Mercers. Urgent, they're coming round

[skp27]

Just had a card from Mercers. First contact I've had from them. It says that someone will be calling on Monday between 8 and 7. Help!

[ODC]

Do not be holding your breath waiting for them.

 

These people have NO LEGAL POWER WHATSOEVER

 

In the highly unlikely event of someone calling at your door tell them to go forth and multiply. Should they fail to leave your premises when ordered then contact your local police and report a breach of the peace. There is a nice letter you can send to these clowns telling them not to call. I cannot post it at the minute because I am not at my own computer.

[spamheed]

Hello ane welcome to CAG

 

Don't panic.

 

It is very rare that these people actually send someone to your home. (The worst culprit seems to be Scotcall)

 

If on the offchance they do actually send someone around, he or she has no more powers over you and your proerty than the local ice cream man. You can legally tell him/her to go forth and if they don't do so, you can call the police on them and have them arrested for a breach of the peace.

 

Just to clarify, DCA's cannot

sieze your property, send in the bailiffs, place a charging order on your property, without first going through the county courts and obtaining an order against you.

 

This would normally be referred to as a CCJ - at this point, you would have your chance to ask to pay in installments, based on what you can reasonably afford. this is the most common resolution to these processes.

 

Obviously the debt collectors would rather you settled with them outside of court, because that way they can threaten and cajole you into paying more.

 

They can only bully you if you let them.

 

Send the CCA letter to them, get them to ptove they have a right to collect this debt

 

send a £1 Postal Order and do not sign the letter, put I DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DEBT TO YOUR COMPANY in bold and underlined right at the top of the letter.

 

send by recorded but if you can afford it, send it by registered, retain all correspondence and proof of postings

 

 

Alas.....too late was the cry

[stroke a badger]

If they come round I will eat me cat!!

 

All joking aside, they have NO right what so ever to gain entrance to your property with out a court order. If you have no knowledge of this this "debt" keep the letter and wait for the next one.

 

Somebody will popping in soon to give you some more advise but in the mean time DO NOT WORRY YOU HAVE NO NEED TO BE CONCERNED.

[spiritgirl59]

Hiya skp

 

First off, don't panic, "calling" most likely means telephoning! I fell for this same thing a few months back and got myself in a real state about it.

 

Here is the letter ODC means, cos he helped me with it when I got myself into a state (((thanks ODC))) :-

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Ref xxxxxxxx

 

Please be advised that I am only prepared to communicate with you in writing and therefore, if it remains your intention to arrange a “doorstep call”, please be advised that under OFT rules, you can only visit me at my home if you make an appointment and I have no wish to make an appointment with you.

 

There is only an implied license under English Common Law for people to be able to visit me on my property without express permission; the postman and people asking for directions etc (Armstrong v. Sheppard and Short Ltd [1959] 2 Q.B. per Lord Evershed M.R.).

 

Therefore take note that I revoke license under Common Law for you, or your representatives to visit me at my property, and if you do so, then you will be liable to damages for a tort of trespass. You would also be conspiring in a trespass if you sent someone to visit me nevertheless. Should it be necessary, I will obtain an injunction.

 

I look forward to a speedy reply from yourselves and the prospect of a letter informing me that you have made a mistake, that all letters alleging that I owe such a debt will immediately cease and that the matter will be fully closed.

 

Keep a copy of it near the door so that IF (which is unlikely) anyone from Mercers does call you can hand it to them and shut the door in their face. Also send a copy in the post to Mercers asap.

 

Post back and let us know how you get on. I think you will find your phone will ring between 7 and 8 on Monday and it will be Mercers. My advise to you would be NOT to speak to them on the phone or discuss anything with them, tell them you will only deal with them in writing.

 

If you need any more advice shout out.

 

Love SG x

[skp27]

The card says that they've tried contacting me without any success and there is a number to call if this is inconvenient. Is it a ruse to get me to call them? There is also a space for a signature, but nobody has signed it. I will organise a CCA tomorrow morning!

[ODC]

These cards are indeed a silly childish ploy to get you on the phone so as they can bully you.

[skp27]

Thanks for the advice! I'd love to know if anyone else here has had the same card from Mercers and if so, what happened?

[ODC]

Most of us have had similar childish cards from Lowells and the ubiquitous Mr P Edwards aka Mr P Brown who I believe are figments of NCOs vivid imagination

[The GodMother]

Dont bother buying any Scones or cream as most of the time it is a empty threat.

 

If they do call say

 

UNLESS YOU REMOVE YOURSELF OFF MY PROPERTY WITHIN TH NEXT 2 MINUTES L AM CALLING THE POLICE.

Then if you have a mobile/ portable phone then pick it up and start dialling 999 they will move then.

[ODC]

In the highly unlikely event of them calling make sure to have your digital camera handy and photograph the doorstepper and take the registration number of his car. For some reason they dont like it

[The GodMother]

not thought of that ODC

[Under Siege]

Ive got a nice collection of cards from Mercers threatening to call round.

Not had one vist yet!!

[spiritgirl59]

In the highly unlikely event of them calling make sure to have your digital camera handy and photograph the doorstepper and take the registration number of his car. For some reason they dont like it

 

I like that idea ODC!

 

You could say as you're doing it "Don't mind me, I am just getting some details about you for Watchdog" ;)

 

Under Siege we could start collecting these instead of old postcards, they may be worth something in years to come

 

Love SG x

[Curlyben]

I have almost a full set of these lovely cards from RMA/NCO, all I need is Saturday and Sunday and I'm done.

 

I was thinking about sending them a bill for all the tea and cake I have wasted waiting for them to arrive

[skp27]

We could make DCA top trumps!

[SURFBOY]

Does anyone have a full postal address for Mercers, as i wish to send them a nice letter, by recorded delivery, but not to the Liverpool PO Box ?

[babybear39]

Send them a bill for your wasted day if they don't turn up

[mr.ton]

If it was me..id ask them to be more specific on the time as im not waiting in all day for them & tea goes cold after after about 10 minutes or so

[The GodMother]

can we also bill them for waste of time reading there empty threats?

[Under Siege]

Thats a good idea GodMother,

 

I am going to bill Mercers, for taking a day off work so I could stay in all day for when they called round.

 

Im gonna do it!

[The GodMother]

let us no how if goes US.

[skp27]

UPDATE. Guess what? I waited in all day and they didn't show. Actually, I didn't wait in, obviously that would be silly! But I was waiting for a locksmith to fix the back door all morning. But sadly, no one from Mercers. Biscuits back in the tin...........

[The GodMother]

LOL glad they made there usual apparence

[babybear39]

Still invoice them for your wasted day giving them 30 days to pay in full or you'll pass the account to a bigger badder DCA