Mackenzie Hall. Do any of you know of them?

[andrew1]

These people have me living on my nerves..................

I too also got into debt with a credit card. To cut a long story short my marriage fell apart I moved away.................it was our joint debt ......(which I foolishly thought it was being sorted). 8years later just the day after my father died and I was in the midst of arranging his funeral I received a letter from MH I contacted them and low and behold was bullied into paying them £54............extremely stupid I know but my head was all over the place at the time. I have sent them the letter with the £1 postal order in return for any signed paper work that they have but all I received back from them was details of the debt ie with whom, where I lived the date the credit card agreement was made , but I never received a copy of any paper work with my signature from them. Yesterday I received a final demand notice from them to pay in full with in 7 days in the enclosed business reply envelope ( which was not there) or they shall be taking further action against me. I haven't the money to pay in full and I'm truely sick with worry.......please can anybody help me!!!!!!!!!!! What do I do next?

 

ScattyAnnie - take a read of something which another poster put here a while back..read it and take heart, it's only a part of the post, but it's the relevant part. There's so much support here, you're never alone and advice is always here for the asking. Enjoy:

 

"The experience of opening the parachute account helped me to realise something. It's a commercial relationship, nothing more (or less). But it was much more than that. Much, much more than that. It's about the relationship I've had with NatWest.

 

Psychiatrists, or maybe psychologists - counsellors and therapists, anyway - have a term for what's been going on between me and NatWest. It's called a co-dependent abusive relationship. The submissive partner - me, in this case - has feelings of worthlessness, and comes to depend on the abusive partner - the bank. The feeling of worthlessness is such that you become grateful for anything, no matter how humiliating it is. They have all the power, you have none, but they are prepared to notice you and pay some attention. They treat you with contempt - which, from their point of view, is no more than you deserve: you're a useless, submissive worm. But you are grateful: after all, no-one else will give you anything, you know that. You know it and believe it, deep in your heart.

 

Wrong.

 

Other people, outsiders, wonder why you stay in such an abusive situation. They wouldn't, they tell themselves. But you might. You might be gradually ground down, as I was. You might feel, or even believe, that you deserve the abuse. So you accept it, and you effectively beg for any attention you can get, no matter if it reinforces the appalling, negative image you've built up of yourself. You accept the refusals, the dismissals, as just, and no more than you deserve. You embrace each positive reaction as a huge favour. But it's all an abuse. As the introduction to the site says, the banks play on our innate feelings of morality, of equity and of justice and fair play. We have been brought up to believe that the banks are pillars of society, that they are above mere trade and commerce, that they are something Other. But they aren't: they're in business, like your mechanic, the market trader, the sandwich shop, Tesco's, anything. They are no more than traders and they actually produce: nothing. Not a damn thing. They add nothing of value, they merely facilitate transactions, nothing more.

 

So, opening the parachute account was a big step. Actually deciding to do it was, in fact, the Big Step. I have decided to be abused no more. Not only have I decided that, I've taken a real, positive and concrete step to do something about it, to do more than just talk about it or fantasise. I have decided to move away from the situation where I've been abused.

 

Yes, I've been lucky in the credit scoring and not everyone will get the same. But the Big Step was the decision to do it. My next tranche of income is going in to the new account. The standing orders and DDs will be transferred shortly before the next lump of income. The NatWest account will be in dispute and probably over the overdraft limit but I no longer worry about it. I'm not worried about the charges they'll levy because I now know they're illegal. I'm looking forward to finding out what my life will be like when I'm no longer putting up with someone looting my account to the tune of £300 or £400 a month.

 

NatWest isn't my children, it isn't my car (which needs to be repaired); it isn't the updated computer I would like to have in order to do my work, it isn't my wife's birthday present and it isn't my mother, who lives over 200 miles away and I haven't been able to get to see for over a year because I couldn't afford it. It isn't the heating oil company, who'd threatened to close my credit account - leaving me without heat this winter - because the DDs had been bounced - and while there was money available. It isn't the local authority, whose DD was bounced yet again this month, because of the charges. NatWest doesn't deserve any respect from me: it hasn't shown me any. It deserves neither consideration or fear from me".

 

you see?

[andrew1]

Thanks for your advice they sound like absolute ****, should i juist ignore or return saying not at this address?.

 

Can outside companies get your information if you apply for a credit check?, i have never had one but i'm a bit worried that these slimeballs might get more information about me if i do.

 

It will show on your credit file that you have applied for your files - that's all. It only shows to companies who you apply to credit for for lending criteria and I had one listed from a tracing firm who had applied for my info in relation to an identity fraud [problem] on me. Applying for your credit files will not do you any harm wha so ever and alert nobody to anything. I'd suggest you do it to all three agengies Equifax, Call Credit and Experian . It only costs £2 and you can see what has been registered. You can do it free on line to the agencies for a 1 month trial, but you'll have to remember to cancel after the one month otherwise you'll be getting them monthly and being charged.

[andrew1]

As has been discussed at length on a number of threads strange things happen when you apply for your credit report. Many Caggers have received debt claims from some of the bottom feeders of DCAs (arent they all????) regarding old debts which may or may not belong to you. They also have received unsolicited application forms for loans.

 

Be wary of applying for your Credit Reference report

 

 

Geez's I never knew that, slime balls. How can they get access to your credit file without you applying for credit? I think, as someone else suggested an Application for a Subject Access Report on the CRA's might be in order. One person got over 2000 sheets of paper, but that just shows you what they hold on you but will also tell you what has been given out. Buggers!

[andrew1]

tbern123 had the same with a Barclaycard account which he had never had but his was through the Collection agy Cabot. Take a look at the earlier strings of his thread.http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/cabot/36665-cabot-again-urgent-help.html

 

Personally, I would send them a CCA Request letter with your £1 postal order http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-debt/83035-guidelines-requests-original-agreement.html which states a) "I do not acknowledge any alleged Debt to your Company" b)asks them to provide a copy of the original credit agreement they should have c) statement of the account and d) any Deed of Assignment which has the debt assigned to them. That way you don't need to be worried.

 

I doubt you'll hear from them again, but if they have the address and begin telephoning as they are prone to doing then you need to find the harassment letter in the Templates library on here and send them that. Under the Communications Act 2003 if you ask for anyone not to call then you can stop them by using this Act.

 

Do not pay anything, do not answer telephone calls from them without telling them you will only communicate in writing, and most of all, do not worry.

 

If they give you any kind of grief what so ever complain to your local Trading Standards office. These people are the pits.

 

 

Sarah

[andrew1]

1) I DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY ALLEGED DEBT TO YOUR COMPANY

 

2) Why put " Without Prejudice" ? - You might be needing this if (doubtful) you ever took legal action.

 

3) A CCA request which costs the princely sum of £1 is a legal application for them to provide you with exactly what you are seeking - Proof of their right to collect a debt. It is set to a defined period in law of 12 working days + 2 for postage, then if they come up with proper paperwork you can challenge it, if they do not, which is most likely, then they will require a court order which would require them supplying the court with the original documentation anyway to collect the debt - so it therefore becomes unenforceable after 14 days. Following a further 1 month without the paperwork arriving they have committed a criminal offence. What more do you need?

 

Do it your way, they say 'bog off and keep annoying you. Do it the CCA way you have the legal process behind you and on your side.

 

These idiots try anything and respect nothing. Try and be nice they will laugh like they have tens of thousands of times before and continue with their harassment. Don't pander to niceness - hit them with what you have on your side, a) the Law b ) the moral high ground.

 

Your letter will get put in the bin by these people and ignored. Use what they refuse to use - THE LAW !

 

Sorry to appear hard, but this is the only way to treat the likes of McKenzie Hall and all these other DCA's.

 

The Cabot Fan Club specialises in showing up DCA's for what they are and cleaning up their Act - take it from one who knows I'm in it!

 

 

Sarah

[andrew1]

Snap ! ODC Morning !

[andrew1]

I'll keep you posted. Forgot to say - I'm not asking for the CCA. Having listened to all of you and thought about it, I reckon the best thing to do is to go the statute barred way. As, although I do not admit any debt, time is on my side.

 

However, it is late in the night. Yet again I am sleeping on it, so if you think I am wrong please tell me. You folk obviously have loads more experience than I do of dealing with these sweethearts.

 

I just want to get them off my dad's back. He's not coping well with this. I can't get him to write any letters, so I have to do this myself

 

With the Statute Barred situation, you must be 100% sure you have not paid any money, written any letters or made any contact with these people (Original Creditor or otherwise) at all in the last 5/6 years. I set my stall out above with regard to using the law. £1.00 - another for a recorded delivery stamp, is your dads peace of mind worth £2 ? are you doing the lottery this weekend? You can always fall back on the statute barred side, of course, but please send in the CCA request as well and get the law firmly on your side.

 

Do not think you are dealing with professional, reasonable or considerate people - THEY ARE NOT!

 

I rest my case, but whichever way you choose, you make the decisions and we remain behind you whatever happens Okay?

 

 

Oh, and by the way Seahorse and Debt_mountain know about the Scottish legal bits in varying degrees.

[andrew1]

Hi,

 

I have found this thread very useful but have now received a follow up letter from MH stating that my debt is with SKY TV.

 

I am still am a customer of SKY TV but they have no record of any debt and they have confirmed to me today I owe nothing.

 

I would appreciate advice on my next move.

Kind Regards

 

I'd just phone them and tell them what you just wrote. Then tell them to go away and get their facts right before harassing people.

[andrew1]

Sorry, but under no circumstances phone these people -

 

If you read my other posts you d know I would not normally advocate telephoning any DCA, just thought it a simpler route on this occasion, but Ill stand by your better judgment and experience if you have spoken before and suffered the consequences.

[andrew1]

tiglet, it doesn't sound like there is a dispute, just MH trying their luck as usual. May I suggest what tiglet recommends in writing, but omit the dispute bit. Tell them though that you do not wish to have any telephone calls as you are entitled under the Communications Act 2003 and that ALL correspondence should from now on be in writing ( otherwise you'll have them on the telephone day and night). Ask for any supporting correspondence to support their claim and if they haven't got any to kindly go away and stop bothering you. A CCA request will do the same, but for the time being send something like this out. If you get more nonsense letters then send in the CCA request from the library.

 

I doubt anyone is going to come knocking so don't worry too much.

[andrew1]

I really wouldnt worry about MH. They are the bottom feeders of the industry. They specialise in purchasing Statute Barred and Unenforcable debt. They send out Phishing letters to loads of people with the same name in the hope that someone will be mug enough to pay up. They are pure bullies and should be treated with the contempt that they deserve.

 

I had an interesting conversation with someone senior in the Credit Industry recently ( sorry, engaging with the enemy! ) who stated that whilst we all go on about statute barred debt the way we do, it is only statute barred from litigation, not collection - if a debt is owed - it's owed so why shouldn't they try and collect it? - chew on that one ! answers on a postcard....:-|

 

 

Sarah

[andrew1]

Lowells are not noted for their discretion. However, you seem to have handled things well thus far. carry on as you suggest with TS, but if you get another telephone call I would suggest stating ( not asking) stating that you require them to put everything in writing and to make NO MORE telephone calls as is your right under the Communications Act 2003 to request. If they choose to phone you'll report them to TS and the Police. There is a letter in the Templates Library regarding Harassment if they continue which should stop them.

 

If they do not accept they made a mistake better to get the procedures in place asap as they are not as I say, noted for their discretion.

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

also: tiglet

 

"The reason i suggested that it's stated that the account is in dispute is because it would mean more OFT guidelines are breached if they continue to pursue the debt - "in dispute" doesn't necessarily mean you dispute the amount - in the case, the poster disputes the whole debt."

 

 

thanks, I see where you were coming from now..

[andrew1]

thanks, i phoned again after speaking to oft and a legal advisor

it seems lowell portfolio 1 ltd searched for people with my name and birthdate within welsh counties and came up with mine a mistake was made i as told by makenzie, and they have erased me off there books

and rang lowell portfolio ltd, i did ask that they send me written confirmation to this fact. who are these people sending out such letters

without knowing if im the correct party, if i was old and didnt have my wits about me, it would scare me or worse, total low life!!!!!

i would say to anyone who ever gets such a letter to not panic

the onus is on them to prove the debt with actual documentation

not just a red letter, if they push you push harder.

 

Well Done - let that be another lesson to Lowell lets hope everyone who reads these threads takes the same stance as you - well done!

[andrew1]

Don't agree.

 

Disagreement is healthy for debate and that's what we are all learning from - but tell us why you don't agree Paul, a lot of people respect your views and opinion and then we can all form our individual opinion. That's what this site is built upon-you've done exactly that with your contributions giving us all plenty to think about - now we have to make the others think- we can't let ODC draw us into fights :D

[andrew1]

AAArrrggghhhhh ive been paying these people money for over a year now they keep trying to settle.I still have like 6k to pay can i get out of it its for a debt from 1996.my last payment was in 1996?To the bank.i pay this mob by direct debit every week but have never had any paperwork from them(i feel so daft now,can i still escape their clutches as the debt had been unpaid for around 8 yrs.

 

Hi, can you be more specific about what and who and when you last paid?

 

You say you have been paying over a year now, but then go on to say the debt has not been paid for 8 yrs.

 

To be statute barred a payment must not have been made within 6 yrs. If one payment has been made during that time, even yesterday, the 6 yr clock goes back and starts all over again.

 

 

Sarah

[andrew1]

Hello again ladies and gentlemen i got one thing to say about mackenzie hall EDIT quote]

 

I like someone with sensitivity, good negotiating skills, compassion and a good sense of humour

Edited December 4, 2008 by freakyleaky
Innapropriate remarks removed from quote

[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

[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

[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

[andrew1]

PS: Sorry for the mega first post!

 

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

[andrew1]

Don't give lessons do you? - I could do with some to exercise on my mates in West Malling Oh to have the skills you have ! Thanks for coming on...this might get entertaining listening to you...!

[andrew1]

I just wanted to put a few minds at rest.

 

I recently received a letter from mackenzie hall stating that it was a Final Notice and they were trying to collect just over £1400 from me. In the past I had run away from various debts and decided that this time I would arrange to pay it. I phoned them up and confirmed all of those details which I now know from reading on this site I shouldnt have done !. I then asked if I could arrange a payment plan to clear the debt. Was told that this wasnt acceptable and that they now needed that money in 1 full and final payment. I dont have that kind of money lying around and told her so, She got rather rude and in the end put the phone down on me. I then received another call from them a couple of days later, again the same kind of crap, this time a threaten of bailiffs and other such rubbish. Ithen called CAB they informen me that the debt was probably statute barred, as far as I could remember the debt was last acknowledged just over 6 years ago, and advised me to write a letter stating this. I tried to find a template letter on line and stumbled across this site. Having read some of the threads I became a bit more confident and sent off my letter. I then received anther letter thanking me for my enquiry and asking me to call them - not a chance. They then called me and I advised them that I had sent a letter and was now telling them that, that debt is statute barred. I was told by the women on the other end that I would be hearing from their field collectors in the next 48 hrs. That was over a week ago !. Then yesterday I received a letter saying that they would be taking no further action. Result !

 

Well done, stand up to these rogues and you win...What I would like to see is them banned from asking in the first place as too many innocent people without the benefit of this or other forums would know how to deal with them.

 

Result, just one is a result and they begin to get the message.

[andrew1]

Yet again the SHEER GREED of these scummy DCAs drives yet another person to the wonderful CAG. If you are reading this in Kilmarnock I bet you are sorry you didnt agree to accept payments from Fantazy. Know what i have to say

 

 

 

 

 

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha:D:D:D.

 

Just think if you had accepted monthly payments you could have conned them into paying this Statute Barred debt so as you could have got some more commission toward your family holiday in Ayr

 

Ayr? - Isn't that Burns country?

[andrew1]

Bill me Im a rogue debtor so I wont pay up - Allegedly

 

I know a good dca

[andrew1]

how about i call them regarding the debt?

 

After all it is what they do.

 

Does anyone know the name of one of the directors?

 

Gary Jones - Lancashire

 

Paul McKenzie - Lanarkshire

 

Janice King - Lanarkshire. Go get em !