Well, I've just finished typing up the story so far on my website, and it's time to make all the letters received and sent publicly available and searchable. Hopefully, this will help others who are being threatened by these fools. All comments welcome. The site is here: grke Enjoy! P.S. The client did agree to increase the small amount of compensation offered. I ended up getting almost the amount that was being demanded of me.

I should say that I would never have had the confidence to do it without the help of this very forum.

Hello, I've been receiving threats from Buchanan Clark and Wells over an alleged debt for the last four months or so. I was not liable. I ended up writing a letter of complaint to their client, who have told me that they will pay me a small figure in compensation. I think that this small figure is not enough (it's rather desultory, actually), and have written further letters to both companies. When it's over, I shall post some of my letters here. Have some of that!

Long time, no update... After the last letter from Worst Credit, I heard nothing for a long time. I visited my friend's house at the beginning of September (ish), and his dad said that there was a letter for me. Indeed there was, from Demon - a bill for 19.99! I was quite astonished that, after everything and having told them several times, they were still sending things to the wrong address. I'm guessing that Worst Credit went back to Demon, and Demon eventually decided that I didn't owe them for more than a year's service, but actually owed them for a month (though I don't). So I got removed from Worst Credit's systems, and Demon's fantastic billing system started billing my old (I've moved 4 times since then) address again. I moved again in October. They're not getting my new address. I guess they'll start sending their threats to my old old old old address again, when I don't pay their 19.99.

They have stopped calling me, but they admitted to still having my number saved somewhere even after saying that they had removed it. So, are you saying that this is enough for me to cause them a major headache? What is the Information Commissioners Office? (by the way, thank you to everybody who has replied in this thread)

Sorry - what do you mean by this? What does a Data Controller do?

Point taken, though it is my mobile number that they have, and I've had the same number for many years - so I'd rather keep it. They haven't called for ages, but the knowledge that they still have the number niggles at me.

Hello! A while ago, I sent a letter complaining of telephone harassment to a DCA. I asked them to remove my telephone number from their system. They responded, in writing, by saying (amongst other things): "As per your request, we have removed your telephone number. However, we reserve the right in the future to contact you by telephone in the event of non-communication on your part." In my reply to this, I questioned how they could contact me by telephone if they had removed it from their systems. The latest letter from them included this: "We have removed your telephone number from our main screen. However, it is still held on our system and cannot be removed entirely as it is an audit requirement." To me, that sounds like nonsense. Has anybody else come across something like this? Can I demand that they remove it entirely?

I got a letter from 1st Credit today. It seems to be a reply to the one I sent before last, and it is written by a person - not an automated mail. "Thank you for your letter of the 20th May 2008. We have previously advised that our client informed us they were not aware of any dispute and that the amount remains outstanding. I note you are still stating that the account is in dispute. I also note that you are dealing with Demon directly and we have contacted them in this regard. In relation to the outstanding amount, we are acting on information provided by our client and have also asked for their comments. We have removed your telephone number from our main screen. However, it is still held on our system and cannot be removed entirely as it is an audit requirement." They haven't previously advised me that their client wasn't aware that the account is in dispute. Anyway. What next? I seriously doubt whether Demon are going to reply to my last letter (sent two months ago and I have the proof of delivery), in which I asked for their complaints procedure and also asked them to drop the alleged debt. Can I interpret their non-reply as meaning that they've dropped it? Maybe I should S.A.R - (Subject Access Request) Demon, as it might put me in a stronger position. Is there anything I can do to demand that 1st Credit remove the telephone number properly? After all, they did say, "we have removed your telephone number".

I've already sent a very similar letter to them, but they've just sent me the '7 days' letter above. I'm thinking of sending something like the below, and informing as many authorities as I can google. What do you think? I DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DEBT TO YOUR COMPANY DESPITE PREVIOUS LETTERS, YOU HAVE ONCE MORE ATTEMPTED TO COLLECT ON AN ACCOUNT THAT IS IN DISPUTE. I HAVE NOW INFORMED THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. Edit: Then again, I didn't ask them to prove the debt, so I think I'll go with a modified version of your suggestion. Thanks.

Anybody? And should I do anything about the letter from 1st Credit, or should I just ignore it?

Aha! Got another letter from 1st Credit today! It goes like this... Can anybody here answer my question from the previous post?

Hello, It occurs to me that 1st Credit have never proved to me that the alleged debt is mine. I know that this particular case is not covered by the CCA, but if I wanted to demand proof from 1st Credit, how would I do it? Incidentally, for those interested, Demon haven't yet replied to my last letter to them, sent 22/04/2008 - more than a month.

Ta. If they do ever call me again, I am going to go to town on reporting them to all the authorities.

I tell a lie. I will add this to the letter: "As per your request, we have removed your telephone number. However, we reserve the right in the future to contact you by telephone in the event of non-communication on your part." This paragraph is contradictory. You say that you have removed my telephone number, but you may telephone me in the future. If you have removed it, you will not be able to telephone me. This inconsistency will also be noted in case of further breaches of the Protection From Harassment Act 1997, the Administration Of Justice Act 1970, s40, and the Communications Act 2003, s127.

OK, I'm going to send that letter then.

Hello. They sent me the letter that you can see in post 48 in this thread, and since then, they've sent two bills for 199.90. I've composed my latest letter this morning (post 60 in this thread), and I would like comments on it from anybody. Good luck with your court case!

Anybody?

Here is my latest letter to 1st Credit. Comments please? To whom it may concern; I DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DEBT TO YOUR COMPANY LAST WEEK, I RECEIVED ANOTHER DEMAND FOR PAYMENT FROM YOUR ORGANISATION. I AM DEALING WITH DEMON DIRECTLY AND THE ACCOUNT IS IN DISPUTE. AS YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THIS, I REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE BREACHING OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING GUIDELINES BY TRYING TO COLLECT ON AN ACCOUNT THAT IS IN DISPUTE. AS SUCH, YOU MAY BE LIABLE TO A SUBSTANTIAL FINE. I refer you to http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf. Note that section 2.8 under "Deceptive and/or unfair methods" gives an example of unfair practices includes "not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt." I also refer to your letter of 22/04/2008. I quote: "I note that we spoke with on the 2nd December 2007 and you advised us that you were no longer residing at and that you were not willing to give us your new address. As such we were not able to send a letter confirming that the matter has been passed to us to collect on behalf of our client. We did discuss the account with you and you advised that there was a dispute and that you had set up a new account and did not transfer the account." I note that there are several falsehoods here. My record of the phone call (and your records too, if they are adequate) shows that I gave evidence of my dispute with Demon to your employee, in the form of two internet URLs. He confirmed that he was able to access and read them. He advised me that somebody from your company would call me back within seven days. As nobody did so, the logical conclusion was that the matter had been dropped. I received no further contact from your company for three months. When I was contacted again, I was not told what the call was about. Furthermore, your employee was bordering on the abusive. Next, though you have got the details incorrect, you have admitted to being aware that there is an on-going dispute between myself and Demon Internet. I will not go into it further, because it is between Demon and myself. "The balance owing is for the period 24.6.2006 to 24.3.2007 at 19.99 per month." I have also noted that your demand, received last week, is for 199.90 instead of 179.91. This inconsistency will also be included in my report to the Office of Fair Trading. You can avoid being reported to the OFT by ceasing all collection activity. For convenience, this document is permanently available to view online at /firstcredit3.html. It was posted, via Royal Mail Recorded Delivery, to the address at the top left on 21/05/2008. Yours sincerely,

Hello again, I've still not heard anything from Demon since I wrote them the letter asking them to write off whatever they erroneously think I owe them. However, 1st Credit have sent me another letter identical to the one directly above this post. I think that I should send them something that tells them to go away because I'm dealing with Demon directly. What do you lot think? Do you have any example letters showing someone doing this kind of thing?

Yes, but I think I made more than two payments. I can't be bothered to go and check right now though. Good plan.

Consumer Direct emailed me back pretty quickly, and they said this: In reference to your query, firstly I would recommend that you check the terms and condition of your contract with this trader. Often the terms and conditions will state if there is a particular procedure that must be followed to alter your address, such as a request in writing. If you have not adhered to the terms and conditions, it may be difficult to prove that you phoned to request to change your address rather than set up a new account at a different address. If it does not state that there is a specific procedure to change your address, it may be advisable for you to request proof of the phone call from perhaps a transcript or call recording. If the call was not recorded, please bear in mind that it will be your word against the trader's and it may be difficult to prove your argument. I would recommend that you send a recorded delivery letter to the trader, outlining the situation and making time of the essence (i.e. 7-10 working days) for a recording or transcript of the call to be provided. You may wish to make the trader aware that the details of your case have been passed to the relevant Trading Standards authorities for their information. Ensure to keep a copy of the letter for your own records. If you are unable to reach a satisfactory outcome with the trader, I would recommend that you contact the Communication & Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS) for further advice on this matter. I have attached their contact details below for your convenience. I think that my best plan of action would be to S.A.R - (Subject Access Request) Demon, and get all the terms and conditions and transcripts and everything. But meanwhile, the ball is already in their court with my last letter, where I kindly requested that they waive anything that they think is overdue, because of the unreliability of their records. So I'll wait until they reply to that first. Meanwhile, 1st Credit have finally sent me an actual figure of what they want. Have a look at this: The first thing I notice is that 199.90 seems to be a bit too much. They claimed that it was 19.99 over 12 months, but I'm sure that I've paid for three at least. Secondly, they don't seem to be saying that they want the money for themselves. They are telling me to make it payable to Demon Internet. And look! They have a whole 'Demon Collection Department'! Now, do you think I can tell them to go away, because I'm dealing with Demon directly?

I am considering doing this for Demon Internet. I signed up with them, then phoned them as I was moving house, and they moved the account and everything was fine. I moved house again, and phoned them again. This time, they ended up opening up a totally new account and didn't stop the old one. I sent a letter of complaint that they didn't respond to. So, I sent another and told them to close all the accounts. I moved house again, and a year or so later I'm getting calls from a debt collection agency. After much messing around, it seems that they want to charge me for 12 months for the new account. If I SAR Demon and they can't come up with a signed contract for the new account, I can't see how it is enforceable.

OK, it's done. As well as explaining everything again, I've sent them links to all my letters and so on.

Hang on, Consumer Direct have an online form that I can fill out. I'll do that now.