Property Debt Collection Limited ground rent

[PSB123]

I am being chased by a company called Property Debt Collection Limited - (PDC). I owe my property management company some money and today got a letter from PDC on behalf of them for approximately £200 more than I originally owed. They say their costs are £58.75 inc. VAT. Can they legally charge me for this? Done a Google search on PDC and the results were interesting.

[harrassed senior]

Hi, It would, of course, depend entirely what is in any contract/Agreement that you signed, if you have that to hand have a read of the 'small print'

[PSB123]

Good point harrassed senior, but I have no contract with PDC. It is them I am more concerned with than the management company. I will pay them the price of a letter but no more.

[harrassed senior]

Hi, send them this:

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

Account no:

 

You have contacted me/us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself/ourselves.

 

I/we would point out that I/we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to (Put DCA name not OC).

 

I am/we are familiar with the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance which states that it unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

 

I/we would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

 

Furthermore ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

 

I/we would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above account unless you can provide evidence as to my/our liability for the debt in question.

 

I/we await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

 

Yours,

Print name do not sign

 

**Edit to suit**

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17.03.09

Edited May 16, 2009 by harrassed senior

[GamekeeperToPoacher]

Excellent advice

 

GK

[PSB123]

Can some one tell me if PDC has any legal right to charging me for their costs for just two letters? I am going to pay off the £750 directly to my property managment company but nothing to PDC.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Can some one tell me if PDC has any legal right to charging me for their costs for just two letters? I am going to pay off the £750 directly to my property managment company but nothing to PDC.

 

As Harassed Senior mentions at post 2, a DCA can only charge such costs in specific circumstances. These are contained within the OFT Guidance on Debt Collection and are:

 

- where there is express contractual provision

- only actual costs that are reasonable and necessary can be charged

- the amount must be mentioned in the contract

 

The contract is the one between you and the management company. I can't think of a case where a DCA's charges have met all the criteria.

 

Most DCAs that try this know that such charges don't stand up to scrutiny, and will drop the charges as soon as they realise they've been rumbled.

[PSB123]

Thanks harrassed senior and ScarletPimpernel!

[citizenB]

I will move your posts to a thread of your own. That way you might attract more attention.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?395915-Property-Debt-Collection-Limited

 

Link for KimberlyR

[GLR]

I am being chased by a company called Property Debt Collection Limited - (PDC). I owe my property management company some money and today got a letter from PDC on behalf of them for approximately £200 more than I originally owed. They say their costs are £58.75 inc. VAT. Can they legally charge me for this? Done a Google search on PDC and the results were interesting.

 

Interesting they added 58.75 to your amount, they tried adding 120 to my 175.00 bill but I was having none of it! see my post PDC Ltd