Two days ago I received a letter from these people saying my debt with amex had been referred to them and I was to pay the full amount plus £397.50 referral fee. Today I have received two phone calls in the space of 1 hour at my work number on my day off and an email via my work website. On returning their call they informed me that they knew I had space on another credit card to pay them. When I explained that I was no longer able to use that other credit card they turned nasty saying they were instructing solicitors and my debt is increasing by another £1200. They also said they were putting a charge on my house so that I cannot sell or remortgage without paying them off. Two hours later they sent a text message asking me to call to avoid action. This went to my friends number whose phone I had borrowed!!! I phoned them to be confronted by "we don't know why we sent you a text don't bother making any payment proposals as we will not accept them unless it is full payment including all the charges". They then put the phone down on me. Is this behaviour legal, can they search my credit records without my permission and can they put a charge on my house? This is all new to me and extremely worrying.