Then I give up.

Good evening to you all. I actually think all you comments regarding my recent posts have been rather 'tame', because I have been a bit naughty these last few days. It was actually this post that really got me thinking and I must apologise to Slc79 for using the original question to move the thread in a direction I needed to go in order to highlight a very important point regarding DCAs. A point I will return to over the weekend. But a brief intro: If you have followed this thread from the start you will notice my comments about 'doorstep calls' (post 566) was out of character to all previous post, and that was deliberate, and a bit Machiavellian (I have never knocked on anyones door 8-) ). But I would ask you read the post again and see if you can see where I'm going, and the point I'm making. look at the tone, and content (what does it remind you of?). I'll let you think about that Saturday and then I'll explain before submitting my latest insight 'Legal loopholes'. After which it will all make sense.

I would NEVER demand anything off anyone. We live in a free world and we all make our own choices. When I did my home visit work I saw it as give and take, and would give all the information I had (name, previous address of debtor, debt amount outstanding and the OC), and then asked to confirm they were not the person I was looking for - 95% of the people not only gave me the confirmation required but would often furnish additional information including forwarding address or estate agents details. Some of you may argue 'what about my rights under the data protection act, which doesn't allow you to share my information with a stranger', but, I'm sorry - if the debtor has done a runner then so be it, they left their 'privacy' at the front door when they left, and so I'm happy to share what I know FIRST before requesting information. If someone knocked on my door and said 'I'm looking for Mr X who are you, I wouldn't be polite either to be honest.

This is a shot in the dark from a DCA. Just send ALL letters back addressed to this person and write 'not know at address' (that's if there is a return address , if not bin them), worse case they will send an agent to confirm you are not the debtor. to be honest, I have done such visits as part of my 'training' and they last about 5 mins: they just confirm your name and ask for one proof of identity. If you provide it they wipe their records of your details and send it back. Problem gone. It is true that you are not allowed to open mail addressed to someone else, but hay, we all want to know what's going on. But you should just return it unopened (but I wouldn't make a special trip to the letter box ;-) ). Also be aware that it is not unknown for a DCA to be looking for YOU but change the details of the 'debtor' in order to get you to confirm who you really are. Then 2 months after calling and telling them your not Miss X but Mrs Y they start chasing you for a statute barred debt because they were really looking for Mrs Y.

Interesting comments.

The balance owed will have a significant difference. The smaller the balance the quicker the point will come when it is 'uneconomical' to pursue, whereas the higher the balance the greater need will be to recover the debt and less likely that it will just be written off. But the ultimate determination on the outcome of any debt is the assessment of your ability to pay, or more accurately, the OCs ability to recover (through CCJ, charging order, Attachment of earnings, etc.)

Quality

I was going to do a 'chapter' on strategies that work, but there is still an arguement in my mind as to whether its a good idea! I always stated that I would give honest independent advice not tainted by 'morals' or 'emotion', and not underpinned by justifying or not, as the case maybe, the job of the DCA. I would tell it as the DCA/OCs see it, so you could at least understand the 'process'. BUT, by giving strategies that will help, will move me away from the 'independence' I have and may compromise the advice I provide in future. Is jumping off the fench the right thing to do? Something to mull over I suppose.

Yea that's fine. There appears to be no logic to their ignorance, and that's why I had to mull it over in work today, and the only 'excuse' I thought of was if the debt was less than £1k, then it would be 'uneconmical' to engage in legal conversation with you. But that attitude always fails in court.

Why they haven't complied with your CCA and SAR still confuses me tbh (scratches head). There is no reason not to.

Group HUG

No worries. I have given a detailed response in my PM.

DCA staff, past present and future have access to the internet and google makes the world a much smaller place.

Hi all, Just got in from work so no time to respond to questions but I will tomorrow. I do have good cover although I did get a PM from someone I worked with but decided it best not to respond!!!!! He knows who he is . Remember....it's good to talk.

You are all just to kind. A humbled Onthebrink.