Well here I am 3 years later, still using my ecigs and enjoying it. Lots of research out there now, there is a list of some of them on this page http://forum.vapourtrails.tv/forumdisplay.php?fid=30 I hope this info is of assistance to you all, any questions please join us on our facebook account, VapourTrails.tv or our website, same name..

I Know This. Hehehe Husband of Christena

With reference to my post No 6. I would also like to add further comments on how these fleecers at Link Financial operate. They have added £7000 interest on to a CCJ which legally they cannot collect until the debt has been repaid in full - sometime in the year 2500 I believe! and then would have to go to court to enforce this. I kept on telling them - I only owe you £6000 (less what I have paid todate). They insisted that the CCJ had "expired" After several quotations of this "expired CCJ" I came to realise that what was being said was that the Wrath of Link Financial was about to fall onto my humble self and I was about to be bullied into making larger repayments. I replied saying I have been making repayments as per the courts instructions for the last 12 years and will continue to do so. In effect, I am complying with the law and if I pay more or less than £1.00 per month I would be in contempt of court. They, on the other hand are in contempt of court by trying to make me pay otherwise! but I doubt if they would ever put this on paper. When I offered them £200.00 they said it couldn't be taken as F&F but they could take it against the debt - cheeky beggers! And finally, if the bank that lent me the money in the first place had paid out on the PPI, this situation would never have happened at all. Husband of Christena

Had Link Financial on the phone about three weeks ago offering a £4000 discount on a £13000 Debt. In 2000 it was £6000 with a CCJ attached with a monthly repayment of £1 which we have paid ever since. Nice little profit for them in my mind even with a discount! They bought the debt in 2005 and now only pester us once a year. Luckily, after following this fantastic site for the last year I am now able to see them off. I offered them £200 F&F (wanted it in writing mind!) She was taken aback - How do you come to that figure she asked. Well, if I live another 20 years you'll only get £240 was my reply. She did not like this at all and I burst out laughing at her at which point she said she was going to report me to her supervisor. Oh dear what have I done! Can't wait till next year - hope I get an aggresive one. Husband of Christena

Update to this thread. SAR's from GE (90 pages) and Link (18 pages) received. Also, wrote to my MP - he has replied saying he has written to the Office of Fair Trading and will contact me when he receives a reply. Link have charged me a "admin fee" of £5.00 for the SAR on top of the £10.00 payment I have made, is this not classed as vexatious ! SAR shows monthly interest being added on top of over £4,000.00 interest added for the period up to 01/08/2004 from the court date. Wow, wish I could create money like this ! They didn't even own the debt until 2005. In fact, they only registered the ownership of the debt with the court in January this year. GE say they sold the debt to Link in August 2005, but I was paying to Link in May 2005 - Admin error ?? I have drafted a letter to send to GE asking to refund the PPI plus contractual interest. Also, I have drafted a letter for Link headed "Formal Letter of Complaint" due to mis-sold PPI on the original loan. What I would like to add but would welcome comments, is that if GE do not refund the PPI I will claim of Link the sum of the PPI plus contractual interest which when calculated from the original loan date up to present would equate to the sum of some £13,000.00 I know that the chances of Link off-setting this against the debt would be slim but it would make me feel a lot better ! or am I loosing my common sense? Since the SAR from Link says the next review date is February 2012 I don't want to start a letter tennis war with them. Husband of Christena .

Perhaps sometime in the future all banks that write off debt should be forced to enter details of write off's on a "Debit File" accessable to the public. This in turn could be used as factual evidence should one of the DCA piranahs come along - sorry to any fish reading this - not wanting to liken you to a DCA ! Don't think the banks would want do this however after some of the cock ups they have made. Husband of Christena

I wish I had a "Legal" mind. How to prove that a debt which has been written off legally can still be enforceble as being recoverable by a DCA. The phrase "The law is an ass" comes to mind. Husband of Christena

HMRC would have no idea of what bad debts would have been claimed against profits. HMRC, should they wish to know the individual details of the bulk figure would have to demand disclosure of this figure from the firm of accountants that produced the accounts. Husband of Christena

Sorry, my knowledge is rather limited although am learning day by day! I would add that any bad debt claimed has to be provenly exhausted by means of collection. If a CCJ is recorded on this debt then this is sufficient enough to prove it is uncollectable by the OC. Husband of Christena

If you look at any profit & loss account for any business that has written off any bad debt you will find a heading called "Bad Debt write off" under business expenses. This will not show you what particular debts have been written off but will be a total of what was written on in that fiscal year. Husband of Christena

Hello twofoot By selling the debt off at a loss, they are effectively claiming back losses against corporation tax. and in doing so are writing the debt off. Whatever DCA purchasing this debt has IMHO no right to demand a collection of the original amount owed as this has been reclaimed from taxation on profits. Husband of Christena

I told them about Link Financial sending me a letter saying the account had been suspended even though a CCJ is in place, kept on paying them though as if not they would probably be able to go to court and get a charging order on our house.

I've just put my 6 pence worth in !

Hi twoman, Permit me to give my thoughts. Banks are commercial businesses. Bank interest charges allows for defaults (has in-built costing provision against loss through default by the borrower). Bank takes defaulter to court to prove all avenues of collection have been exhausted thus allowing it to write off the cost of the debt plus collection charges against profit. Bank Profit less Write Off cost results in the bank ending up even. Why do they need DCA's, the borrower has already been punished by bad credit history. Bank "sells" to DCA. DCA profit = Massive. Borrower = plunged further into debt. DCA's aren't doing this to collect a debt, they are doing it to profit, this is a commercial business and has no connection to the borrower, only that the borrower could not keep up repayments on a debt which has been written off by the original lender. Again, why do we need DCA's, the borrower has already been punished by bad credit history. Simplified but not oversimplified. Husband of Christena

Hi Mark I'm sorry but I'm not experienced enough to help you. However, I can say that in my case, Link bought my debt off First National Bank in April'05 but only registered it with the court in January this year, almost 6 years later. Someone with more knowledge will come along I'm sure. Husband of Christena

Hi Stoney Well, we are all supposed to be living longer these days ! Reading on another thread I gather all debts sold to Link from FNB/GE have a clause saying they can charge interest even after a CCJ/IVA/debt payment plan has been put in place. But Link say if you phone them they may be able to reduce the interest - fat chance me phoning them - had enough with Triton acting for Natwest. Husband of Christena PS SAR letters now in post

Whilst on the computer I also would like to add the following comments regarding our banks: In 2002 I was advised to set up a limited company bank account for tax purposes. I tried a lot of the high street banks - to no avail - credit rating shot. I was left with 1 bank, you guessed it, Natwest. I could not believe it - they said YES. In 2007 I looked for a mortgage as we had been living in rented property for 8 years. I could not believe it - FNB/GE said YES. Funny old world. Husband of Christena

Hi Stoney Was a bit knackered last night, takes it out of you a bit this form filling thing ! Well, the last time i made a payment to FNB was back in April 2005, after that to Link - can't find the NOA but am sure I received It. Funny enough I can still remember my thoughts when reading the CCJ. "You must pay the claimant a total of £XXXX.XX by instalments of £1.00 per month" Wow I thought I'll only be 500 odd years old when i've paid it off !! TBH it was a relief, considering I had the following to pay off: Natwest loan & overdraft £15,000 Natwest credit cards £3,000 C L Finance CCJ £500 Tax Man £3,000 plus. Today I am left with this 1 debt only - Link Surely these banks would realise that a creditor can only pay what they can, and do. The majority of people are finacially aware of what they spend & borrow and don't take it lightly when their income is reduced by forces outside of their control. Hence the use of DCA's IMO is utterly immoral. Husband of Christena

Yeah Stoney When I read details of the SAR I noticed the part about PPI and, if they still are holding details (after all this time ?) I may get a copy, and although it may be a bit late in the day, if our loan account had not been credited during this time then why had I paid for insurance in the first place. Guess I'll find out in 40 days. Husband of Christena

Thanks Stoney Your help is much appreciated I have visited the library and have adapted 2 SAR templates to send to Link & FNB, will take them to the post office in the morning. I must say that I am very apprehensive about testing the water so to speak, but better to be on the offensive than just waiting for something to happen. Some 10 to 15 years ago we just caved in, and as this is the last of our unpaid debts from this era, and with the Internet and the help on this site I find inspiration to fight on. Husband of Christena

Sorry Should have typed 1997 not 1977. Yes, I do have the original particulars of the claim: The Defendents are indebted to the Claimant under the the terms of an original agreement dated 19/06/97 regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The agreement provided that interest would be payable before and after Judgement. The right to proceed for subsequent interest is reserved. Default occurred in payment and the loan was called in under S.87 of the said Act. Husband of Christena

Thanks Stoney & Beachcomer. I Have been reading up on your misfortunes with Stink. My head is spinning just reading a couple of pages! Yes, the CCJ does state "The claimant may be entitled to further interest" but at todays rates 23.30% seems a tad OTT ! I have been led to believe they could not do this, but it appears they can. I will read the rest of story over the weekend - think it will take at least that to even take a little in ! I think I was the only person insured as I was the only person working (my wife is disabled) but as the initial loan was in 1977 we can't find the paperwork, only remember FNB refusing to pay out on insurance because I did not have an employer to confirm loss of earnings even though I stated initially that I was self employed. Hey Ho Thanks for your help I Guess my weekend has been spoken for...... Husband of Christena

Received a statement dated 28/03/11 now stating debt allmost £13000 after adding on latest interest @ 23.30%!! Having had no reply to the letter I sent to the court, I phoned the court and was told Link had registered their name in January this year as being the owner of the debt and could add interest if they so wished, this allmost six years after buying it. I believed that the max. was 8%. At this rate I may well find a debt of £100,000 after another 10 years! but I will keep on making my £1.00 per month payment. Does anyone have a notion when Link will attempt to redetermine the monthly payment by taking us back to court. Many Thanks Husband of Christena

another good idea, thanks PGH.. At the moment, Im going to sit tight and await the courts response.

Thanks Jimbo... yes my blood is kinda boiling too.. My husband wasnt in control of his clients, and when businesses went under due to the recession, his followed suit, so we went from him working 5 days a week, to only one day, and being disabled, there was little I could do to assist. So we undertook the process of writing to everyone we owed money to, and negotiate lower payments etc., which the majority complied with, two unfortunately took us to court, and since that time my hubby has made sure all got paid on a regular basis, and when recently we were down to just two, he made an agreed lower settlement with one, leaving the LINK one as it stood, as we just couldnt afford to clear that one. I feel certain the LINK were made aware that we had done this, hence the harrassment now. I agree with you that our Government should not allow this kind of business to thrive, nor should they be allowing all the advertising that consolidation loan companies are doing under the pretence of helping people get rid of debt. I am just thankful I found you all, as this site has truly given me the determination to fight..