Thanks Wino, Im going to sort it tomorrow but Im so angry, I really hope this isnt happening to other people also

I am sitting here in shock, sorry to sound a bit dramatic, but I have just telephoned HM Revenue & Customs Tax Credits helpline and they took my name and National Insurance number as usual but then said they had to ask me a set of questions to prove I was who I said I was. This service would be provided by EXPERIAN!! And the questions may have nothing to do with Tax Credits. Well i was on the phone for 10 minutes, and then FAILED!! They now say I will be contacted by my local HM Rev & Customs office within 48 hours to attend an interview to ascertain my identity!! I suggested that perhaps the new system was not working properly as I am ME and no one else and answered the given questions and would like to speak to someone else. I was told if there is time at some point today a supervisor will call me back but in order for them to access the system I have to pass this test!! So even if I do get to speak to someone they cant access me on the system. I wouldnt mind but I have a case being fast tracked by my lone parent advisor at the Job Centre and they just wanted my Child Benefit number (again) and I was just ringing to give it to them. What is wrong with this system if I cant even prove I am myself. Has anyone else had this same problem?? I am not waiting for 48 hours to be contacted I am going down there now to prove I am myself and get this sorted, fast track my a&*e rant over, thanks for reading ps, whole point of actually posting is to see if this has happened to anyone else and should i make a complaint and who to etc? Surely they cant use a system that doesnt work

Wow, I am very new here, but your post really got me thinking, I was thinking, hmmm ethics yes, but not the ethics of the consumer, but the ethics of the British Government allowing DCA and the likes to buy and sell debt for pennies or a few pounds, why not let US buy ourselves out of debt for those prices? Why on earth should there even be an industry in practice based around debt? Where are the ethics in that?? Why cant the government buy the debts for a few pounds and let us all pay them off at a price we can afford, why charge us endlessly for debts we never would have occurred in the first place if proper information was given?? I was cajoled into a Visa debit card as a pregnant and unemployed single mum to be of 20, my first ever debt, which I am still struggling with almost 14 years later. Now I am battling with charges that were caused by other charges and now owe thousands on just a couple of hundred pounds of an overdraft. Where are the ethics in that being allowed to happen??? Seriously, I know I dont have the knowledge of some of the people on here, but charging people with less money MORE to borrow money, and making people feel sick and depressed and even suicidal.....you tell me where are the ethics in THAT???? I am disgusted with the debt industry in the UK and cannot be me more grateful for finding this website this week. I am now in control. Not ONE DCA are going to make me lose one minute of sleep or make me answer my front door. I am now in control and will deal ethically and correctly with all my debts until I am debt free and back in control of my finances.

I will let you know what is produced in this so called letter they are going to send me by post confirming the payments. Thanks for your help guys.

WOW that was quick, had a reply this morning basically saying that although the original default was made in 1998, I made a payment of £5 in 2005. They are going to send me a statement in the post to prove it, and the balance is due now. Im quite interested to see what they come up with, the only thing I can think of is if my dad made a payment on my behalf, as I was quite ill and he took over a lot of my paperwork for me. I eagerly await their reply

Hi, just wanted to introduce myself. Found this place today while searching the internet for help regarding being hassled for a very old debt. Found just what I needed to sort it out and now feel on top of the world. I am in fact in debt all over the place due to different reasons. But this forum has given me the confidence to actually stop ignoring and hiding and actually deal with things. Just wanted to say thanks. Will be dealing with things one debt at a time with help from here. I think I will sleep really well tonight. SB x:D

can I just pop in here and say this thread is fantastic as is this site, I have now acted on something that has been bothering me for ages, see Meritforce threatening letter v.old debt thread. I am just sitting her now worrying about all the other people in a similar situation as me worrying about debts, especially at this time of the year when money seems to be more of an issue. Thanks for giving me the energy and information to deal with this issues I had today. Your all amazing

exactly Lexis, I am still in financial hell but after spending more or less ALL of today on this forum I am now actually opening letters i had been ignoring and feeling a great sense of excitement about DEALING with things instead of putting them off, and I now relish the prospect of someone coming to the house, I have letters printed off and filed in a folder by the door ha ha. Sorry for hijacking this thread slightly here.

wow - I have just finished reading this whole thread, so glad you have found this place Vicky, I just found it today, I am so angry at the DCA's for making you feel so low, how despicable are these people?? This makes me sick, why on earth should they be able to buy our debts for pennies why not just let US pay them off for pennies instead and get rid of the DCA's alltogether!!! grrrrrrrrr chin up Vicky, Ive only been on here for 1 day but already feeling more empowered about my financial situation, just do everything everyone has said and it will soon be sorted. SB

I googled 'Old Debts' and this place popped up, so thank you Mckenzie Hall Limited / Meritforce for sending me this way.

Letter sent via e-mail, will see if anything happens and let you know. Love it, the innit bunch who cant spell. They are based in Chester and they sponsor all the roundabouts in the area, quite funny really. Spelling obviously not there forte!!

theratboy - it really does annoy me that they can do this sort of stuff, but glad theres a place like this to come and discuss it and get advice, invaluable. Scare tactics really dont wash with me.

I never signed anything, as I was a child at the time I opened my account and they upgraded it when debit cards became more available. I went into my bank one day, I was 20 at the time and had no income, went in to pay in a cheque i got for my birthday, and the woman at the desk asked me if I wanted a debit card instead of just a cash card? I said I couldnt as I was on the dole and she said it doesnt matter as I used my bank regularly enough. So I got one, realised I could use it when I had no money in my bank and had a bit of a weekend of fun!! Very young and naive at the time, it was when places actually used those carbon sliding machines to take a card payment, and as it had a Visa logo on the card I could use it everywhere!! Id love to see my signature on anything from them. Thanks for the help, will e-mail the letter right away. SB

thanks hungrybear sorry to be a pain, but who would be the current creditor?? The letter says the original creditor as Barclays, and the pursuer as Aktiv Kapital,

Hello everyone, new here but seems to be the place to come for advice. Have just been reading through many posts and think I know what to do, but just want to clarify things. Particular debt I am struggling to deal with is from 12 years ago. YES 12 years, I had totally forgotten about it to be honest. It was originally a Visa Debit card with Barclays Bank that I used and went overdrawn. They quickly closed my account, it was only about £300 and I made arrangements to pay £1 a week at the time, which I did by sending postal orders weekly. I didn't do this for long not even 6 months. This year I have received about 2 letters a month from Aktiv Kapital requesting that I pay £253.63 to clear this debt. Apart from those early payments in 1998 I have neither responded to or paid anything towards this debt. This morning Mertiforce have written to me to let me know they will visit my address at some point within the next 10 days. Formal proceedings MAY be considered if I make no positive commitment to pay. I can call someone at Mackenzie Hall Limited before the 3rd December if I wish to avoid this. It also says that if I fail to make payment they MAY charge me adding additional costs to my debt. --------------------- Ok so using that Letter M I can write to them, but do I send this to Meritforce, Mackenzie Hall, Aktiv Kapital or Barclays?? Also I read that they have to make an appointment, great idea but can I really say that to them?? Also what If (being totally honest here) I can't be bothered, let them come round. Can I not just say that I am not going to pay as so much time has elapsed and the debt is definitely statute barred?? And how can they possible add to my debt, this debt had its interest stopped when I agreed to pay £1 a month in 1998. Also If I write to them am I acknowledging the debt and will this cause it to be revived?? Sorry for such a long post and thanks in advance for reading and any help. SB