www.oft.gov.uk/advice_and_resources/resource_base/legal/cca/debt-collection or you can try this one!

I reported HFO to OFT, they will take it seriously and if it was within a certain timescale, they'll even take a witness statement from you. Apparently, HFO and most other debt agencies have to have a consumer credit licence to carry out business. HFO has one and its the OFT who decide if a company is fit to be awarded / keep their licence. Anyway, they sent me their guidlines for awarding licences, so if you feel that HFO or any other debt collection company for that matter has broken the rules, please report them to OFT. Hopefully we can beat a few of these bullies and restore the balance of power! www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

I know, sadly, I've made payments on it in the past just to get rid of them (that was before I joined on here and became wise to their evil ways!). I'd love to try to claim back what I paid out, but I don't want to poke a sleeping lion! I'll just put it down to education and experience and I'll get in touch with the credit reference agencies and sort them out myself I think. Thanks again though guys!

Thanks guys, I was thinking of framing the letter!! I'll definitely keep chasing them about removing my details though. Just relieved to not have them calling every day from 9am to 7pm... my phone is kind of quiet now actually... I'm a bit bored to tell the truth!

Just wanted to say thanks to all who run and use this site, I've won!...maybe I should explain! I got sick a while ago, debts spiralled, had a lot of debt companies chasing me and I was harrassed by several including the dreaded HFO! I'd paid debts but then been chased by other companies for the same debts... I was basically in a mess. I managed to get rid of HFO, even though they threatened me with prison, by using information from this site. But they weren't the only company chasing me. I've been being harrassed and chased by Cabot Financial for a debt of £4,371 (or thereabouts) for the past 3 years. I sent the standard letter on this site requesting a copy of the CCA (consumer credit agreement) and got the usual blurb back from them about them needing time to investigate. Then they told me that as I'd made payments on the debt, I couldn't request the CCA, so I wrote to them with a similar letter, but highlighted with a yellow pen all the legal bits! A few months went by, no response, then a company called FIRE got in touch... they're pretty nasty and make Cabot look like pussycats. FIRE called me 7 or 8 times every day. I told them that I had requested a CCA from Cabot, which had not been provided. They told me that it had. I argued with them and told them they couldn't keep phoning me. I sent them a letter stating that they were harrassing me, quoted the information from this site (see, there's a theme here ) stating that they should only call me once a day, and that any more would be harrassment. I told them that I still required a copy of the CCA, sent them a copy of the same letter and told them they were not to contact me to chase the debt until they had provided the CCA. All of a sudden, the debt was passed back to Cabot, with £1,000 of charges added on! I phoned Cabot, explained that just because they had passed the debt around, they were not excused from their obligation to provide me with the CCA. A manager called me back, she said she would send it in the post. The next thing I received was a long list of payments dating back to 2002, it looked like a spread sheet, but there was nothing to tie it to me. I called her back and asked her to explain it. She said it was a list of my payments on the debt. I stated that the debt they were chasing me for was from 2003 onwards... this spread sheet could relate to anybody for anything... where was the proof this debt was mine. She said she would speak to a team leader and get back to me. 3 days later I received a letter from Cabot stating that, "further to our recent telephone conversation with regard to the above debt, we have investigated your query and come to the conclusion that this debt is fraudulent. We will remove your details from our records and you will no longer be contacted in relation to this debt. We apologise for any inconvenience caused." :eek::grin: So thanks to everyone here... I'm almost debt free and its all thanks to you guys. I also want to say that, anyone who feels that its all uphill at the moment, keep persevering and don't take any crap from these companies... if you request proof and they can't provide it, you've got them by the wotsits! I almost gave up and paid them, but I'm so glad now that I didn't! I just have a question now... do I need to contact Equifax and Experian or will Cabot do it for me?

Well, its been a couple of months now since my email/letters to 3G Hutchinson about the HFO Horror-Bags! Listen.... nothing! Not a sound, letter, phone call, nothing. Now either they have gone away to re-group and try another attack method, or they've decided to leave me alone. Either way, the silence is unnerving, but hopefully, I've won!?

I haven't heard a word from HFO since writing to them (no phone calls, nothing!!). I'm not complaining though. However, I did get a response from 3G Hutchinson, see below: I would like to confirm that the Executive Office is currently investigating the issues you have raised and you will be contacted within 5 working days to discuss the results of their findings. In this interim period, should you wish to comment further on the issues raised, please call the Executive Office on 08707 330 295, between 9am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Once again, thank you for bringing this matter to our attention and for your continued patience, during our ongoing investigations. Yours sincerely Keri Simmons Executive Office Administrator Executive Office, 3 DIRECT LINE (+44) 08707 330 295 Details there for anyone else who would like to contact 3G with regard to HFO. Hit them where it hurts I say!

Myself and my parents have been harassed for a while by HFO, even though I have told HFO I don't live with my parents and haven't for several years and have provided them with my current phone number. I don't owe HFO anything, it seems they have crossed wires, but will they listen?? No! I have proof of payment for a totally different amount and paid to a different debt collector, I think HFO have added some crazy charges and fairy dust to make up their claim. I invited HFO to take me to Court but stop calling me. They called all the more. They even took down my work phone number (without my permission from caller ID) and started ringing that, which is another form of harassment, although I shouldn't have used works phone!! Since I put everything in writing and email, its gone very quiet. I told HFO I had taken advice from my boss (I work at a solicitors) and "Sunny from Delhi" at HFO said I was breaking the law by lying about where I worked and saying I worked for a solicitors when I don't (but I really do, really!!) Anyway, I've written to them asking for proof of the debt and told them I won't speak to them on the phone as they're harassing me, I listed the legislation blah blah... still waiting for a response. However, as the debt is in relation to 3G Hutchinson, I thought I'd send 3G a copy of my complaint. Apparently, as they've instructed HFO on their behalf, they're just as responsible for the professional conduct of HFO (that's according to Consumer Credit Counselling Services - who were very helpful). I've told 3G that I will go to the press next if I don't get any satisfaction. I'll keep you updated of any progress. The thing is, a company will only keep going as long as it has clients and it seems that the owner/MD of HFO is dodgy as hell. So threatening him and his minions with legislation and law probably won't dent his confidence much. The best thing to do is starve him of his clients. How? By bugging them so much that they use an alternative firm. So if you have a complaint about HFO and its in relation to 3G, then send your complaints to 3G as well as OFCOM etc. Make sure 3G are sick to the back teeth of hearing about HFO, and do the same for any other companies who employ HFO as their bully boys. Even tell the press. Record the calls and send them to the press. I'm ready with my tape recorder! I've been threatened with £1,000 fines, Court, prison (eh!?), them taking my mum and dad's house away (not sure how that one would work!!), them sending an earthquake (well maybe I'm exaggerating now), but you get my drift. Problem is, these people use a lot of legal terminology in the wrong context, but if you're not aware, you'll fall for it and be terrified by them. Be strong and firm and get as much info as possible so you know your rights. oh and I love the ever increasingly loud "Arse" response... I think I may employ that for a while!:grin: