Thanks for making this post more noticeable DX It does actually say Cabot on the letters too, I didn't realise this was relevant as I have never heard of them The main thing the SRA are interested in is how Mortimer Clarkes operates and it would be great if everyone who have had dealings with them could get in touch with Mr Davis at SRA to help with his enquiries.

I have been on the receiving end of a constant stream of letters, threats and bullying from a company called Mortimer Clarke Solicitors Ltd for over 5 years for a debt I do not recognise so last week I decided to contact the Solicitors Regulation Authority. They have been very helpful and are investigating. They are not interested in financial disputes at all but do seem very interested in hearing complaints about the tactics used by this company. If you have a genuine complaint about how Mortimer Clarke Solicitors are dealing with you please contact Mr Melvyn Davis at S.R.A. his email is [email protected] Please don't go into detail about the debt, that is not his job, just the tactics they are using. I have given him a full account of my 5 year+ experience i.e. late evening phone calls, over 5 years of letters every month, sending Engage Ltd to my address (part of Marstons I think) etc etc you name it, they have tried it but have never actually brought any action against me. Please contact Mr Davis with your genuine complaints about Mortimer Clarke Solicitors and your experiences.

Could anyone give me some advice on this one? I have just started getting correspondence about a Cabot Financial debt from 5 1/2 years ago firstly from Equidebt which I ignored because they just wanted me to hold my hands up and make a repayment plan, and then last week I got quite a strong letter from a company called Credit Ancillary Services titled 'DOORSTEP COLLECTION NOTICE' advising me that a debt collector will call at my address. So after a bit of digging around I have found out that the sectretary and the director are one of the same his name being: PHILIP ALBERT SUTHERLAND FORMBY WILDING He was appointed 10/9/09 so about 12 business days old by my reckoning, but how did he get this position when he clearly doesn't understand OFT rules which are that his company need to make an appointment to come to my house and if they don't, not only are they breaching OFT rules they are breaking the law too. So I did a little more digging and got his home address which is: *details removed* I have written to him both at his office address and his home address telling him that if I do get a doorstep visit I'm going to visit his house unannounced to explain the OFT rules and how the law stands on unwanted visitors and leave him a copy of such for his guidance. My question is: do you think I've done the right thing and am I within my rights do this? Oh, and his birthday is 26th October (I told you I'd been digging lol) so if there are any of you that thrilled with his company and how they handle things maybe you would like to send your greetings too.

Thanks again everyone. Please could you find that template letter 42man I'd like to go that way with Capquest and see what reaction I get. It may even help others if I post their response and result.

Hi SFx, it is quite late in the day for me to consider paying for it anyway now, if these 3 debts become statute barred after mid 2009 it's probably worth riding out the storm don't you think? If Capquest do it then so be it, but thanks for the input.

I hope you are right 42man as this would put a lid on the whole sorry episode for me, I'm not proud of the situation nor would I be proud of bankruptcy but at least it would be them paying the £475 or so that I can't afford to declare myself.

I'm so glad you lot know what your are talking about. I don't owe any fines, child support, council tax or anything like that, the 3 debts I'm being chased for are 5 years old, originally to 3 credit card companies 2 of which have been acquired by Capquest and the other by Hillesden. To be honest I really wish Capquest would carry out there threat of making me bankrupt and I could put all this behind me, I personally don't have and never have had enough cash to go down and declare myself so when there letter arrived saying thats what they were going to do it was quite a relief, but for some reason they went quiet for 2 months then sent me a letter threatening that if I did'nt reply soon they'd refer it to their 'Collection Administration Department' which amazed me really, I mean who sent threat of bankruptcy What do you guys make of Capquest by the way? They are not worrying me but there correspondence seems to go in circles and gets them nowhere. As long as I get past this bailiff problem for now I'll be happy. Thanks folks.

Thanks everyone for your comments, what is a liability order btw?

Hi, not in black and white but could be proved I suppose as her parents have honestly bought everything that has needed replacement over the past 5 years and I can assure you as far as they are concerned because of the mess I got us into they have not intended any of it for me

Thanks ever so much for your advice on this. When I said 'here now' I meant living back in original marital home. The following is bound to upset some people but I'm going to ask anyway: Next year these three debts will be 6 years old with no communication from me or offer of payment, does this mean they really do go away? I'm sorry if I sound a bit self centred with that one

In brief I took on a commercial premises in 1998 that cost £1800 per month rent on a 5 year lease. I borrowed some against the house to get it going making our morgage owing £56000 It was all ok at first but in the 3rd year business went right down hill I got behind with my mortgage at home and with the rent at work, we were subsidising on credit cards at home then the downward spiral where I was applying for new cards to transfer balances and juggling things round like that etc I bet you've heard that all before. I was deluded, thinking it would all come right but it did'nt. In the end the landlord who is a decent bloke and owns a property investment company offered me a solution, sign over our house and all it's contents (he said contents too btw to protect us from anyone trying to take anything off us as he was aware of the other credit card debts, like I said a real decent bloke took me under his wing a bit you might say) to clear the remainder of the lease and he would pay off the money owing on it (£56k) btw the house was valued at just over the 100k then, and he'd charge us rent at 5% of the £56k per year which is £235 a month and thats how it's stayed, his bonus being he'd just slipped a £100k house into his portfolio for £56k. It was a perfect solution to protect the house and it's contents for my wife and 4 kids. I carried on swapping money around on the cards over the next 2 years paying the minimum where possible but in the end they were all up to the hilt and I just threw in the towel. Not sure if you have heard this before but I went for, and have stuck to the 'head in the sand approach' I have litterally ignored everything from that day in 2003 to this, but the day of reckoning has arrived and I need your help please. Capquest have bought 2 of the debts equalling just short of £20k and have now threatened to make me bankrupt, I say bring it on as if I could afford it I'd do it myself so thats gone quiet but will rear it's head again as next year will be the 6th year from judgements with no offers of payment from me. The one thats worrying me is Hillesden have bought the debt off Citibank for £3600 and have have had a warrent of execution issued against me meaning the bailiffs are coming after the 23rd October. This is my question(s) to you, do I have anything to worry about as nothing here is mine, not the house, the contents and not even a vehicle. Shortly after the business failure I went to live back with my mum but back here now. I was allowed back for the sake of the kids, they need a dad here and on the understanding that I was the lodger so to speak. I have always done my best for them regardless and have worked as a courier over the last 5 years. The only problem I can see is that my name was never taken off bills etc but that was because it was all so amicable, although saying that she did'nt include me on electrol roll as that was to be filled out shortly after I went back to my mums in 2003 and I've never appeared on it again but will add it this year. I really don't want bailiffs here for their sake. In the circumstances what do you think should I say or do at this point, should we just batten down the hatches and hope they give up or go and tell this to the bailiff. Sorry to ramble on so much but I really could do with some advice. thanks very much and best regards, DriverG

Please could someone advise me on the following: In brief I took on a commercial premises in 1998 that cost £1800 per month rent on a 5 year lease. I borrowed some against the house to get it going making our morgage owing £56k It was all ok at first but in the 3rd year business went right down hill I got behind with my mortgage at home and with the rent at work, we were subsidising on credit cards at home then the downward spiral where I was applying for new cards to transfer balances and juggling things round like that etc I bet you've heard that all before. I was deluded, thinking it would all come right but it did'nt. In the end the landlord who is a decent bloke and owns a property investment company offered me a solution, sign over our house and all it's contents (he said contents too btw to protect us from anyone trying to take anything off us as he was aware of the other credit card debts, like I said a real decent bloke took me under his wing a bit you might say). to clear the remainder of the lease and he would pay off the money owing on it (£56k) btw the house was valued at just over the 100k then, and he'd charge us rent at 5% of the £56k per year which is £235 a month and thats how it's stayed, his bonus being he'd just slipped a £100k house into his portfolio for £56k. It was a perfect solution to protect the house and it's contents for my wife and 4 kids. I carried on swapping money around on the cards over the next 2 years paying the minimum where possible but in the end they were all up to the hilt and I just threw in the towel. Not sure if you have heard this before but I went for, and have stuck to the 'head in the sand approach' I have literally ignored everything from that day in 2003 to this, but the day of reckoning has arrived and I need your help please. Capquest have bought 2 of the debts equalling just short of £20k and have now threatened to make me bankrupt, I say bring it on as if I could afford it I'd do it myself so that's gone quiet but will rear it's head again as next year will be the 6th year from judgements with no offers of payment from me. The one thats worrying me is Hillesden have bought the debt off Citibank for £3600 and have have had a warrant of execution issued against me meaning the bailiffs are coming after the 23rd October. This is my question(s) to you, do I have anything to worry about as nothing here is mine, not the house, the contents and not even a vehicle. Shortly after the business failure I went to live back with my mum but back here now. I was allowed back for the sake of the kids, they need a dad here and on the understanding that I was the lodger so to speak. I have always done my best for them regardless and have worked as a courier over the last 5 years. The only problem I can see is that my name was never taken off bills etc but that was because it was all so amicable, although saying that she didn't include me on electoral roll as that was to be filled out shortly after I went back to my mums in 2003 and I've never appeared on it again but will add it this year. I really don't want bailiffs here for their sake. In the circumstances what do you think should I say or do at this point, should we just batten down the hatches and hope they give up or go and tell this to the bailiff. Sorry to ramble on so much but I really could do with some advice. thanks very much and best regards, DriverG

Hi Berrylover, here is the copy that Capquest sent me, thanks for your help.

Hi, I was wondering if you could help me. I asked Capquest for a copy of a CCA with Capitol One using your template letter. They have replied within the time allowed but appear to of sent me a copy of the 'short application form', is this the correct response. If not what exactly am I looking for from them?