Result! Thanks for the advice folks, MacKenzie Hall have accepted statute barred status.

Hi folks I've just returned from holiday to hear a similar story to Autobot's from my 81 year old mum. She hasn't received phonecall threats yet, but I'm guessing these will follow. A couple of days ago she had a letter about an unpaid Vodaphone account from DRS with the suggestion that they will be visiting her home that upset her so much that she had a billious attack followed by a nasty fall. She is due to go into hospital for a major operation soon and the stress is doing her no good at all. She is terrified, confused and convinced they are going to come to her home and is now even worried about leaving windows open 'in case they get in'. It wouldn't be as bad if she'd refused to pay - even though strictly speaking it isn't her bill. The phone was purchased in her name as a present for her grandson, she made the initial payments but then got into difficulty (she now receives pension credit), and the payments were taken over via DD from her via his bank account. Vodaphone were told this, accepted the DD but for some reason it was not taken on the date agreed which meant there were insufficient funds. Her grandson has also got cashflow problems now, which doesn't help. As the contract is in Mum's name, she is getting the demands for payment first via Fredericksons and now from DRS. Letters have been exchanged and phonecalls have been made to Vodaphone and later Fredericksons offering to pay in installments, but this was refused. Prior to this, my daughter tried to make a payment to Vodaphone by card over the phone, but this was refused by the Vodaphone operator. She was told a manager would call her back, but the call never came. My daughter has copies of all correspondence and has dates of phonecalls, but that doesn't seem to be helping mum now. My arguement is that if the DD date hadn't been wong, if the card payment had been taken over the phone and the payment plan accepted, my mum wouldn't be in this position now. All that has been asked is that Vodaphone take back the account and take responsibility for what is partly their mess. Now the debt has increased considerably, my disabled 81 year old mum is in a terrible state and I don't know what to do to be able to assist her. Before mum received the DRS letter, my daughter contacted the Ombudsman but I'm concerned that the situation is now getting out of hand. Help and advice please.

As I guessed, another letter arrived this morning via those lovely folks Aktiv Kapital so now I have the account number. Ha ha, I'm quite enjoying this now. :whoo:Thanks again for the advice, letters ready to post on Monday.

Cheers folks, advice gratefully received. Another call at work and one at home today, didn't withhold their number this time. On the plus side, letters drafted, phone provider contacted with a view to changing my number, Bazooka Boo's advice re becoming incognito noted and all numbers they have used so far have been blocked. Just two things: 1. I do not have an account number to add to the SB and telephone harrassment letters as I've shredded previous letters from them. Does this make any difference? 2. I do not answer any suspicious or withheld numbers, I leave them to voicemail both at work and at home. I guess I can delete the section which mentions verbally telling them to stop calling? I don't really want to speak to them if it can be avoided, especially at work.

I'm registered with TPS but still get a lot of unsolicited calls. I never answer numbers I don't recognise anyway. The voicemail message left a Kilmarnock number to call back. :lol:Needless to say I am not going to Thank goodness for caller display and voicemail. Oh yes, SB letter suitably drafted and waiting a couple of days before posting.

Thanks again for the advice. They're ringing my ex directory home number from a whithheld number and leaving stupid automated voicemail messages now. How does that happen then? I never give my number out to anyone apart from friends and family

Thanks for the advice folks. I'm reluctant to send the SB letter. I always assumed that it wasn't wise to have any contact with them otherwise the debt is 'unbarred' and the 6 year clock starts ticking again? I don't really want to reveal my real name because of possible harrassment of family living in the vicinity, (although somehow they managed to find my mum anyway). I don't trust them not to call my work number again either once they know they have reached me. I don't have a reference number as I've shredded the letters and deleted the voicemail anyway.. ...but I'm sure another letter will arrive pretty soon. Isn't an SB letter admitting that I owe the money when I'm not even certain if I do or what it's for. I think I saw mention in one of the letters regarding Barclays but I have never had an account there! I'm not sure what to do now, once I receive another letter would you send the SB letter but print the name they are using to try to contact me?

I have posted about debt collection agencies in the past, but now it seems the statute barred debt has been sold on once again. I've had numerous letters over the years, the most recent last week which I shredded. These letters are not addressed to me but they are in a name that I used after I divorced to get away from my ex husband and his debts. Mackenzie Hall are just one of many trying it on for a debt that I'm not even sure that I owe - the letters never say what it is for. Anyway, it must be over 16 years old, so it is definitely statute barred. I have moved several times over the years and the letters stopped when I moved to my current address. Unfortunatley, my mother recently took a call from someone and she naively gave information which may have confirmed my address. Strange again as her surname is the same as mine, is in the phonebook but nothing like the name MH are using. MH are now calling my work phone number and leaving automated voicemail messages. I think they must be ringing an old number that somehow gets diverted to my new number, so at least the voicemail messages can be deleted. I work for a large organisation, but no-one knew me for the brief period that I used the temporary name, so I am at a loss to know how MH have my work phone number unless someone on the main switchboard has put the call directly through to my voicemail. I am concerned that should MH ring the main switchboard asking for me by my first name that the call will be put through or worse still, be passed on to one of the bosses. I do not want to have any contact with them but I don't wish my employers or colleagues to know my personal business. Help and advice please.

Thanks. Incorrectly addressed letter has followed from Link but so have many others from other such companies in recent years and I've never responded to those. Letter destined for the shredder.

My 82 yr old mum has been harassed by a caller today saying he needed to contact me. He mentioned two of my old addresses and wanted clarification of where I was now living. Of course Mum didn't tell him but I think she may have let slip that she is my mum After googling the phone number, I'm guessing it may be regarding a Student Loan which does fall under SB. The number he gave her to pass on to me was 02920853510 but she can only remember the name 'Mike' and not the company he represented. Needless to say, I won't be calling him but I'm concerned that he may continue to hassle mum. I guess she could send the letter as suggested? Any advice welcome

Thanks, I know but its better than dealing with bailiffs

Hi again. They already claim benefit but this is an old bill. Good news is that the council have now softened and have said that they may be able to take the debt back and accept payment by installments. They are sending income & expenditure forms so fingers crossed and thanks for the advice.

Thanks for the advice folks, all noted for future reference. The situation so far is the council have refused daughter's offer of payment by installments. She tried to hand over a letter making an offer of payment but was told she couldn't see anyone in person. She was able to speak to a Council Tax Recovery/Court officer on the reception 'hotline' who told her that the council can no longer deal with this so she has no choice but to contact bailiffs. This was also confirmed later via email. Advice again please. Is there any legislation that they can quote to make council think again? If the council won't take the debt back, would it be better to make an offer in writing to Bristow & Sutor? BTW daughter is pretty cool about this all, but I am still worried. They can only afford around £10 per month and I don't think that will be enough.

Thanks for the information. Today Bristow and Suter returned, bailiff put his foot in my daughter's door and handed her husband paperwork charging them £24 for the visit! :-xSad to say that my son in law has been foolish and naive and confirmed his name. My daughter has contacted the council offering to pay in installments making it clear she doesn't want to deal with bailiffs only the council. Any more advice please?

Can anyone help with a letter template please? My daughter and her hustband have received a final warning letter regarding outstanding council tax from their previous address. They do not dispute they owe the money but do not want to ring the telephone number on the document. They would like to offer to pay a minimum amount towards the £1150 bill. My son in law is on a very low wage - I think he brings home less than £900 per month. They have a one year old baby and claim Working Families Tax Credit. My daughter says that she responded to the Council by completing attachement of earnings documents a while ago, but these were ignored and Bristow and Suter got involved. Advice please, the Final Warning says goods may be seized and sold at auction. V worried. Thanks

My daughter has also received another letter despite the council getting involved in this parking fiasco on behalf of many people in the town. Mind you, they shouldn't have engaged them in the first place. She is ignoring it and so should you Phil.

Thanks for advice, it was as I expected. Did I say she was going to pay Andy? I bought her up better than that!

My daughter has received a demand from Civil Enforcement Limited regarding parking without paying in a local park. Many people in the town have also received similar letters, some of who had actually purchased tickets. This issue was headline story in the local paper last week so the town council have now decided the cover the meters, so there is no way my daughter could have bought a ticket. She is now worried that this 'Enforcement Notice' is genuine even though I've told her that it is a more or less unenforceable. She is insisting on writing to them but I don't think she should. Advice please.

Cheers for the advice

Cheers 8)

I've had dealings with Moorcrap over 02. They tried to bill my dead father for an account we cancelled after he died. I tood advice from here and it was all good - thanks folks. Anyway, I need some more advice please. I have received various letters from debt recovery companies over the years, but they are never addressed with my correct surname. I marked them 'returned to sender, not known at this address', However, today I returned home to find a hand written brown envelope on the doormat. I could see through the envelope the address on it was Scottcall, Glasgow with a handwritten invitation to ring a mobile number 'to discuss my accounts'. First of all, the surname on the envelope isn't mine and doesn't even resemble it and secondly I have no idea what accounts they are referring to. Years ago I had some debts, but these are at least 13 years old. I haven't heard anything for years, never offered or made payment and I have moved house several times, but these letters arrive at various intervals. They are never addressed correctly and up until now no-one has ever visited. Any ideas on how to deal with this? I'm inclined to ignore it but don't want threatening visits from debt collectors who won't listen to my explanation. By the way, I do not intend to call the number!

I haven't actually seen the letter as it was addressed to the family and sent to Mum's address. Checking it out this weekend and composing a suitable reply with questions. Thanks for the support folks.

Result! Wrote to 02 and emailed Moorcr@p. As suspected, no reply from latter but received an apology for the distress caused from 02 agreeing account was closed at the time of my father's death so there is nothing owing. Hmm, they may not have heard the last of me though. My mum was really upset by this and apology or not, I'm still angry.

Update as promised. Moorcr@p have now left a message on Mum's answerphone asking my dead father to ring them. I rang explaining he was deceased but was told they couldn't discuss anything with me as it was a 'data protection matter' and they needed to speak with the person concerned. Doh, dimwits! Mum was distressed at first but has decided that if they ring again to take babybear and jimbo's advice and give them the cemetary address.

Thanks, I didn't expect such a response to my question. I'll get together with my bro in a couple of days and devise a suitable reply to Moorcr@p & Co. I'll keep you posted if there are any further developments. PD x