Mercers....

[Patma]

This is fascinating info, PriorityOne. As Mercers also trade as Calder Financial, do you think this applies to them to?

I just did a quick check on them from the information I have on their letters and they don't come up either. At the bottom the small print states.

Registered number:2550639. Registered address: Citypoint, One Ropemaker Street, London, EC2 YSS. Mercers Debt Collections LTD trading as Calder Financial.

[Patma]

I seem to be in about the same position with their alter ego, Calders.

Soooo it looks like an email to the Information Commissioner is in order here. What fun:D . I'm getting onto it right away and thinking of how I can break the news to good old Calders/Mercers/Barclays. yipppeee!

[Patma]

I've just spoken to the Information Commissioner's helpline and they tell me Mercers is registered. Their number is apparently z5068082.

I'm going to try putting in the number now and see what it says about them.

Apparently the postcode given for the address I have on my Calders letters is not a valid postcode though.

This is a bit odd because I've recently discovered that another DCA, BLS Collections uses a false address on all their correspondence. Royal mail are currently investigating.

[Patma]

I think you're right about the address thing. It's definitely worth pursuing. I also wonder if there are any rules about the addresses given on correspondence having to be accurate. In the case of BLS they have somehow managed to [problem] a fake PO Box as well as a false postcode. The PO Box doesn't exist but but a redirection is in place for their correspondence. This shouldn't be possible but it's been happening for years. I wonder if the one Ropemaker St Address is genuine?....I'll check up on it.

Patma

[Patma]

The address seems to be genuine. I've googled it and come up with other companies in the same building. It must be a pretty large building though because they all have different postcodes. Without going an searching on the ground, we won't know whether Mercers just have an accomodation address there Not much wiser yet. Patma

[Patma]

Good for you P1, Well spotted! The postcode is wrong on the Ropemaker Street address too, so maybe having an incorrect address too is significant. I don't understand yet why theses DCAs would deliberately make their address incorrect, but I suspect they have some devious reason. I know for sure that BLS Collections have a totally false address on their correspondence and I am currently involved with complaints about that.

I'm looking forward to hearing what response you get.

[Patma]

I've had a reply to an email query I sent to The IC to confirm what they told me verbally the other day.This is what they said:-

 

"Thank you for your e mail of 25 February 2008.

There is a current notification in the name of Mercers Debt Collection Limited (but not Collections in the plural) with a company registration number of 02550639. The data protection registration number is Z5068082 and it has an expiry date of 20/11/08. Calder Financial is not shown as a trading name.

A data protection notification can only cover one legal entity so each separate limited company would need to notify in its own right if it is not exempt.

Regards

Notification Department"

I've replied and sent them a copy of correspondence I've had from Calders. I don't know what the significance is of Calders not being shown as a trading name though or the fact their name uses the word Collections in the plural rather than Collection which is how they are registered.

This is all soooo complicated I can't get my head round it LOL