McKenzie Hall - Retrieving Payments on a Statute Barred Debt

[ODC]

Re: McKenzie Hall - Retrieving Payments on a Statute Barred Debt

Perhaps the OP wasn't aware ?

Perhaps.

[CleverClogs]

Re: McKenzie Hall - Retrieving Payments on a Statute Barred Debt

Although I don't disagree with those of you who say write to Muck Hall I personally wouldn't. I wooul be happy letting their threat monkeys start their telephone harassment and mass mailings. The time they spend doing this means less time harassing someone else. Each phone call and letter they churn out costs them money. Yes it's only pennies but it's good fun watching them getting more and more desperate. You could turn the tables on them if they phone up and tell more lies as they surely will. Record their lies and threats and make a formal complaint

Or just play back an edited version of their drek when they next call.

Or one could really have some fun with the buggers - link

[CleverClogs]

Re: McKenzie Hall - Retrieving Payments on a Statute Barred Debt

Or play them this:

[gravytrain]

Re: McKenzie Hall - Retrieving Payments on a Statute Barred Debt

Hi,

I was hoping someone might be able to help me out with some issues I'm having with McKenzie Hall, who by all accounts have a pretty low reputation, if these forums are anything to go by!

About 10 years ago, when I was a student, I was pretty bad with my finances, and ended up with quite a few debts, namely credit/store cards that were passed to debt collection agency once x amount of payments were missed. I thought these had all been paid off over the ensuing years, and my credit rating appeared to be back to 'excellent', as I have no problem getting approved for credit cards (and not the ones that are specifically for people with bad credit), phone contracts, etc.

However, a company called McKenzie Hall (who I had never heard of at the time) contacted me at the beginning of December, trying to collect on a debt that was accrued on a credit card taken out in 2001 (and defaulted on by 2003), and expecting repayment either immediately, or I could pay either the full amount or a settlement figure over 4 months. I was instructed to pay the full amount rather than the settlement, as apparently this would be less damaging to my credit rating. So I agreed to pay £130 per month for 4 months, as the amount outstanding was approximately £520. So far, I have paid £390, with one payment left to go.

However, I have since found out that apparently there is no obligation to repay a debt that is over 6 years old (something to do with being statute barred), and I'm 99% certain no-one has tried to contact me over the past 6 years, unless they've been sending correspondence to my (very) old addresses. However, I find it highly unlikely that they've been done that since 2003, and yet have waited almost 10 years to issue me with an 'ultimatum'. It sounds like McKenzie Hall just buy up old, statute-barred debts and then try to claim them, hoping no-one will question them, so it looks like that's what's happened to me!

I suspect that, as I have acknowledged the debt and started repaying it, there is no way I can retrieve that £390, but I thought it might be possible, so was wondering if anyone could provide me with any information, or even possibly some wording for a letter to them, as I'm not actually overly bothered about the money, but it's more the principle. Hopefully someone with a legal background can steer me in the right direction.

Obviously I wish I'd checked out their forum before agreeing to pay anything, but as other users have said, they somewhat bully you into paying whatever they want!

Also, apologies if there's already a similar thread for this, if so could you please post the link and I'll check it out.

Thanks in advance.

So in a nutshell

It is not likely that you will be able to regain any of the money you have paid, however if you let them know that the debt is statute barred under the 1980 act you can insist that they cease pressing you for any further payment.