HFO SERVICES hassle

[HFwho?]

Hi this is my first thread so not sure exactly what to expect.

 

After reading the posts about HFO I feel a little calmer.

 

They have been contacting me about a debt from 1999/2000 with Marks and Spencer with outstanding balance of £X,XXX.

 

I need help with the way they have been hassling me with phone calls which started about a year ago. These were just arguements everytime they rang because they told me with interest and charges the debt is now at £XX,XXX! I decided just to ignore the phone calls after they said it needed to be paid straight away.

 

Then about 2 months ago they started to ring me at work about 10 times per day. Lucky for me i'm the boss so I just told staff to say i'm busy.

They didnt like that much after so many calls and started to ask my staff why they were lying for me and hassling them. After looking on this site I noticed that you can get this stopped and I decided to unbar the 20 so numbers on my mobile and try and talk to them. I told them I was sending a letter to tell them to stop ringing at work.

Then when they rang it was just the one person I shall call Dexter who had changed into a completely charming and very nice talking bloke who just wanted to help!

I also wanted to know if the debt was statute barred but they informed me that a payment by direct debit had been previously agreed of £XX a month which was paid for 4 months in 2006. I can't remember if this is true or not so i've told them i'm sending a letter of harrassment to them so they can not ring me anymore at work or home and only to correspnod via email.

 

I have sent an email to the person dealing with the account because I want proof that I did infact make payments to them in 2006 and requested he send this so I can check the banking details to see if I actually did make these payments. He was very reluntant to do this and told me I had to request this in an email to him, which i've sent and a copy is below.

 

Not sure what to do next so could anyone help out with this. With it being so long ago i've not accepted that the debt is mine either during the conversations I have had with the HFO reps.

 

Also hope this could be useful for anyone else having problems with these idiots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 April 2009

 

Re: Recent telephone conversation

 

Dear xxxxxx,

 

I am writing in relation to the recent telephone conversation regarding an unsettled debt that HFO services believe is mine.

 

Please could you send me the relevant information you hold about the account HFO Services say is mine,

 

 

· Account reference number

 

 

· Payment history HFO Services say has been made in the last 4 years including direct debit details, dates etc HFO Services hold

 

 

· The payment plan that HFO Services say was agreed

 

 

· The amount HFO Services say is outstanding

 

 

· Which financial institution the debt was with originally and all relevant information regarding this company

 

 

For further correspondence please contact me by the above emails and be advised that any further telephone calls from HFO Services will be recorded.

 

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

xxxxxxxxxx

Edited May 1, 2009 by HFwho?

[HFwho?]

After reading some more post and getting the jist of things in the above email should I ask for the CCA and subject of access request?

[havinastella]

After reading some more post and getting the jist of things in the above email should I ask for the CCA and subject of access request?

 

 

NO,

 

Send this.

 

MOST important, STOP talking to these idiots on the phone. They are conmen and liars. IMO.

 

Keep everything in writing. Should they call you refuse to answer the security questions.

 

Jogs

[HFwho?]

I've already sent an email to ask for the CCA so does this admit that the debt is mine?

 

If I did infact make a payment in 2006 would they have the proof that I did?

 

Thanks for the help much appreciated

[havinastella]

I've already sent an email to ask for the CCA so does this admit that the debt is mine?

 

If I did infact make a payment in 2006 would they have the proof that I did?

 

Thanks for the help much appreciated

 

 

Once you have sent the Stat Barred letter, ALL onus is on the DCA to prove the debt.

 

If you paid by DD on 2006 they will have a record.

 

Can you remember when you last paid a payment towards the debt?

If it was in 2006, had 6yrs elapsed between ANY payments?

 

Jogs

[Seminole]

To be valid a CCA request must be accompanied by a fee of £1. Sending an email isn't sufficient, I'm afraid.

 

You will find a letter template in the site's library. You should send it with the fee by recorded delivery (or at least get proof of posting).

 

I would also be inclined to send the statute barred letter in the library. It's up to them to provde that there is a valid credit agreement and that it isn't statute barred.

 

Your bank should be able to supply you with a copy of your bank statements from 2006 although they may charge you for it. If they want to charge you more than £10 for doing so you could dubmit a DPA SARN to the DCA.

[Out4Revenge]

Hi and welcome to CAG,,,

Don't use e-mail, if this ever got to court e-mail would be classed as "hearsay". tell them to only use snail mail and you do the same, always send anything recorded del, never sign your letters or if you do change your sig in some way, yes you need to do a CCA and SAR requests templates here......

The Consumer Forums - Debt collectors

 

don't speak to them on the phone, and read loads of threads, the more you read the easier thimgs get;)

[HFwho?]

Once you have sent the Stat Barred letter, ALL onus is on the DCA to prove the debt.

 

If you paid by DD on 2006 they will have a record.

 

Can you remember when you last paid a payment towards the debt?

If it was in 2006, had 6yrs elapsed between ANY payments?

 

Jogs

 

Thanks jogs,

I can't remember when the last payment was but HFO are saying that it was on 9/5/2001 but I don't think this is true.

 

So if the DD in 2006 is true but the last payment in 2001 is not then it might mean that the debt by 2006 was already stat barred and they could owe me the money for the DD's.

 

Am I right in what i'm thinking and if so will they be able prove that the last payment before 2006 was May 2001?

[mr.ton]

Report them to the police (not 999), the OFT & trading standards...that will soon shut them up

[HFwho?]

Hi and welcome to CAG,,,

Don't use e-mail, if this ever got to court e-mail would be classed as "hearsay". tell them to only use snail mail and you do the same, always send anything recorded del, never sign your letters or if you do change your sig in some way, yes you need to do a CCA and SAR requests templates here......

The Consumer Forums - Debt collectors

 

don't speak to them on the phone, and read loads of threads, the more you read the easier thimgs get;)

 

Thanks for the help. I have noticed that i'm now using and understanding more and can't keep off the site.

[Out4Revenge]

lol me too:D

[HFwho?]

Report them to the police (not 999), the OFT & trading standards...that will soon shut them up

 

I have a log of all the many phone numbers and times of the calls and how many times a day. Is there a letter template to send to the OFT and trading standards for this sort of thing?

[mr.ton]

Id just ring them all up & make an official complaint that way.

The police can have a word with them for you (not 999), ive had them do so for me before with a DCA.

[HFwho?]

Looking at all the posts about HFO why is it that these idiots are still trading? I would of thought it have its own little section on the forum lol.

 

Maybe trading standards actually have their own waiting room for them.

Edited April 8, 2009 by HFwho?

[fuzzybobble]

For now I would just send them the Statute Barred letter. It's up to them to provide proof that it isn't. Make them do the work.

 

DCA's often lie and tell you a payment was made, as soon as you mention the words Statute Barred. They know it's Statute Barred, because they paid pennies in the pound for the debt, slap on a load of unlawful charges, then hope you'll be stupid enough to believe their threats if you don't pay.

 

Refuse to communicate with them further until they provide concrete evidence that you owe them anything.

I think they will have a bit of explaining to do, as to how a debt can double in the space of a year.

Somehow I think they are spinning a real yarn here, and I can gess they they have nothing more in the way of paperwork than this...

 

A printout that says.....

Your name, address, phone number, amount of debt, and who the original creditor is.

 

Me thinks all they will get from this one is a complaint to the OFT about their behaviour.

[fuzzybobble]

I have a log of all the many phone numbers and times of the calls and how many times a day. Is there a letter template to send to the OFT and trading standards for this sort of thing?

 

No letter templates exist, as most complaints to the OFT are often unique. It's best to write a letter stating you want to complain, who the complaint is about. A list of calls, what was said and when, and copies of letters sent by the DCA and your replies. Also ask the OFT why the DCA are allowed to carry on harassing you in this manner instead of providing you with proof that the alledged debt is not Statute Barred.

[HFwho?]

For now I would just send them the Statute Barred letter. It's up to them to provide proof that it isn't. Make them do the work.

 

DCA's often lie and tell you a payment was made, as soon as you mention the words Statute Barred. They know it's Statute Barred, because they paid pennies in the pound for the debt, slap on a load of unlawful charges, then hope you'll be stupid enough to believe their threats if you don't pay.

 

Refuse to communicate with them further until they provide concrete evidence that you owe them anything.

I think they will have a bit of explaining to do, as to how a debt can double in the space of a year.

Somehow I think they are spinning a real yarn here, and I can gess they they have nothing more in the way of paperwork than this...

 

A printout that says.....

Your name, address, phone number, amount of debt, and who the original creditor is.

 

Me thinks all they will get from this one is a complaint to the OFT about their behaviour.

 

Thanks for the help, I don't have an account reference or number would I need one for any correspndence with them ?

 

I'm reluctant to give them my address as they don't know it can I put a different address for them to contact me?

 

Finally is this correct address for these idiots?

 

HFO Services

165 The Broadway,

Merton,

London SW19 1NE

 

Or do I use the PObox address?

[sam614]

and if you call consumer direct,they then forward your complaint to TS that covers their area,and your local office.

SAM:pLOWELL DETESTER

[HFwho?]

No letter templates exist, as most complaints to the OFT are often unique. It's best to write a letter stating you want to complain, who the complaint is about. A list of calls, what was said and when, and copies of letters sent by the DCA and your replies. Also ask the OFT why the DCA are allowed to carry on harassing you in this manner instead of providing you with proof that the alledged debt is not Statute Barred.

 

Will be getting onto this today so again thanks for all the help.

[HFwho?]

Considering ringing them to ask for a ref to do with this account.

 

Is this a good idea?

[Seminole]

Considering ringing them to ask for a ref to do with this account.

 

Is this a good idea?

 

Generally speaking it's better to deal with DCAs in writing. What sort of reference are you after?

[sam614]

have they never given a reference,when they have contacted you?

would not ring them.get everything in writting.

SAM:pLOWELL DETESTER

[HFwho?]

No they have never given me a ref number for this account they say is mine. Normally they just ask if it's the right person they want like "is that so and so?" I reply with 'Yes' and thats it. Never ask to confirm who I am by date of birth or anything.

 

Just wanted if I would need to state an number or Ref when writing to them?

[sam614]

breaking data protection as well then.

not asking u to confirm security questions.

 

just have to state name/add should be good enough for them.

 

SAM:pLOWELL DETESTER

[HFwho?]

breaking data protection as well then.

not asking u to confirm security questions.

 

just have to state name/add should be good enough for them

SAM:pLOWELL DETESTER

 

I will just put the name for now, they don't have my address and I don't really want them to have it!

 

I know where they are now had ago on the new google maps street view they have a Henry J Beans next door and a job centre how nice. **** looking offices though!