We contacted the passport office first thing this morning and they have pretty much told us that it is unlikely it will be a problem, but have remained non-committal to a degree because obviously they can't speak for customs control either in the UK or Spain definitely. We did offer to email the photo but they said they couldn't offer us an answer based on that, clearly they want to retain impartiality which is understandable because if she was to be turned away they don't want to then be accused of providing misinformation and possibly being liable for the insurance. It would seem to me that the worst case scenario is more likely that she is stopped and taken into customs where they will most likely boot it up to a supervisor to inspect the damage and see if it's cause enough of a concern to actually stop her travelling and/or entering/leaving a country. It's unlikely they actually stop her travelling because it isn't defacement that could suggest the passport has been tampered with, it's more likely they instruct her to get it replaced, she maybe gets a bit of a hard time about it but doesn't actually have to get back on in a car or plane going in the opposite direction. She's going for two days and has a big hen party with her. She's about as close to a national security threat as my dog is but obviously rules and regulations are as such and we just want to try and get every base covered for every eventuality. The only appointment the passport office could offer her was on Friday and she leaves on Saturday. Replacement passports aren't issued same-day unless it's lost or stolen so the trip would be pointless, not to mention she'd be getting the passport changed in June after she's married and takes his name anyway.

My sister travels to Barcelona next weekend for her hen do and this evening her three year old daughter has used her mum's eyeliner to scribble on her passport. She has done it on the page to the left of her page with her photo and details on, NOT the biodata page as gov.uk advertises but rather if you were to flip the passport as they will at customs control the one directly above it. Obviously she's very worried and gov.uk's categorization of a damaged passport is not very clear. It says that one of the definitions of a damaged passport is "any chemical or ink spillage on any page." Would this cover eyeliner markings on a non-relevant page? If the worst news is that yes, it's now classified as a damaged passport what does she do? Can she realistically get a new one by next Saturday? We already have the details for the Passport Customer Service Centre but can this be done within 5 days as I know they offer a premium service in which you can obtain a passport within 4 hours directly from the office but it also seems to suggest you have a waiting period to book that appointment? Any ideas? Any help? Previous experiences welcome. It's all much appreciated! Thanks

These are precisely the reasons I am doing it. I know there is a good to excellent chance that I will receive nothing back from them in writing, which plays perfectly into my hands.

Well thanks for that information, it opens my eyes to a whole new world of deceitfulness on top of the one I already knew exist. This is why I keep telling them I will only discuss matters with them in writing so that I have a record of everything sent. I won't deviate from this path, no matter how hard they try.

Was over the phone unsurprisingly. Contact by any of these companies via letter is, shall we say, limited.

Well that's interesting then because Hellix told me today that MMF are, and I quote, their "sister company." Also confirmed OPOS as their "umbrella company and MMF's." I'm quite happy for this to be a lie also. Nothing would remotely surprise me.

Why is it? Most PDL companies are owned by the same umbrella companies. You think DCAs who operate on their behalf wouldn't be the same? You'll note these pond-life DCAs rarely operate on behalf of national banks or reputable loan companies...

What's the betting Mucky Hall, MMF, Hellix, Capquest and OPOS are all one of the same company? And the actual name of the company isn't any one of those five?

Hellix contacted me by telephone again today, unlike with MMF and the previous companies I have been dealing with, upon hanging up they simply call again and leave a message. This message was utterly scandalous, it told me I had been booked in for a home visit and it even quoted the names of the other people who live in my house and for me to inform them. I wasn't having this and despite there already being a letter winging it's way to Hellix today I called them back and told them my situation and that I was explicitly unhappy with these threats, briefly explained my situation and told them I'd contacted them by post. The man I spoke to was quite rude and aggressive to begin with but when met with my situation and my legal knowledge he started to twist and turn. He admitted that they were a 'sister company' of MMF and worked under the umbrella company, OPOS Limited, who they purchase the debt off. He couldn't tell me anything about the debt other than it's from a company called Minicredit and in the end he suggested I contacted OPOS, he gave me a telephone number and an address. I've contacted them where I spoke to a woman who got more and more nervous as the conversation went on, she couldn't provide me with any more information either and when I requested the address and the name of the accounts manager she had to go and get another member of staff to check the spelling of the name. The more this conversation went on the clearer their lies and illicit behaviour became, I'm not convinced the person I have written too even exists and the moment I started to dispute the debt with a plausible story both Hellix and OPOS, but especially OPOS, became quite nervous and started to try and kick communication back to the other company. Given upon researching both of these companies online and people's experiences seem to be that they are nasty, threatening anything-goes bully-boys, I found that if you are certain of your side of events and your legal rights that they start to panic and very quickly back down. Hellix have also broken OFT guidelines where fair practices are concerned as they have imitated legal standing to attempt to mislead of confuse an alleged debtor. The message is from a man claiming to be a debt enforcer who will be visiting my address and I am to inform the other people living here, the man I actually spoke too says this person is an adviser and can book me in for a home visit (which we all know probably won't happen). They've also sent me a letter which makes legal threats they couldn't possibly follow through on. I should also add the umbrella company OPOS have never contacted me. Isn't it quite odd that this is where the debt was supposedly purchased from because presumably that company couldn't reach a settlement with me, yet I have never received any communication from that company? First I've heard of them occurred today when I spoke to Hellix. What it seems is that these companies who are all presumably joint-owned, or at least in partnership, kick old and fraudulent debts between one another, use different approaches and tactics and do most of their business by phone in order to just try and get someone at the address and phone number they have to make a payment. All the many months and all the threats under the sun and I am yet to receive one of the following three things: - Written proof of the debt including the full balance and breakdown, the account details and proof of the transaction and contract - A visit from these so-called doorstep collectors. - A CCJ or any other actual legal action against my name I can't understand why, if this debt was genuine and they had fail-proof evidence, they haven't just taken me to court. They'd win, right? And I'd end up paying. I've never encountered such dodgy business practices in my life, their websites are a joke too, half of the services they claim to offer are unlawful and who would go to a backwater company like this when you could employ a reputable solicitor? But then I've probably answered my own question there, backwater companies!

I eventually received a reply from MMF saying they were putting my account on hold barring an 'investigation'. Unsurprisingly I heard no more but now I'm being contacted by furthermore jokers Hellix who desperately try to sound more official and fearsome in their threats by quoting my address at the end of their messages as if to say, "hey, buddy, guess what!? We've got your address." Yes, I know, because you got it off the back of MMF who got it off the back of the signed-for letter I sent, prior to which you had diddly-squat which should tell you something... If I don't phone by midday tomorrow further action could be taken on my account. Sure, sure. I'll look forward too it....

That's actually quite a good idea! I have some old monopoly money from a version of the board game which is missing most of it's pieces, perhaps I'll send them that!

So, guess what I just received in the post? A letter from MMF. A generated letter claiming I have not replied to their earlier letters and they would be instructing a doorstep agent to come visit me if I don't contact them, they very kindly sent a standing order form and pre-paid envelope with it (that's in the bin!). This company are excellent. I've never been written to by them before, then I send a letter this week by recorded delivery and they've clearly lifted my address off the back of it because they didn't even set the address out correctly in the letter. I've been bugged by phone calls and text messages for the better part of three months now threatening doorstep collectors and eventually legal action, now, it appears they've gone back to the start of the process with letters and are attempting to make out that I have been in contact with them for some time. I'm going to have some fun with this one, they still haven't declared what the debt is either, just an amount. They are quite clearly fishing.

I'd also add from my friend, this attachment of earnings order they claim courts can serve is a pile of old dog's droppings. The only time courts ever enforce this is in relation to failure to pay child support or tax-related issues, they don't do it for private debts. I mean can you imagine if they actually tried that, given the state of the economy and people's living standards in the UK currently and the very negative attention on payday loan companies and short-term credit loans of late, it would make the national news if they ever did such a thing, or sent anyone to prison for failing to pay off a debt such as these ones. It's a complete myth in the UK and it's founding's are as ancient as slavery, as the law states, you can't be sent to prison for non-payment on a non-priority debt. Payday loans are non-priority debts, so far that matter are overdrafts, mobile phone contracts, higher-purchase agreements and ANY unsecured loan. Even those who totally default on their mortgages don't tend to end up in prison, courts will always work something out, no-one's getting sent to HMP for failing to pay back £250 they borrowed off Wonga. With the current climate in this country you'd be on Watchdog and Panorama before you knew it, you'd be a cult hero.

Well, well, well......... I especially like the bit about the company being 'ethical' in their recovery procedures, that's f-ing hilarious. In my case alone they've broken three laws already! So at least I know now, that if I go down the same road as I did with MH chances are it's going to go the same way as it did with them. After my persistent responses I stopped hearing from them. Last point of contact was over two years ago.....

Yeah it's pretty typical behaviour of these companies too. One of the previous two I dealt with were Mackenzie Hall and they were signing letters with 'John Smith'. They also sent me a letter which came across as an official solicitor's notice of intent, it even had a mock county court logo in the top right corner. Fortunately I have a family friend who's wife is a solicitor and she looked it over for me and wrote it off in about ten minutes, she also said it was one of the most fraudulent documents she'd ever seen in her career.