Meritforce Debt Collection

[miss piggy]

We received a letter under my husbands name from Meritforce saying we owed money and to ring them straight away.
I researched on the internet and as we knew of no debt we had defaulted on either at our address now ( for the last five years) or our previous address ( thirty years).
We decided to ignore it as we could not think of any reason at all for it.
A few days later cam a demand for £405.24 supposedly from GE Capital First National Tricity Finance what for when and how we do not know.
We have had no dealings with this company as far as we can recall and certainly have had no letters or communication from them at all.
My husband is now panicking as we have never had anything to do with debt collectors but they are threatening to call and demand payment. This is all within a few days.
What do we do. I have advised him to ring citizens advice bureau first before he contacts this firm.

[Caspar]

Re: Meritforce Debt Collection

We received a letter under my husbands name from Meritforce saying we owed money and to ring them straight away.
I researched on the internet and as we knew of no debt we had defaulted on either at our address now ( for the last five years) or our previous address ( thirty years).
We decided to ignore it as we could not think of any reason at all for it.
A few days later cam a demand for £405.24 supposedly from GE Capital First National Tricity Finance what for when and how we do not know.
We have had no dealings with this company as far as we can recall and certainly have had no letters or communication from them at all.
My husband is now panicking as we have never had anything to do with debt collectors but they are threatening to call and demand payment. This is all within a few days.
What do we do. I have advised him to ring citizens advice bureau first before he contacts this firm.

Right! Firstly calm down and do not panic! There has obviously been a mistake and Debt Collection Agencies (DCA's) are known for their bully boy tactics. They try to scare people into paying up. This may sound strange advice, but I know it's what others on here would also advise (Curlyben is the real expert in this area). As a rule of thumb with DCA's ignore their first letter. If they send you another one post on here and ask for a pointer to the "Prove It" letter.

In your circumstances as there's obviously been a mistake somewhere along the line which is causing you a lot of anxiety, I'd be inclined to go online and get a free copy of your credit report. From this you'll be able to see if anything has been registered against you or your address (try to fill in the form so you get both addresses details). If you find a mistake on the credit report post again for advice on what to do.

Please do not lose sleep over this though. It is obviously a mistake and even if you did owe it, a debt collector has no right at all to turn up at your door and demand money - by law they have to arrange an appointment with you. It doesn't stop them threatening they'll do it, as I say they're not known for their integrity.

So ignore letter, get copy of credit report free online, then come back to us.

Hope this reassures you,

David

[miss piggy]

Re: Meritforce Debt Collection

Thanks so much. We have got the credit report from Experian which is squeaky clean on both addresses. I haver got the letter which we will send offf tomorrow.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Only thing is it only goes back six years. Does that matter?

[Curlyben]

Re: Meritforce Debt Collection

Meritforce are part of Mucky Hall and are best IGNORED.
DON'T respond to them at all.


They huff and they puff but they are as gutless as they come.
They will NOT be sending someone round or even taking you to court.
They rely on bully boy tactics to get you to call them and arrange a payment for anything..

Mucky Hall specialise in statute barred and completely unenforceable debts.

[Caspar]

Re: Meritforce Debt Collection

Thanks so much. We have got the credit report from Experian which is squeaky clean on both addresses. I haver got the letter which we will send offf tomorrow.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Only thing is it only goes back six years. Does that matter?

If I'm right in thinking you've only had one letter from Meritforce, don't send anything unless Meritforce contact you again. If they do, then send the Prove It letter.

With regard to the 6 years. This is to do with debts being statute barred. This means they cannot lawfully be collected (though some companies do try). However, you would still owe the money and whoever you owed it to could keep posting against your credit record.

So.... unless you hear from Meritforce again, don't do anything. If you do hear again send the letter first class and make sure you ask for Proof of Posting.

David
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Is this the one you've used, or something very similar?

Prove it letter:

Name/Address:

Date:

Dear Sir/Madam

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 (insert company name).

I am/we are familiar with the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPUTR 2008) and the Office of Fair Trading's Guidance on debt collection, 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. AND 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 would also remind you, that I/we are aware of the 'MALG' Guidance/Code that you should comply with.

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 Trading Standards and also inform the Office Of Fair Trading of your actions.

I/we look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully



------------------------------- merged -------------------------------

Meritforce are part of Mucky Hall and are best IGNORED.
DON'T respond to them at all.


They huff and they puff but they are as gutless as they come.
They will NOT be sending someone round or even taking you to court.
They rely on bully boy tactics to get you to call them and arrange a payment for anything..

Mucky Hall specialise in statute barred and completely unenforceable debts.

There you go! From the mouth of the expert! Told you that would be the advice! He is NEVER wrong.

[debtisbad]

Re: Meritforce Debt Collection

Debt collection agencies buy up debts at pennies on the pound and make money by pursuing the recipient in the hope that they pay up big style, making a huge profit for the agency.

Having said that, many supposedly debtors have moved home.

In an attempt to try and establish contact, the agencies will write tgo everyone with a similar or same ne in the area. Hence the letter to you.