In the run up to Christmas I have started receiving collection letters for debts which are 15 years old. I assume these companies are trying to raise some cash for their Christmas jollies. Thanks to this forum over the years I have taken my life back and now I just laugh at the debt collectors antics. The most recent letter is from Search Squad. After researching this company I decided to share with everyone how best to deal with letters from this outfit.

Letter sent today. Hopefully this will prompt some action.

I don't want to name in case it jeopardises me possibly getting my money back before court action. If it goes to court then I will shout this companies name from the roof tops.

Thanks for the help guys. I have sent him 1 more text asking for my money. I will print the letter out today. What's also annoying is I am away from home at the moment and am going to have to buy a printer just to print this letter. So now I am even more angry at this for causing me extra expense.

So I have the guy the benefit of the doubt that 'he was away' and other things like 'it would be paid this week' and the money has not materialised. The last thing I sent him was if he did not return my money I would take it further. Still no money. I am livid. So I now need a letter before action. Is there a template I can use for this? Thanks

Hi, thank you for your reply. I paid £600 for 6 months @ £100 per month. The alternative garage has not cost more, but I have had to take it out of my bill money to cover it. That is why I am annoyed he has not given it back. It is a property company that owns a block of garages. The owner is not local, but I have their address.

Hi, I rented a garage to store my stuff whilst I move house. I was told the garage would be available on 23rd December so I sighed a 'tenancy agreement' on the 19th in preparation for the commencing rental period, and paid 6 months upfront. The 23rd came round and the previous renter had not vacated the garage. I was then told it would not be available until the middle of January. This was useless to me as I was moving house that day. I told the garage owner immediately that I wanted to cancel and have my money refunded, which he agreed to do 'in a couple of days'. I then had to source another garage. It has now been 10 days and, after chasing, there is no sight of my money. Where do I stand?

This topic was closed on 10 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 10 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 10 March 2019. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

I've had these letters a couple of times. I just call up and set up an installment arrangement and that's the end of it.

I'm thinking of going down the route of appealing by saying since on the 3 occasions I was continually not aware the road was restricted entry after 7:30am technically it is not 3 separate offences, it is 1 offence. Therefore the penalty exceeds the amount applicable in the circumstances of the case and I should only pay one of the pcn's.

Hi, thanks for your reply. The signage was placed in a way I would not have looked when looking for an entry restriction. But in the letter the council have stated about another case where someone in the borough tried to say in court that the signs were not clear enough and that the judge did not accept that. my issue was that the sign was on the right hand side of the road not where a motorist would look. They have said the right hand sign is not the main sign and has only been placed as an addition to the left hand sign (there isnt a left hand sign Ive checked) and that they think motorists should not use signs as a way of working out if roads are restricted and should instead know their journeys restrictions beforehand. If that is the case then why have signs at all I wonder. I cant even afford to get my cooker fixed and Im driving to work trying to make an honest living and just get by and this happens.

Im fuming. It just seems to me that car owners are one big cash machine for councils. Stick some cameras up and let the money roll in. I recently moved to a new area and started driving to work. Unbeknown to me one of the roads I was turning into on my way to work each morning at 7:30am has a time restriction in place that you cant turn into it after 7:30am. Its dark, its christmas , the streets are empty, no one was killed, no traffic was caused. But yet I have appealed against these tickets and am told by the council they are 'certain an offense has taken place' and I need to pay £390 thankyou very much. That is like almost half a months wages. For making a mistake that has harmed no one. Does anyone know how I can fight this?