High Street Collections Limited.

[andrewscott87]

Hey im new here and have a problem with debt collectors.

 

I have an agency contacting me called High Street Collections Limited. They have sent 3 letters. The final one was to threaten with a CCJ, which I already have one to a previous debt.

 

The biggest problem is that fact that I dont even know what this debt is. It just says that their source/client is a Van Mildert. I have no idea who that is.

 

If the debt is genuine then it could be from my HIP pack from last year.

 

The last letter said I had 48 hours to contact them otherwise they would get a ccj and get a charging order put against me.

 

Surely they cant do that at this stage or at all for what is clearly a non-priority debt?

 

I could really use some help.

 

Thanks

Andrew

[alfwithhair]

Hi and welcome to CAG

 

Van Mildert appear to be a designer menswear outlet, or a college in Durham

 

High Street Collections offers a comprehensive, professional, debt collections service for any commercial or consumer debt within the UK.

Our experience and specialist expertise in collections removes the stress and expense associated with collecting bad debt leaving you free to focus on other areas of your business. We collect aged debt and ledger debt on behalf of our clients from £1000.

 

Our reputation within the market place has enabled us to secure accounts with some of the UKs leading companies, including several of the countries largest Insolvency Practitioners. If you are having difficulty collecting some aged debts why not try our service and put our claims to the test.

NO WIN – NO FEE !

 

If it can be collected. We will collect it!

 

Tel : 0845 9011710

Email : [email protected]

Fax : 0191 4879500

 

If you don't know what the debt relates to, then sent them a prove it letter.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?428-General-debt-letter-if-you-know-nothing-of-the-debt

 

DO NOT contact them by phone or admit any debt to them.

What sort of balance are we talking here?

As they seem to collect 'aged debt' is more than likely some old statue barred debt from years ago

 

As for getting a ccj, if you have one already you will know it is not something that happens overnight. They would have to file papers in the county court and win their claim.

 

The wording of these letters are just threats to get you to contact then by phone so they can intimidate you into paying something you might not even owe.

 

Don't play into their grubby hands, you are in ours now, the SAFE ones

[andrewscott87]

Unfortunately I have emailed them.

Not admitting the debt but asking where it has come from. I also said that If the debt is real I will pay them a max of 20 pounds per month.

 

But ONLY if the debt is real and I want proof.

 

The debt is apparently 538 pounds.

 

And I got the same results trying to find this Van Mildert. Just a fashion designer or a college in Durham.

[alfwithhair]

They appear to be a new outfit, only been going since octlober last year.

Are these letter addressed to you personally?

How long have you lived at this address?

 

It wasn't a wise move to tell them how much you would repay, as you don't even know if you owe it, but its done now. They will go all out now to try and prove its your debt, wether it is or not as you said you will pay it.

 

I can't stress enough the underhanded lengths these companies will go to get a payment

Please don't enter into any conversation on the phone with them EVER

Wait and see what they come up with if anything

 

Name & Registered Office:

HIGH STREET COLLECTIONS LTD

20 ENTERPRISE HOUSE

TEAM VALLEY TRADING ESTATE GATESHEAD

TYNE & WEAR

UNITED KINGDOM

NE11 0SR

Company No. 07408214

 

 

 

Status: Active

Date of Incorporation: 14/10/2010

 

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Company Type: Private Limited Company

Nature of Business (SIC(03)):

None Supplied

Accounting Reference Date: 31/10

Last Accounts Made Up To: (NO ACCOUNTS FILED)

Next Accounts Due: 14/07/2012

Last Return Made Up To:

Next Return Due: 11/11/2011

[andrewscott87]

I realised just now it wasnt wise. Yes they are addressed in my name. Lived here for about 10 years.

 

The only debt I can think of thats near that amount is the HIP pack. Which to be honest Im narked about having to pay for it anyway seeing as it was banished not long after I got it.

[alfwithhair]

They don't appear to have any Comsumer Credit Licence either, is nothing showing with The OFT

 

I wouldn't give them a second thought unless they come up with the proof.

 

how long ago was the HIP pack?

[42man]

I'd agree with Alf, sending a recorded delivery letter enquiring as to who / what the debt is concerning is usually the first move. But let us know if they respond to your email....

 

They have an OFT credit licence application pending...

 

Licence Number:0640949

Licence Status:Pending

 

Current Applicant / Licensee:

 

Business NameCompany Registration NumberHigh Street Collections Limited6937243

 

Right To Canvass Off Trade Premises:No

 

 

Current Individuals that run the organisation:

 

NamePositionStuart Thomas Niven

 

Current Address(es):

 

Address TypeAddressPrincipal Place Of BusinessEnterprise House, Unit 20, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, Tyne And Wear, NE11 0SR, EnglandRegistered OfficeEnterprise House, Unit 20, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, Tyne And Wear, NE11 0SR, England

[spamheed]

That's right on my doorstep

 

That is not a place with "big" offices, more blocks of offices rented by smallish companies

[sillygirl1]

Send their letter to Trading Standards, use the Consumerdirect website and mention that they have no consumer credit licence, contact the OFT and complain about the vague and misleading letter - they cannot go for charging orders as stated on debt under £1,000, it would cost them a lot.

 

The government are looking at stopping companies getting charging orders on debts of under £25,000 so the amount they claim is well under that.

 

Even if they go for a 'forthwith' order through the courts you can still defend and get them to provide evidence of the debt, if it is statute barred (this is from the day after the last payment) then they have no legal right to use the courts.

[coledog]

Some useful links for complaints but def send the 'prove it' letter

Complaints

TS via http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/contact

OFT http://www.oft.gov.uk/

OFT Guidance link

This helps when drafting a letter to OFT

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?416-The-OFT-Debt-collection-guidance

[andrewscott87]

Thanks for your help everyone.

 

No reply as of yet to the email.

 

The address that is on the letters is

 

2nd Floor

Cutherbert

Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE1 2ET

 

And another letter has

 

Unit 20 Enterprise House

Team Valley Trading Estate

Gateshead

NE11 0SR

 

They have a couple of different phone numbers and I still dont know who Van Mildert is.

 

 

Seems like they are a shady company trying to [problem] me.

 

 

What does it mean about Right to canvass off trade premises?

[sillygirl1]

It means they can send out letters.....

[andrewscott87]

So they shouldnt have sent me a letter then if they are not allowed to do that?

[jimbo45]

Hi there

First of all if they want a CCJ they need to PROVE it's YOUR debt AND THEY HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO COLLECT IT. This latter part is often forgotten by people on the Forum. A lot of people simply pay up when they see a letter saying XXX has asked us to collect YYYY from you.

 

Even if it YOUR debt always get them to PROVE IT.

 

Next a Charging Order can only be obtained if they HAVE a CCJ and you don't pay. Even then they have to go to court 2 TIMES - first for an Interim and then for a Final -- and it really doesn't benefit them as you could sit in the property for 30 years or more --the debt will only get cleared when the property is sold -- inflation will have eaten it away to nothing by then.

 

For ANY credit covered by Consumer Credit Acts then NO INTEREST can be made on a Charging Order.

 

If I were you and the CCJ goes ahead just sit on the Charging order. It's almost impossible for the Creditor to get a forced sale of the property and the whole area of using Charging Orders for collecting UNSECURED DEBT is being reviewed. Proposals are in place to make these impossible for amounts less than 25,000 GBP.

 

The whole Charging Order thing was latched on greedily by DCA's who thought this was a real gravy train.

 

In fact the control comes back to YOU since you can bargain with the creditor -- wait 40 years to get what is probably worth 3P by then or make a Full and final settlement of say 15% of the original debt.

 

Most DCA's will take MONEY NOW rather than wait 30 years.

 

I think the whole Charging Order route will soon vanish -- a more worrying problem is the increasing use of Statuatory Demands (SD's) by DCA's. Even though these are fairly easily quashable YOU MUST TAKE ACTION.

 

With a typical Charging Order just let it ride -- no big deal. I don't think I've heard of ANYBODY recently who'se had a forced sale of a House on Credit Card debt -- certainly not for the sorts of amounts often quoted on these Forums --usually under 10,000 GBP.

 

Cheers

jimbo

[andrewscott87]

I have recieved a reply from HSC.

 

I will mark any strange things out to you.

 

Without Prejudice (excuse me?)

 

Dear Mr Ferris

 

Further to our recent telephone call (I have never spoken to them on the phone i only emailed them once) I can write to confirm out agreement to a full and final settlement (full and final?)

 

We are prepared to accept 27 payments of 20 per month to clear the outstanding amount above and close our file. We must receive a signed standing order within the next 7 days. Please send to High Street Collections and send to the below address. Should we not receive your standing order form within the next 7 days we withdraw the offer and begin legal proceedings for the full amount

 

We look forward to your remittance by way of return (what does that mean?)

 

 

Ok so 1) I have never spoken to them on the phone

2)what does the final line mean?

and 3) whats the next step?

[coledog]

Bit a cheek as they have not yet explained what this is but probably in response to your email. I would send them a 'prove it' letter and see what they come back with.

[coledog]

Link to letter below edit to suit

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?428-General-debt-letter-if-you-know-nothing-of-the-debt

[42man]

So once again they have not supplied any details on the actual debt itself !!!??? PLEASE, PLEASE report them to the OFT. Send this recorded delivery in the post and don't hand sign it....

 

Dear Sirs,

 

I write in response to your letter dated XXXXX

 

Your company have contacted me about a debt of which I have no knowledge whatsoever, moreover you have quoted a company called 'Van Mildert' I can confirm that I have NEVER had any kind of account or transactional relationship with this company.

 

If you continue to harrass me with imminent threats of legal action I will have no hesitation in commencing legal action against your company, I also note that your company has a credit licence which is 'pending'

 

As a debt collection agency has to have a complaints procedure in process before it obtains its licence then I now require you to send me a copy of your official complaints procedures within the next 14 days. I'm sure I have no need to remind you of the guidelines laid out by the OFT, CPUTR2008 and the recent high court case of British Gas vs Ferguson.

 

You have not in any way answered my queries, and unless you provide a full breakdown of the amounts and what this alleged debt is for. Then I will not engauge in any further correspondence with your company.If it is your intention to issue a court claim, then it will be defended in full and also I shall refer the judge to this letter when the matter of costs falls due.

 

I trust this makes my position completely clear.

[andrewscott87]

ok thanks guys. I'll draft out that letter today and get it sent by recorded mail.

I think its become clear that im being scammed in one way or another.

[42man]

And please do drop an email to the OFT too....

[spamheed]

I have recieved a reply from HSC.

 

I will mark any strange things out to you.

 

Without Prejudice (excuse me?)

 

Dear Mr Ferris

 

Further to our recent telephone call (I have never spoken to them on the phone i only emailed them once) I can write to confirm out agreement to a full and final settlement (full and final?)

 

We are prepared to accept 27 payments of 20 per month to clear the outstanding amount above and close our file. We must receive a signed standing order within the next 7 days. Please send to High Street Collections and send to the below address. Should we not receive your standing order form within the next 7 days we withdraw the offer and begin legal proceedings for the full amount

 

We look forward to your remittance by way of return (what does that mean?)

 

 

Ok so 1) I have never spoken to them on the phone

2)what does the final line mean?

and 3) whats the next step?

 

 

This is a cute effort and would be used to refute any statute barred argument, of course they would fail because the acknowledgement of the debt needs to be either recotrded or in written form, but it's a nice try

[spartagates]

This will be for the HIP pack as I am having the same agro with these people. They will have a copy of the contract, ask them for a copy. I have reported them to trading standards for harrasment. Interesting to know they don't have the full licence yet, they better back off or I will be making a big noise with the TS complaint which surely can't be good news if your a new outfit..... Their tactics include repeated calls (three within an hour) misleading letters, using embaressment tactics such as "visiting your place of business". Rising stars to watch methinks....

[andrewscott87]

ok i know this is old but today i looked into my bank account and Van Mildert have take 150 out without my permission. I dont even know how they got my details!

[andrewscott87]

A while a go I posted about my HIP pack debt and Van Mildert's debt collection agency sending threatening letters.

 

I have heard nothing from them since.

 

But on the 2nd Of this month I noticed a payment had been made of 150 pounds to Van Mildert Landords association.

This was not a direct debit or a standing order. It was a debit. As in someone has used my details fraudulently.

 

Im not sure if the estate agents had my details and passed them on or whether Van Mildert had them from the HIP pack request. Either way this cant be legal?

 

I contacted my bank they said to contact Van Mildert so I will in the morning.

 

I dont mind paying my debts but I have not been contacted to make the payment in the first place.

The original letters (as mentioned in my previous thread) were the first I heard about it.

Surely I would have had to sign something?

 

Please help. This has left me unable to pay my bills so I am starting to panic.

 

Andrew

[cerberusalert]

Tell your bank you want a Chargeback.

 

Complain to your bank not more than 120 days (180 for international purchases through Visa only) after realising there's a problem, and ask to dispute the transaction. Your bank can then put the procedure in motion to claim the money back from the supplier's bank. For some cases you will need to contact the seller first though so it's also good practice to do this.

 

At this point, the onus is on your bank to get the money back if a transaction hasn't been completed properly and you should get a refund. Importantly, as it's asking for money back from the supplier's bank, not the supplier itself, the money should come even if the supplier itself has gone bust but this isn't guaranteed.

 

Again, it's worth noting most bank staff don't really know about this procedure, so you may need to explain it to them.

 

Some possible reasons for claiming a Chargeback are:

Technical - expired authorisation or a processing error by the bank

Clerical - being charged multiple times or being billed for the incorrect amount

Quality - the goods were not as described or were defective

Delivery - the goods were not received as promised

Fraud - you have been the victim of fraud and did not authorise the purchase