. Don't pay. Like all matters (hence why CCA requests are so popular against DCA's) it is up to paypal to prove you owe them the money, not you to prove you don't. Without this proof, they cannot harrass (nor have thier agents harrass) you, and such action should be reported to the police and telephone company.

Then lets start making the complaints to stop them doing business as they do, if they get closed down, let some of the advisors have debts build up, see how they like being on the receiving end.

woops - a little premature on the submit button there. if 1st credit (yes, i have heard of this outfit too) should prove they have sold the car for a reasonable price, and taken steps to obtain a reasonable amount for it (eg. they cannot sell a car worth 10,000 that you owe 6,000on for 2,000)

Kaz, firstly, how much had you paid on the car? if you have paid half the amount under the agreement, and providing the car is in reasonable condition relative to age and mileage, you are not obliged to pay any more.

e-on are here and they're ripping off customers for good. they are devloping one of the uk's largest hot air outfits blah blah blah. still, it will all be good when they give you the automated metres.... or then again

Pro2Col - turn up at my doorstep, and what you will collect will be far from a payment...

damn- slow off the mark. was shocked to read the admission that the letters are 'automated'. A hint at why bank charges and the like are overinflated? Have you actually gone to the police? £5K fine for breaches last I recall (at least that's what equidebt was threatened with. made them listen too, as they knew they were in te wrong in the approach they took. Woops, sorry Mossie - didn't mean to give the game away for you mate

You should be aware that DCA's, Bank, Credit Card firms have people log on to this site. At least he was honest. I was asked to do it secretly to 'find out what information is being brought to the attention of the wider prospective debtor audience'. Still, to CT Editor - If DCA's are all above board, and have the right to do what they do,why the secrecy? Why the stealthy tactics to get people to pay (often more than they can afford)? Be more open, make your clients pass you the correct information (to barclaycard, prefferably encrypted and not over public email to large groups) including CCA's etc. Perhaps when you learn to respect people, you too will have respect, along with the right to win 'awards'

in this case, no idle threats. follow through. if you sent letters recorded, you can prove they received them. Report them to the phone company / police for harrasment. Also, report to the OFT, and request that thier fitness to hold a CCL be reviewed. They probably take the view (particularly if you sent a template letter of a site they've seen before) that you are unsure of your rights, and the threats are idle. Follow through. Failing that, put the phone account in a spouses / other relatives' name. Then, advise them it is not your phone, and they are calling a person to whom they have no right to contact. Advise that the account holder will report to the police should they continue. That means they can't hide beind the 'We have a right to contact you FROM TIME TO TIME to discuss your debt', although the first steps should be enough to stop them. PM me for more specific advice, I have dealt with this before (and with some success, at risk of blowing my own trumpet) No response to my premium rate number idea - a good scheme i thought!

DJDave - I would be more than happy to share, although I will have to watch what I say because I imagine the CAG modorators would be concerned about some of my comments. I have seen some very bad practices (not only by Equidebt, but thier clients). however, I do not think 'laughing' at the alledged debtors problems really classes as ethical. Also quite how they background check migrant workers (even if Mr Mosivich, one of the founders is polish himself) to operate in such a sensitive company is a little beyond me (and no, I am not against polish workers... We have some very good honourable people from Poland, but we don't need to background check them for our line of work as it is not in the same sensitive area). So what would you like to know abotu them?