Mackenzie Hall. Do any of you know of them?

[andrew1]

I just came across this Fraud Act myself and have cited it in chasing a company who owes me a lot of money and did everything to avoid it. Not a straight forward 'goods supply/not pay invoice debt, but I did 6 months consultancy job for them advising them, then they said they don't owe me anything...feckers just wormed their way out of paying anything, just like they did to many others..this Fraud Act covers it nicely and in situations like Dougal states this is one powerful tool s.1-4 of the Act

 

Oh and Ioweu0 - hope you don't mind me saying so, but 'stationary' is with an 'e' when its paper....

Mum always taught me 'e' for envelope - helps you remember 'a' as in Sarah - always stationary!

 

Just check out what everyone tells you on here with these DCA's the devils in the detail - just get the facts right and you won't need bravado - they trip themselves up! Just be prepared with the right arguments..then they're gone

 

Sarah

[1oweu0]

I just came across this Fraud Act myself and have cited it in chasing a company who owes me a lot of money and did everything to avoid it. Not a straight forward 'goods supply/not pay invoice debt, but I did 6 months consultancy job for them advising them, then they said they don't owe me anything...feckers just wormed their way out of paying anything, just like they did to many others..this Fraud Act covers it nicely and in situations like Dougal states this is one powerful tool s.1-4 of the Act

 

Oh and Ioweu0 - hope you don't mind me saying so, but 'stationary' is with an 'e' when its paper....

Mum always taught me 'e' for envelope - helps you remember 'a' as in Sarah - always stationary!

 

Just check out what everyone tells you on here with these DCA's the devils in the detail - just get the facts right and you won't need bravado - they trip themselves up! Just be prepared with the right arguments..then they're gone

 

Sarah

 

Thanks for correcting me, no i dont mind. the simple fact is that as i am aware i owe them nothing. I find it insulting that they would expect anyone to give any/all these personal details over the telephone to someone they have never heard of without first them giving you some sort of information first.

[andrew1]

Thanks for correcting me, no i dont mind. the simple fact is that as i am aware i owe them nothing. I find it insulting that they would expect anyone to give any/all these personal details over the telephone to someone they have never heard of without first them giving you some sort of information first.

 

I had this conversation with Iqor DCA (old Legal & Trade) they phone up and say they are phoning 'from Preston' can you give me your details etc.. Who are you I said? " we are phoning from Preston" - fine, but I don't know anyone in Preston - who are you?" I can't discuss that until you confirm DOB etc..get lost...!

 

They use the Data Protection Act as their excuse, trouble is they keep on phoning, you say the same thing, they keep on phoning, you say the same thing..until, I wrote to them telling them about the Communications Act 2003, that if they phone again I will send them an invoice for £50, If they write and I have to answer it £60 and if the continue to call or write given the account is in dispute they had then accepted the terms above.. that shut them up!

 

ijuts..

 

Sarah

[The GodMother]

Oh i like that sarah.

 

Maybe i should use that one.

[andrew1]

Be my quest:

 

Dear Sirs,

 

Re: References quoted on your letter

 

I now discover who our mystery callers are from ‘Preston’ who will not say who they are when they telephone and get rather irate when I ask them who they are. Hmm.. iQor Recovery services indeed.

 

Firstly, may I let you know that I DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DEBT TO iQor Recovery Services Ltd.

 

Further, if I am not mistaken, the account you refer to is a xyz Bank account

WHICH IS IN DISPUTE and therefore your collection activities are in breach of OFT guidelines and the Consumer Credit Act.

 

Further still, your operatives who have made four calls in as many days, one of which was extremely rude when I asked him who he was, explained that they could not disclose who they were due to the Data Protection Act whilst expecting me to disclose all, but then he continued to remind me of my address. The others just hung-up. Now if you break the Data Protection Act then you guys are in serious trouble. Well let me tell you of another little Act which will equally get you into a lot of trouble if you choose to ignore it, that being The Communications Act 2003.

 

I am hereby giving you warning of legal action being taken against you without further reference to yourselves if I receive one more telephone call from your company. I have a right under the aforesaid Act to request any communication IN WRITING and therefore please accept this as my request.

 

I will have no further communication with yourselves and if you choose to send letters which require answers my terms are as follows:

 

1) Each letter I write will be accompanied by an invoice for £60.00 plus postage to cover my time wasted.

2) Payment of said invoice will be due within seven (7)days and if it is not paid within seven(7) days then you will automatically be issued proceedings in the small claims court without further notice from me and you will face court costs and/or a judgment.

3) Any telephone calls received will be followed by an invoice for £50.00 to cover time wasted and stress.

4) Any telephone call or letter received following receipt of this recorded delivery letter will be deemed acceptance by you of the above terms

 

If there is anything about this you do not understand, please consult your lawyers.

 

Sincerely

 

 

Inspired by ‘the Cabot Fan Club’ – Google them, ignore them, and get what’s coming to you

 

 

Sarah

[InsertNameHere]

Hi all. Like many, googling the name Mackenzie Hall led me here. What a great site, I've just spent a very illuminating 2 hours reading all 35 pages of this thread!

 

In the last few months I've had quite a few calls to my ex-dir tel no from MH asking for someone I've never heard of. I've tried explaining that I've lived here 6 years, none of the post that ever turned up for former tenants when I first moved here had the name on that they were on about either but it doesn't stop them calling. In common with another poster here I tried an air-horn on 'em and that got shot of them for about 6 weeks, but like all pests they're back again. I've had a good eff and blind at them on more than one occasion and put the phone down on them once or twice too. Reading what a pile of turd they are I feel a lot less bad about that now!

 

Funnily enough, I have an old debt from about 1990/91 that never got settled, or at least got passed to Thames credit, because of the circumstances at the time it got ignored and even they gave up eventually. Seeing what sneaky methods MH use I'm glad I wasn't daft enough to confirm my name when denying I wasn't who they claimed they were asking for. It sounds like a variation on the deliberately-wrongly-named-creditor enticement they've tried on other posters on this thread. With this in mind, can anyone confirm or deny that obtaining a copy of one's own credit report from Equifax or whoever will ultimately advertise to any/all DCA's that a name they might be looking for is now confirmed to live at a now-confirmed address and could ultimately result in yet more phone-calls/correspondence?

 

On the one hand I'm glad it's not me they're (apparently) after, but on the other hand I'm a bit peed off they've got my number, as this can only be from my ISP (who also supplied my phone), as I don't put it anywhere in the public domain at all, ever (it was a year before my mum realised having broadband meant I must have a landline and could she have the number please... !).

 

What strikes me most is this: This thread started in March 2006 and, from the tone even then, it seems MH were already well known to be tow-rags of the lowest order. Posters were exhorted to report MH to TS & OFT etc. It's now June 2008 and, despite the helpful Mr Stewart in east Ayrshire and whatever little the OFT has done, these scabs are still operating with impunity. I can't tell you how many 's feel appropriate right now. What's the point of laws and sanctions if the regulatory bodies just sit idly by and do nothing? :evil::evil:! How big a file does it take before the OFT does something?

 

Sorry, I realise I obviously need to up the dosage and perhaps watch V for Vendetta while I wait for it to kick in. Again. Grrr!

 

Fair play to everyone posting here and not taking any crap from this company. It's nice to see Brits getting off their backsides and doing something for themselves for a change. Luckily (?) I did my debt burnout 20-odd years ago, and I don't have a mortgage or any credit cards any more (parking-ticket battles are more my thang now). I'm just really naffed off that:

A) we pay far too much for everything in this country and get shafted time and time again by unscrupulous businesses AND the offices of local and national govt. that are allegedly there to represent & defend us against said scumbags

and

B) It looks as though I've got little or no chance of getting this sodding company to stop calling me. Aaaargh.

 

I really should've stopped reading this three hours ago, so well done to all who've got one over on MH and best of British to everyone still struggling with them.

[InsertNameHere]

PS: Sorry for the mega first post!

[ODC]

Hi and welcome to CAG. I suggest you start your own MH thread and keep us up to date with your saga. It will save your posts/advice getting muddled.

[andrew1]

PS: Sorry for the mega first post!

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/letter-templates/131250-dca-creditor-harassment-telephone.html

[InsertNameHere]

Thanks for the replies peeps. If I hear from them again I'll send the letter Andrew1's linked to and if a saga develops after that I will kick a new thread off.

 

Regards

[tiglet]

Good luck - they're fairly easy to see off but, as i believe I have said an hundred times - never speak to them on the phone!

[Dougal16T]

Good evening everyone,

 

Just reading the comments about MH....perhaps I might make so bold as to recommend my letter on page 34 of this thread!8)

 

It has worked a treat...so far!

 

But the important point is that they are breaking the law!

 

Regards and best wishes

Dougal

[PI Guy]

You should not respond to these people. They are just trying to get confirmation of your address and that you are who they think you are.

 

The reason that their tactic works is simply because people are so curious that they can't bear not to respond ot to try and lord it over the company a bit - but in fact as soon as you pick up the phone and quote the reference, the letter or card has done its job.

 

Leave it alone. Don't respond.

best advice I've ever heard.

[tiglet]

And always remember to file everything - you never know when you might need it.

[Dougal16T]

Whilst I agree in general with this advice from PI Guy (and obviously Bankfodder), it is (IMHO) imperative that these 'collectors' are aware that the public will no longer be a 'soft' target and that the consumer is finally fighting back against these cowboys.

 

[Remember they are breaking the law - must they be allowed to carry on doing so?]

 

However, each of us must choose his/her own path.....

 

Sincere best wishes to everyone (and without CAG I would not have had the sucess I have had so far!)

 

Dougal

Edited June 3, 2008 by Dougal16T
poor spelling as usual!

[InsertNameHere]

I wouldn't mind it so much if it was actually me they were chasing!

[Folara]

Hi everyone,

 

I tend to be more a lurker than a poster but thought I would share this with you .... it is after all friday afternoon so a good time for a giggle.

 

Had a 'phone call at work. Picked up 'phone and answered with name of company and my first name as we are told to do. Chap asked me if I was XXXXXXX and I replied:

 

'Yes, can I help you?'

 

Then he said:

 

'This is MacKenzie Hall and I would like to discuss a debt you owe'.

 

I, very politely replied:

 

'Im very sorry but I have no wish to discuss anything with you over the 'phone. Thank you for your call, have a good day'

 

and put the 'phone down.

 

Literally within seconds the 'phone rang again.... i'm not stupid and so I knew it was them.

 

Answered 'Hello [name of Company], can I help?

 

Reply: 'Miss XXXXXX? This is .....',

 

didnt actually let him finish but politely said

 

'Sorry I did just say that I have nothing to discuss with you on the 'phone' ....... and put it down.

 

'Phone immediately rings again and one of my colleagues picks it up on the other extension just before me. I hear:

 

'I was speaking to Miss XXXX and she rudely puts the 'phone down....'.

 

At this point I butt in and very calmly say:

 

'I did not rudely do anything. I told you that I had now wish to speak to you on the telephone and wished you a good day. If you continue to call me on the number it will constitute harrassment and I will have no option but to report you to the police and you are aware that to continue to harrass me would not only constitute a breach of Section 40 (1) of the Administration of Justice Act 1970 but also the Communications Act of 2003 .........'

 

I heard 'Stupid cow' ...... AND HE PUT THE 'PHONE DOWN!!!

 

Now I am not even certain that I quoted the correct Acts to him but I dont think that really mattered.

 

Anyway , I apologise but I just found it really funny as I could hear the guy in the background getting all irrate whilst I calmly told him whatfor till HE put the 'phone down on ME!!!

[tiglet]

Well done sweetie!

 

Now send them a [edited] letter and instigate their complaints procedure for being rude to you - if they don't apologise within 8 weeks, get the FOS to investigate and they'll charge them for the privellege.

Edited July 19, 2008 by jonni2bad

[Folara]

Oooh cool. Make them pay for a change. Methinks I will go away and do just that (I am afterall a little bored at work).

[kittie]

In addition to filing a complaint with the trading standards department of your local council send a copy to Joe Donnelly, Principal Officer - Trading Standards

 

East Ayrshire Council 14 London Road Kilmarnock KA3 7AF [email protected] Apparently they are collating complaints and passing them onto the Office of Fair Trading

 

 

This address is similer to mackenzie halls...MHs is.30 the foregate KILMARNOCK,AYRSHIRE.KA1 1LU COINSEDANCE OR WHAT.

[tiglet]

I believe it is coincidence, actually, as I've dealt with East Ayrshire TS - let's not let conspiracy theories run too wild peeps

[ODC]

You Must Also Make A Complaint To Your Mp

[loonytune]

hi odc can you give me advise on this one recived letter from muppet hall today they state i have defaulted on a payment plan ive never agreed to one bascially the letter said if i do not contact them within 72 hours they will give the alleged debt to merit force who will then come to my house and merit force may take legal action against me what power to merit force have

thanks

loonytune

[ODC]

Meritfarce have NO LEGAL POWER WHATSOEVER. In fact your friendly neighbourhood pizza delivery man has more power.

 

Send this to the Kilmarnock Cowboys.

 

DOORSTEP COLLECTION VISIT – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

YOUR REF 123456

Dear Cretins

I refer to your recent correspondence.

I note it is 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 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 and civil action will be taken.

Should they be foolish enough to call at your door

 

1, Oreder them to leave in words of your choosing

2. If possible photograph the doorstepper and note his vehicle registration number

3. Should they fail to leave telephone the Police and report a breach of the Peace

[ftolad]

I haven't heard a peep from MH since I CCA'd them a couple of weeks ago, and I haven't phoned them yet, but with a few others I have been ringing them up just to taunt especially if they have sent me "nice" letters. Working in IT, I've setup a PBX at home, and connected my BT line to it so all calls get recorded.

 

I also let them know that on all letters I send out, and advise that they can get a copy upon receipt of £10 for admin costs. Funny, but since doing that, if they call they seem to be rather polite... though the other day one guy asked me "under what authority" I had for recording the call!