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    • "We suffer more in imagination than in reality" - really pleased this all happened. Settled by TO, full amount save as to costs and without interest claimed. I consider this a success but feel free to move this thread to wherever it's appropriate. I say it's a success because when I started this journey I was in a position of looking to pay interest on all these accounts, allowing them to default stopped that and so even though I am paying the full amount, it is without a doubt reduced from my position 3 years ago and I feel knowing this outcome was possible, happy to gotten this far, defended myself in person and left with a loan with terms I could only dream of, written into law as interest free! I will make better decisions in the future on other accounts, knowing key stages of this whole process. We had the opportunity to speak in court, Judge (feels like just before a ruling) was clear in such that he 'had all the relevant paperwork to make a judgement'. He wasn't pleased I hadn't settled before Court.. but then stated due to WS and verbal arguments on why I haven't settled, from my WS conclusion as follows: "11. The Defendant was not given ample evidence to prove the debt and therefore was not required to enter settlement negotiations. Should the debt be proved in the future, the Defendant is willing to enter such negotiations with the Claimant. "  He offered to stand down the case to give us chance to settle and that that was for my benefit specifically - their Sols didn't want to, he asked me whether I wanted to proceed to judgement or be given the opportunity to settle. Naturally, I snapped his hand off and we entered negotiations (took about 45 minutes). He added I should get legal advice for matters such as these. They were unwilling to agree to a TO unless it was full amount claimed, plus costs, plus interest. Which I rejected as I felt that was unfair in light of the circumstances and the judges comments, I then countered with full amount minus all costs and interest over 84 months. They accepted that. I believe the Judge wouldn't have been happy if they didn't accept a payment plan for the full amount, at this late stage. The judge was very impressed by my articulate defence and WS (Thanks CAG!) he respected that I was wiling to engage with the process but commented only I  can know whether this debt is mine, but stated that Civil cases were based on balance of probabilities, not without shadow of a doubt, and all he needs to determine is whether the account existed. Verbal arguments aside; he has enough evidence in paperwork for that. He clarified that a copy of a DN and NOA is sufficient proof based on balance of probabilities that they were served. I still disagree, but hey, I'm just me.. It's definitely not strict proof as basically I have to prove the negative (I didn't receive them/they were not served), which is impossible. Overall, a great result I think! BT  
    • Seeking further advice now. The 33 days in which the defendant has to submit a defence expires at 16:00 tomorrow. The defendant has submitted an acknowledgement of service but looking to get the claim awarded by default in failure to submit the defence. This is MoneyClaim Online and can see an option to request a default judgement but believe that is for failure to acknowledge the claim within 14 days??  So being MoneyClaim Online, how do I request the claim be awarded in my favour?
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D.C.A Correspondence?


damjef
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I have recently recieved a letter from a collection Agent, The debt referred to is for an overdraft which is made up primarily of bank charges.

The bank closed my account and I came to an arrangement to pay this amount off at the rate of £50 per month. The bank sent me a letter with regards to this agreement and they basically tried to set it up as a loan agreement and asked me to sign paperwork with regards to the CCA. I did not sign this documentation because I was under the impression that it was a temporary arrangement, since then they have passed the outstanding balance over to Metropolitan Collection Services Ltd.

The account that the outstanding balance refers to is in dispute, I am currently in the process of preparing my claim through MCOL. I have followed the normal procedure prelim, LBA etc but now I am unsure what to do with regards to the collection agency. Should I contact them to let them know that the account is in dispute? or should I ask them for information with regards to the cca?

Can any one advise the best procedure as I'm quite out of my depth:confused: Many Thanks in advance...

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Oops! No I haven't I wasn't aware that I was supposed to, I presumed that the bank would know this because of the prelim and LBA. Should I send the dispute letter to the bank or collection agent?

Thanks...

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I would echo the last post i just told the bank that the acc is in dispute by letter

have looked in templates sec cannot see a dispute letter as such

a link would be nice

kegi

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You need to notify the DCA that the alleged debt is "in dispute". There isn't a template as such. The easiest thing to do is just to write a very short letter asking them to accept your letter as official notification that you consider the alleged debt to be "in dispute" due to the imposition of charges on the account which you believe to be unlawful. You could also add " I am sure that you are aware of the Office of Fair Trading Guidelines

regarding legitimatley disputed debts".

 

What should happen then, is that they either pass the file back to the original creditor or put your file on hold "pending investigation" (usually for 28 days)That is, unless they claim to have bought the debt which I don't think is the case, it looks like they are just acting as agents.

 

Hope this helps

  • Confused 1
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Thanks for the advice,

I'll get a letter sorted and see what progress's.

sarahpp, what difference would it make if they have bought the debt?

 

If they have bought the debt then, you will need to go through the process of sending them a cca request letter requesting the credit agreement etc. You may have to do this anyway if the "in dispute" letter is not enough to stop the letters etc. I think it is extremely unlikely that they own this debt (banks rarely sell on) and this short letter should be enough for the time being whilst you sort your claim out.

 

I never like to say what a DCA will do but, in my own experience the "in dispute" letter has resulted in the debt being passed back to the creditor in quite a few instances.

 

Keep us posted though, in case you need anything else.

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I dug one of my old letters out, just in case it helps anyone

 

 

 

Official Notification

 

 

 

 

It has come to my attention that the debt alleged by ********* may contain a proportion of unlawful charges.

 

I have therefore sent a Subject Access request to ****** in order that I may examine my statements of account. A copy of this letter is enclosed for your records.

 

Please accept this letter as written confirmation that the account is “in dispute” until this matter is resolved. I am sure that you are aware of the Office of Fair Trading guidelines concerning legitimately disputed debts.

 

YF

 

 

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Hello everyone, Just briefly I've slightly modified (hope thats ok!) the letter to read as follows,

 

Official Notification

Your Ref: XXXXXXXX

(Debt Collection Services) ,

To Whom it may concern,

It has come to my attention that the debt alleged by (Bank/Creditor) may contain a high proportion of unlawful charges.

 

I have issued my concerns with (Bank/Creditor) regarding this account and now am in the process of taking the matter to court. Now as they are aware that this account is in dispute they should not have passed this account to yourselves for this act alone is in breach of the Office of Fair Trading guidelines concerning legitimately disputed debts; if you act on their instruction you may be party to this also.

 

Therefore please accept this letter as written confirmation that the account is “in dispute” until this matter is resolved.

Yours Sincerely,

 

Does this read ok ??

I tried to find what the actual guidelines where for disputed debts but couldn't find them, Does anyone know where they are on the OFT's site?

Also I would like to complain to the OFT regarding the Bank and charges, is there a set procedure for this? (should I post this somewhere else as a separate issue?)

Thanks everyone...

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HI: Have a look at the advice I followed on Post No 22 Thread Brooksdad v Woolwich re letter to DCA.

.

NEW CLAIMANTS PLEASE FIRST READ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND FORUM RULES

 

Link:

FAQ

 

ANY ADVICE OFFERED IS A PERSONAL OPINION AND IS GIVEN AS SUCH

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hello Everyone,

I sent the letter to the D.C.A as outlined below and have received a reply, pretty sharpish at that! Basically it's raised a few questions.

 

The letter from the D.C.A basically reads....

we acknowledge receipt of your correspondence....

we have enclosed a copy of your statements for the above account. Please highlight all disputed charges and return to us so that your claim can be investigated.

Should we not receive a response within the ensuing 14 days we shall continue with our recovery procedures....

bla bla bla.

 

:confused: I can't quite get my head around this one!

I find it quite strange that they can acquire statements in such a short period of time especially when we have to wait 40 days when a S.A.R is issued. (incidentally the statements they sent to me were only for 6 months) If they are acting as an agent are they privy to this information?

Why would they investigate my charges? Are they 'all of a sudden' acting on my best interests or could there be an ulterior motive?

Should I entertain their requests? should I correspond with them at all?

To be honest I haven't a clue how to deal with this one so any help and advice would gratefully be accepted! Thanks...

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The statements will only be from when they either took over management of the debt or were assigned the debt. You now need to send them a cca request in order to establish whether they have a copy of the Credit Agreement.

 

 

 

"Further to my previous correspondence, I have now to inform you that the disputed amount with ******* is now in the hands of the court.

 

I acknowledge no debt with London and Metropolitan and I therefore require that you supply me with true copies of the agreements you refer to in these matters. This is my right under the legislation contained within section 77 (1) and section 78 (1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. I enclose a £1 postal order in payment of the statutory fee. . This fee is not to be offset against the amount allegedly owing under any circumstances.

 

I also require that you supply signed true copies of the deeds of assignment of the above referenced agreements.

 

You are reminded that you are obliged to supply these documents, whether you are the original creditor or not, under section 189 of the CCA 1974.

 

As you are aware, a credit agreement that is not properly documented and signed by the customer is totally unenforceable under the CCA and therefore is a complete defence to any court claim that is issued.

 

Take note at this stage, that any legal action you may contemplate will be both vigorously defended and contested. "

 

This should flush out whether they are acting as agents or claiming to own the debt.

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Once again, THANKS very much:D

I'll get right on the case with the letter, I'm also just trying to sort the details out so that I can PM a mod for the litigation section so hopefully everything should come together nicely!

I'll post back with an update as soon as I receive any more correspondence, Bye for now...

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  • 2 weeks later...

Damjef, the letter that Sarah has posted is a good one to use with just the

one proviso. There is no requirement for the deed of assignment to be produced by the DCA, except when demanded by the Court. It is therefore

safer to erase that sentence to prevent yourself from thinking that by their

failure to produce the DoA that they have not fulfilled the terms of the CCA.

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Hello, thanks for all the input, I've already sent the letter pretty much based on sarahpp template. I haven't heard anything yet not even a phone call so I will keep the thread up to date as soon as I hear from them...

hopefully I won't as I've just recieved my acknowledgment of service from MCOL. FD's solicitors state that they will defend the whole amount. If any body could help me with this it would be appreciated as I have seeked help here without any feedback unfortunately,

Thanks every body for all your input hopefully it will help others in the same situ.....

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