Motormile Finance Legal Threats: Please help?

[Tomo1987]

Hi everyone.

 

This is not the first time I have been chased by a DCA. For the last three or so years I have experienced this as I was the victim of identity theft and whilst the matter of money taken out of my bank account was settled I have, since that period of time, been receiving numerous numbers of letters from a variety of these companies claiming I owe them money. MMF are the third to do so, the previous two were different though; they both wrote to me and also contacted me by phone and an actual person, not an electronic voice, spoke to me. I disputed their claims, for a while they continued to send and make threats and eventually went away, the second one I haven't heard from in over two years now so would assume the case is closed.

 

MMF are a different kettle of fish. I have had nothing sent to me by post, I have however received frequent phone calls and text messages threatening all sorts of action. They have not even informed me of who I supposedly owe a debt too, I don't have the foggiest. I've had no break-down of any assumed debt and all I get is automated phone messages asking me to either hold the line or contact a number, when I have done both I have not gotten through to anyone before my patience has run out. The first of these calls started in November and the text messages started a few weeks later. Intriguingly the texts started coming to an old number that I had started using after my original sim card crashed, this number is from the period where I experienced identity theft.

 

Then I started to receive the next wave of calls and messages threatening a 'doorstep collector visit'. I have had this one of the previous companies so know how much of a laughable rarity it actually is and also no they hold about as many powers as a plastic bang in the wind, as suspected nobody actually turned up despite numerous threats from 'Mike' and 'Shane' they would be visiting my property unannounced and their website claims that all debtors will receive a home visit, I've researched this pretty thoroughly and could see chances of a visit are highly unlikely.

 

But now they are threatening legal action. I have received a text message stating that I am being assessed for legal action as I have chosen not to contact them. To be honest I am sick of this now and this is one rung up from what I have been previously dealing with. I chose not to contact them because I did not want them having my address and because they have not even correctly informed me of a debt I am supposed to owe. I do not believe that this can possibly be legal? I consider, at this point, that they are harassing me without just cause and without providing me with any evidence. With the previous two companies they went away relatively quickly and I didn't receive any threat of legal action, I want to nip this in the bud now and perhaps also turn it back round on them given the way they have treated me. Does anybody have any suggestions? I am happy to write a letter to them but I am not including my address, the fact they clearly don't have it suggests this debt is very suspicious.

 

Any help or advice would be great? Thank you.

[renegadeimp]

Did you go to actionfraud? if so, get the crime number, send it to MMF's compliance officer and tell them straight that if you get ANY more correspondance from them, you will be taking legal action for continued harassment and threats.

[renegadeimp]

Also remember, this is MMF you are dealing with and they have total disregard for the law.

[Tomo1987]

I have a crime number with regards to the identity theft but not with regards to any of this claimed debt. When I actually called the Police about this though, the response I received was "well, with these things there is always a winner and a loser. If you didn't do anything wrong you'll be in the former." Great advice huh?

 

But including that crime number would be a good idea anyway, thanks for your advice. Any other ideas are welcome.

[Tomo1987]

I decided to bite the bullet and contact MMF directly via the message box they have on their website. Unsurprisingly I got an instant automated email and have had nothing since, granted it was only an hour or so ago but I'm guessing I probably won't receive anything. From my research and what I've seen here, MMF seem unresponsive to emailing and phone calls.

 

So I've wrote them a letter as a well outlining all the details I've put in my opening message. I've instructed them to stop contacting me and to only inform me in writing that the debt is mine and a break-down of it, I haven't included my address and noted the point that if they don't have one then surely that makes the debt very suspicious?

 

I'm trying to stay open on the matter to a degree because I had a dispute over a mobile phone contract several years ago, I paid some of it off but refuted the rest in relation to a dispute over the phone being broken for some period and the company not doing enough to repair it. I did get several letters threatened DCA's which I responded too in kind but that was over three years ago but I am aware these kind of companies do often buy up old debts. The problem is with the identity theft I'm not sure which is which and don't want to put myself in a position claiming something I could then be disproved on.

 

Does everyone think that is the right course of action? I'm sending the letter to the Rob Sands who frequents these threads as the person to contact at MMF. I'm also sending it recorded delivery.

[Tomo1987]

I've wrote to MMF, sent it first-class recorded delivery yesterday. Had a suspicious phone call from somebody identifying themselves as 'Robert' today, refused to acknowledge them as I will be not discussing any of these so-called 'matters' with anybody over the phone. From now on, every company who tries to stitch me up is going to get a blanket letter response.

[renegadeimp]

Probably Robert Sands, their compliance officer. You are right to ignore them though. They should be communicating in writing. Mr sands knows that.

[Tomo1987]

Probably Robert Sands, their compliance officer. You are right to ignore them though. They should be communicating in writing. Mr sands knows that.

 

I'm guessing that too since it would have been around a postal delivery time and I sent the letter recorded delivery. If he wishes to assure me of a debt he can contact me via post can't he, like I had the courtesy to do him. My suspicion why he's chosen to try and talk to me instead is because, even though they do record their calls, they do and not I, and they can delete what they wish and deny a conversation and they cannot offer me any proof of evidence over the phone, which is what I suspect they don't have. It was Sands I addressed the letter too but here's something intriguing, the person I spoke to today also called my house when I wasn't in the morning and spoke to a member of my family and identified himself as 'Robert Ames' or 'Robert Ayles', it definitely wasn't Sands though and he gave a surname starting with A. He wouldn't be falsely impersonating himself in order to get me to talk to him would he? There's no chance that actually Robert Sands or Ames or Ayles doesn't actually exist and this is another person altogether? Because that is more than just breaking guidelines, that's a flat-out crime.

[renegadeimp]

I wouldnt put it past sands to do that, especially given his rather dubious work history. But we have no proof to confirm it was him.

[Tomo1987]

Yeah it's pretty typical behaviour of these companies too. One of the previous two I dealt with were Mackenzie Hall and they were signing letters with 'John Smith'. They also sent me a letter which came across as an official solicitor's notice of intent, it even had a mock county court logo in the top right corner. Fortunately I have a family friend who's wife is a solicitor and she looked it over for me and wrote it off in about ten minutes, she also said it was one of the most fraudulent documents she'd ever seen in her career.

[renegadeimp]

Thats interesting tomo.

 

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/rob-sands-facp-micm/15/632/281

 

Look where Mr sands used to work and what job he held.

[Tomo1987]

Thats interesting tomo.

 

http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/rob-sands-facp-micm/15/632/281

 

Look where Mr sands used to work and what job he held.

 

Well, well, well.........

 

I especially like the bit about the company being 'ethical' in their recovery procedures, that's f-ing hilarious. In my case alone they've broken three laws already!

 

So at least I know now, that if I go down the same road as I did with MH chances are it's going to go the same way as it did with them. After my persistent responses I stopped hearing from them. Last point of contact was over two years ago.....

[Tomo1987]

I'd also add from my friend, this attachment of earnings order they claim courts can serve is a pile of old dog's droppings. The only time courts ever enforce this is in relation to failure to pay child support or tax-related issues, they don't do it for private debts. I mean can you imagine if they actually tried that, given the state of the economy and people's living standards in the UK currently and the very negative attention on payday loan companies and short-term credit loans of late, it would make the national news if they ever did such a thing, or sent anyone to prison for failing to pay off a debt such as these ones. It's a complete myth in the UK and it's founding's are as ancient as slavery, as the law states, you can't be sent to prison for non-payment on a non-priority debt. Payday loans are non-priority debts, so far that matter are overdrafts, mobile phone contracts, higher-purchase agreements and ANY unsecured loan. Even those who totally default on their mortgages don't tend to end up in prison, courts will always work something out, no-one's getting sent to HMP for failing to pay back £250 they borrowed off Wonga. With the current climate in this country you'd be on Watchdog and Panorama before you knew it, you'd be a cult hero.

[Tomo1987]

So, guess what I just received in the post? A letter from MMF. A generated letter claiming I have not replied to their earlier letters and they would be instructing a doorstep agent to come visit me if I don't contact them, they very kindly sent a standing order form and pre-paid envelope with it (that's in the bin!).

 

This company are excellent. I've never been written to by them before, then I send a letter this week by recorded delivery and they've clearly lifted my address off the back of it because they didn't even set the address out correctly in the letter. I've been bugged by phone calls and text messages for the better part of three months now threatening doorstep collectors and eventually legal action, now, it appears they've gone back to the start of the process with letters and are attempting to make out that I have been in contact with them for some time. I'm going to have some fun with this one, they still haven't declared what the debt is either, just an amount.

 

They are quite clearly fishing.

[renegadeimp]

Should have filled the envelope full of junk and returned it. The heavier it is, the more they pay for it.

[Tomo1987]

Should have filled the envelope full of junk and returned it. The heavier it is, the more they pay for it.

 

That's actually quite a good idea! I have some old monopoly money from a version of the board game which is missing most of it's pieces, perhaps I'll send them that!

[renegadeimp]

Just get a nice heavy piece of wood and put it in.

[Tomo1987]

I eventually received a reply from MMF saying they were putting my account on hold barring an 'investigation'. Unsurprisingly I heard no more but now I'm being contacted by furthermore jokers Hellix who desperately try to sound more official and fearsome in their threats by quoting my address at the end of their messages as if to say, "hey, buddy, guess what!? We've got your address." Yes, I know, because you got it off the back of MMF who got it off the back of the signed-for letter I sent, prior to which you had diddly-squat which should tell you something...

 

If I don't phone by midday tomorrow further action could be taken on my account. Sure, sure. I'll look forward too it....

[renegadeimp]

Phishing letter. Get it to the OFT in a complaint.

[yorkshiremark]

Over the last two years I have been getting letters from MMF and phonecalls from Mike who has made numerous threats to make an unannounced visit to my house in order to asses my living standards. I have previously ignored them and Mike still has not turned up. I have now decided to end their constant barrage of phone calls, texts and letters.

I have sent a letter informing them that they have no right to attend my property and as such will be treated as a trespasser and will be dealt with accordingly. I have also informed them that any further communication is to be via written correspondence and any further text or phone call will be classed as harassment and the police will be informed and a formal statement will be made to instigate a criminal investigation into MMF's activities.

I have also informed the OFT of this bunch of cowboys activities and have already received a reply. I have also been in touch with my MP and informed him of the harassment tactics employed by MMF and given him copies of the letters received which state they are going to visit me unannounced.

At the moment my phone has been silent, no further letters and still no sign of Mike but it is still early days.

I will update this forum of any further updates with regard to these law breaking criminals because that is what they are.

But a quick question to end my rant, has anybody ever met "Mike" if so what does he look like so I can slam my very heavy solid front door in his face if he turns up.

[renegadeimp]

Mike is a pseudonym. Basically its an empty threat, and must be reported.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Whenever anyone is contacted in any way, Phone (mobile and or landline) SMS, e-mail or post, it is wise not to engage in any way with the lower echelons of their threat monkeys, you will get absolutely nothing but threats of all types of action apart from listening to what you say.

 

 

Insist that all dealings are in writing only via Royal Mail.

Do Not answer any security questions if you accidently answer a call.

Block all mobile numbers they attempt to use.

 

 

e-mails are a virtual waste of time as one can never be sure that they reach any one in authority nor are you ever guaranteed an answer.

 

 

Report all abusive and/or threatening calls to OFT/FCA.

 

Refuse to allow any representative of MMF to make a home visit, if anyone arrives unannounced " invite them to leave immediately" if they don't call the police.

 

 

Never discuss anything with a door stepper.

 

ALL correspondence should be addressed to Mr Rob Sands Compliance Director, marked Private & Confidential.

[yorkshiremark]

Thanks for the advice, hope these bunch of low life **** bags are closed down soon, they are the lowest of the low.

Has anybody ever had these clowns turn up unannounced?

[yorkshiremark]

If you check out MMF's office out on Google earth "Protection House" on Bradford Road, Leeds, you will see what kind of a company these people are. It is hardly the glass and steel fronted modern city center skyscraper these cowboys attempt to portray. It looks like a run down office block above a tyre fitters that has about three letter boxes next to the door which suggests to me they are hardly the nationwide power house they attempt to portray. So far since sending my letter to them and contacting my MP my phone has been silent and no further letters informing me about "Mike's" unannounced visit.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

One suspects that this outfit runs on the absolute minimum of staff and facilities, hence the many comments that the various different departments are all the same one and operative (maybe 2 are genuine) the rest are imaginary.