Hi guys, I sent a complaint to Ruthless now as well so that when the Financial Ombudsman contacts them about my case they have no ground to say I never complained directly to Ruthless. Though I doubt Ruthless cares in any way about complaints. Their agents are exceptionally cocky and rude. During one conversation during which I mentioned that it was my right to receive a copy of the customer agreement the agent actually says "yeah I know the cusomer act - we are governed by it - so?"......amazing!

HI Odc Eek no I did not complain to Ruthbridge? now what? are they going to start harassing me again?

hi! - yes I made complaints to the Financial Ombudsman and to the office of trading standards. I sent complaints both by e-mail and by either courier or registered post so that there would be a paper trail on those as well. Trading standards already contacted me asking for more detail. I am going to carry the complaints through as much as I can!

Hi, Thought I would post an update. After Ruthbridge received two!! requests from me two days in a row sent by recorded delivery (I thought I would "harras" them back) for a copy of my customer agreeement. They sent me my cheques back with a note saying that they have handed my account back to their client and that they therefore have no further dealings on my "matter". I wonder if by any chance the Financial Ombudsman and the Office of Fair Trading have already been in touch with them. I had written to both these agencies alerting them of Ruthbridge's harassment techniques and inappropriate correspondence. Let's see what's next. H

Hi 42Man I did send out the CCA letter. It crossed their letter threatening immediate bankruptcy proceedings. I today posted complaints with the Financial Ombudsman and Trading Standards both by e-mail and letter. I wonder if they will take any action

Well from what I can determine it would seem a last payment would have been made in March or April of 2002. At least it would have to have been for the debt to default in June right? I assume there is a 3 month period before something defaults? So that would make it under 6 years, no?

Well - another debt collection agency contacted me in March of 2006 about this debt. When I requested supporting documentation I never heard another thing. Then in June of this year Ruthbridge first contacted me. After me sending them 7 e-mails requesting supporting documentation throughout the month of June and one at the start of July I heard nothing. Until a week ago that is. When they sent me a letter stating they were going to send an agent to my house to serve me with papers. Following correspondence indicates they intend to start bankruptcy proceedings against me. The debt is over £5000 and according to the credit file the debt defaulted in June 2002.

Hi - I checked my credit file with equifax on advice from the national debt help line. There is a note on there from something taken out in 2001 of which they say it defaulted in June 2002. - I was living abroad in June 2002, but whatever Does that mean it is statute barred or do I fall just under the 6 year rule?

Hi, Ok,so despite me sending another letter to Ruthbridge requesting a copy of the consumer agreement they sent me yet another letter. (of course not received and during phone call after last letter they indicated their client would not provide these documents till we get to court). This letter is titled Without Prejudice and outlines how they will now instruct their client to commence bankruptcy proceedings against me as I have supposedly not responded to any of their attempts to contact me (7 e-mails, 2 phone calls and a registered mail letter!). They are saying that I will have to attend a personal hearing at which point the courts can administer a bankruptcy order. Then the Official Receivers Office will gain possession and control of my goods and property! They go on to say that if I do not cooperate fully I will be declared bankrupt immediately. They are now referring to the debt dating to June 2002 at which point the payments defaulted. At which point I also did not live in the UK. However there is a chance this is a debt my former fiancee ran up in my name. I have no idea. Can they just take me to court now? eek - help!

Thanks so much for you prompt response!!!!

Hi, I am hoping someone can offer me some advice on what steps to take next. In March of last year a debt collection agency contacted me saying they were acting on behalf of Barclays with respect to a 6 year old debt in my name. I informed this agency I did not recognize the debt and could they please provide me with supportive documentation - this never materialized and I heard nothing further. Then a few months ago in June I received a letter from another debt collection agency - now Ruthbridge saying THEY had now acquired the debt and could I please pay. I called them, told them I did not recognize the debt could they please provide me with supporting documentation - nothing. I sent them 7 different e-mails requesting supporting documentation. Nothing. Then today I received another letter from them. So I called them and explained I was still waiting to receive documentation supporting the claim. I spoke to an extremely rude man who said he was going to have me declared bankrupt that he wanted to know when he should send an agent around to serve me with papers so bankruptcy proceedings could take place and that the bailiffs would then follow to take possessions from my house. When I repeatedly told him that I needed information on the debt as all I was told was that it related to Barclays and was 6 years old he informed that he does not need to offer me supportive documentation. That supportive documentation will not be presented until we reach the courts. Is that true? What do I do? Can they really start bankruptcy proceedings? By the sounds of what very little information they gave me it could be a debt my sadly not so civil ex fiancee racked up on a partner card. What do I do? Any help and advice would be much appreciated. THANKS!