Ok.. have heard from them again.. Would really appreciate feedback on this: "as requested, I now enclose a standard letter of authority which confirms that we have been instructed by Halifax in this matter. A personalised letter of authority has been requested and will be sent under separate cover. I have today contacted my client and requested that they look again for the file and once obtained we will be in a position to provide you with a completion statement of account and also a copy of the Mortgage Deed. Your comments regarding a SARN request to my client has been noted however, after checking with them, it has come to light that they never received your request or payment of £10. I would therefore suggest you send again... You state that no further payments will be made, however, you have never made a payment to CIS Ltd regarding this matter. I look forward to hearing from you with 14 days" The standard letter is a badly photocopied letter with Halifax' letterhead, but no date or mention of my name. The letter simply says: "I can confirm that CIS Ltd has been instructed to act for Halifax in its indemnity provider to negotiate a full and final settlement of a borrowers liability to the Halifax and indemnity provider following the sale of the borrowers property by the Halifax as mortgagee" This letter does clear up one point for me. The debt has obviously been sold twice. I was making payments up until about 5 years ago. CIS say I have never made payments TO THEM. My letter to Halifax was sent recorded delivery - but I can't find the slip!!! New letter going today. What are your thoughts on this now?

Good stuff. Keep us posted.

Great news NN!

Good God! That's awful!!! Thanks for the insight - really interesting

Thanks very much Alan. I will do that today.

Thanks Alan. Do you think the letter is strong enough, or should I be harder? Also, do you think I should write to Halifax again?

Thanks Alan. I have written to Halifax, and they have not even acknowledged my letter. Do you think I should write to them again? Also, what do you think of the letter I have written to the DCA? Should I be stronger and say outright that if they cannot prove they are entitled to collect, then I won't pay them? The debt is between me and an ex partner, although the DCA cannot find him (an I don't know where he is) However, the debt would still be split between the 2 of us. 14k each. thanks

Bump... Please....

Sounds like the bunch who called me (in Scotland) last year. The ads do go in an Emergency Services wall planner thing that goes out free to people - I can't imagine anyone looks at the ads! They have very aggressive sales staff who hear the words "yes - I will pay your exorbitant amount to advertise somewhere no-one will see me" even if those words do not come out of your mouth! You need to be quite strong and tell them NO. They play on your emotions - saying it is for charity/fire services etc. I asked lots of detail about them. [EDIT] Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further assistance. Regards Julie O'Neill SALES Julie O'Neill

What about this..: Thank you for your recent letter in response to my Subject Access Request in which you enclose copies of all the letters you have sent me as well as a photocopy of a print out of my name and address (my name is incorrectly spelled.) This is not the information I require. I am still waiting to see a signed true copy of the deed of assignment of the above referenced agreement that you allege exists. In response to your suggestion I send a covering letter to you with a cheque made payable to Halifax requesting a SARN, I would advise you that I have already done this. I am still waiting to hear from Halifax. They have until 11th November to respond. I note that Halifax told you on 6th September 2006 that they have “mislaid the file” and have asked you to request the details in another 6 months. Please feel free to contact me again in February when Halifax have passed this information to you. If I hear from them in response to my recent enquiry, I will contact you.

Hi. They're chasing the full amount - just over 28k. My question is - are they able to -since they have no legal documents?

Bump... Help.. Please... I REALLY do need some assistance on this...

Don't know... All I can tell you is that I (and 5 family members) DID go to Florida on a hoover!! I just persisted and persisted... I got the actual telephone number to a PERSON and called every single day (we were on 1st name terms!) until they gave in and gave us the holiday! Don't give up - be a pest - I'm sure you'll be heading off on that ship sooner or later!

Hi. I have heard back from the DCA. Halifax have still not acknowledged my letter, or cashed the £10 for the SAR I sent them. What the DCA have sent looks absolutely useless, but I really need some advice. Are they able to claim from me with what they have sent me: Their covering letter says "Further to your request please find all the information you are entitled to under the DPA. Please note that if you require a SARN request from my client, you should forward a coverting letter to myself and enclose a further cheque for £10 payable to Halifax." a) Copies of all the letters they have sent me in the last 6 months. (I already have all those!) b) More blank sheets for me to complete with my outgoings (I have already done this!) c) A photocopy of a very unofficial looking print off entitled Cisac 2000 headed 'borrower details'. This has my name (incorrectly spelled) and my current address. Nothing more. d) A second Cisac 2000 entitled 'account details'. This has the address of the old mortgage and a box saying: original loss: £29,641.06 Sale £33,500.00 Gross loss: £28,770.06 Net loss: £28,770.06 e) A 'case history' report - which is just a typed sheet giving details of their involvement. This goes back to 15/9/05 - where it says: CAUTION - NEW CASE. Take appropriate action. Completion date 22/10/92 Expired 22/10/98. It then goes on to show that they traced me through Electoral register and Equifax, then a list of all the 'generic type' letters they sent me. On 6/9/06 there is a note to say "Halifax have mislaid the file and have requested that we hold for 6 months and request details again" I am tempted to tell them the same. Surely these 'details' are NOT enough to prove they have the right to collect the money? There is no signed agreement. In fact nothing official at all - everything they have looks to have come from their own office. What steps should I now take? THANK YOU to you!!

Don't be daunted. Just follow the steps - piece by piece - as you get on with the rest of your life. All the support you need is here on the site.

Thanks for keeping us posted and I hope you are feeling better now. Well done!

Paula. Don't fret. LOADS of us have been to court. Please search the forums for the stories. Abbey ALWAYS say that they are intending to defend - this is absolutely normal procedure and nothing to be concerned about. Please have a proper look trhough all the longer Abbey threads. Look at mine for starters. Although I didn't appear incourt (only cos I was on holiday), my lawyer did. Abbey will only send a trainee solicitor, and the judge will set a date for proof. Abbey will cough up before then anyway. DON'T panic! It aint like Judge Judy and the court is there to help YOU.

No - you need to pay Equifax to view your credit file. You can do it online. It's a bit of a long way for a short cut though... I would persue Barclaycard under the normal procedure.

Yes that's right. Barclaycard told me they were defending, but did not enter a defence in time. Therefore I was granted a decree by the court and Barclaycard were ordered to cough up.

Just checked their site.. it says: 6.4 Upon registering for your free trial, your method of payment will be authorised for up to three months of service - to verify your identity, and to protect us from theft and fraud. Some banks or payment card companies may reflect this authorisation against your available balance or credit limit. No actual charges, however, will be made against the card if you cancel prior to the end of your free trial. Not clear!

God! Is that right? I obviously don't check my bank statements closely enough as I didn't notice money coming out of my account!

I reckon it must be a mistake. I had 3 months free with them, then started paying once that ran out. Have you contacted them to ask why they've taken money?

They make it up as they go along! They deposited my money in my account and didn't even tell me! Get on the phone Cath and kick em up the backsides!

Yes, the Courts tend to take a dim view of people who claim way over the odds for expenses. Keep it to what the actual monetary cost was.

No probs! Although it won't be a letter.. It will be a claim via paypal on their website Welcome - PayPal. Assuming he paid by Paypal.. Did he? It's important to know how he paid. Hopefully it WAS Paypal, as they give pretty good protection to buyers. Let us know if you need more help - I am an ebay Power Seller and a paypal user, so I'm fairly used to the set up.