Sorry just realised I posted in the wrong section, Could an mod please move this to the Telecoms - mobile or fixed section? Tom

This does not surprise me at all with the likes of BT! Although I don't have any issues with the concept of consumer profiling (like the Tesco ClubCard) I do have an issue with the forced, 'secret' profiling. I can opt not to use the Tesco clubcard whereas I can't see BT allowing this. For those concerned with Banking etc, they wouldn't be able to see any of the traffic once you are on an SSL (secure) site. To the ISP and every other hop along the internet from your PCs network card to that of the bank server the data would just be a scrambled mess. The only profiling they could make if this is list of SSL sites you have visited but not any keywords or data you supply. Tom

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Hi, We renewed our business phones last April through a local phone shop. Our 12 months should be up next month however, on calling Orange to arrange phone upgrades they say we're on an 18 month contract so can't do anything until October. I know I specifically stated 12 months. Orange have turned round and simply said that we need to contact the phone shop to sort the problem out, however they have stopped trading and as far as I know, the contract is with Orange. They said that the paperwork would be with the phone shop and that they don't have a copy of it. I replied with the fact that if they don't have the paperwork, and our contract is with the phone shop, then how can they hold us to a minimum term!? After telling them that the phone shop is no longer trading, they have advised us to contact Trading Standards to apparently get further details on the phone shop so that we can get the paperwork from them. Obviously, Orange won't give us PAC codes to transfer to another network and if we stop paying the bills after 12 months they will cut our phones off so whats best to do? In my last email I stated that I was giving formal notice to terminate the service giving 30 days (to the end of April) Then if they still don't comply, send them 14 day LBA at the end of April and then raise a claim in the county court but continue to pay the bills until the case is heard and request the Judge to order them to refund the additional months? Also, as they don't actually hold any paperwork or a signed contract, how could then enforce payments? Surely a judge would just throw out any claim on the basis that no contract actually exists? Tom

I have just viewed the site and its not even a valid HTML website!? Its got the most basic HTML code yet they can't even be bothered to write it in valid code! That might be another point to raise as in fact technically the website is not correct - although IE, FireFox etc render it ok, technically speaking it doesn't conform the the standards and is therefore invalid. Tom

Hi, The entry just disappeared from my credit file before I got to sending them the letter! So far so good! Tom

But how many mother's names? lol Tom

Hi, I really do understand your situation - because of all this I have been stuck with 5 liability orders (4 paid off already) bailiffs & attachment of earnings etc for the last4 years. I have lost all confidence in the local council and VOA. Their only intention is to rob us for everything we've got! Why should the council be able to enforce coucil tax through magistrates court? Surely they should get in line with everyone else? Grrr, really gets my goat! Tom

Thanks for the reply, it is extemely anoying that apparantly they are independant from the council and have no financial interest in their decision... why do they not act like that! My main question at the moment is to if I can raise court proceedings against the VOA as they are 'an executive agency of the HM Revenue & Customs' Tom

Hi CourtOfficerSpeaks, I have just stumbled across this thread and its great that you are offering your knowledge from 'the other side'! I had a local county court bailiff after me for a CCJ the creditor obtained at my old address (intentionally!) Anyhow, he posted a note through the letterbox so I contacted him to say that I was going to submit a N244 form applying for a set aside (hearing is next Monday actually) but he still sent a letter saying pay up in 7 days otherwise he will return with a locksmith. Can they actually claim this in their letters? Surely its some form of intimidation? He has gone away because I submitted my N244 form, however he was extremely rude on the phone. Tom

Hi, I have a long running dispute with the VOA. I took out a 3 year lease on a 3 story shop in 2003. I moved into the two upper floors and the property was split by the VOA so that the ground floor was business and upstairs was domestic and therefore attracted Council Tax for the flat and Non Domestic Rates for the shop/office. 11 months later, we couldn't afford to stay at the premises so I found alternate live accomodation and moved out the flat. About 3 weeks later the business also left the property. I was unable to get out the lease (thats another story) so was liable for the remain 2 years & 1 month empty property rates on both the flat and shop. I tried to get the VOA to re-value the property back as one business premises as thats what it was now (and was origionally) but every step they have dug their heals in. They wanted to inspect the property to decide if it should be revalued as one but as I had returned the keys, I had no way to allow them access. My lease terminated in Jan 2006 and in July 2007 the property was re-let. After checking the VOA website, the new tenants have had the property re-combined as one business property. I then contacted the VOA again this week to point out that they had done this and ask that they backdate this to when I had the property. Unfortunately they are still refusing as they say that the last use of the upper floors was domestic and cannot change that without an inspection. I pointed out that the upper floors were used by the business for a few weeks after we moved out the flat and therefore the last use was business, however they say that 3 weeks is not sufficient time to class it as business use! I am really annoyed at how obstructional they have been. Apparantly I am not able to appeal their decision as I am no longer an interested party (ie my lease has expired). Can I take this to the county court and ask a judge to decide on my evidence as I am clearly not getting anywhere with the VOA directly. Tom

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Hi, Just seen this post, I too have 3 accounts that have failed to provide the agreement and it around a year ago now. I have looked on the Information Commissioner's website but can't find a suitable form to make the complain. Can you confirm what we need to do and also, what can we expect to achieve from complaining? Can the ICO force the removal of credit reporting etc? Tom

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Thanks Gizmo, I had seen that section before, but what defines if it is a criminal offence? Tom

Is it definately a criminal offence? We were having a debate as to weather it was criminal or not because we couldn't find any reference in the CCA. Also, after the 30 days what actually happens regarding the debt? If they produce the document can then just start persuing it or do they need to apply at court? Tom

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Only just seen this thread. How did you get on? Did Debenhams reply to your letter? Tom

Just an update, the A&L were ordered to pay us costs of around £48 within 21 days. They have not paid this either. What can we do to recover these? Can we apply for enforcement? Tom

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I believe the whole Chip n PIN is the banks way of putting the responsibility onto the consumer. I have heard of cases of fraud when the banks have blamed the consumer for Pin misuse. Bloody Banks! They are really getting up my nose at the moment! Tom

Well all is not lost - just need to await the OFT test case. One interesting thing the judge did say was his apparant approval that we had racked up A&L legal bill! Its amazing, the outstanding balance on the claim is around £600 yet A&L must have spent a lot more than that in legal fees! The judge even stated that he was amazed at how A&L have opted to waste more money on legal fees than simply settle the claim. Tom

Just subscribing - I too am having a battle with Experian over incorrect payment markers. Tom