Imo you need to be very careful. I have been reading this thread and, in trying to put all my thoughts, fears and prejudices against DCA's aside, have found in the main for it to be very helpful and enlightening. Those prejudices and fears have been brought about by my experience with DCA's, and I'm fairly sure there are others here who have had the same, or similar tactics. So I don't feel very comfortable when someone comes along and attempts to 'steer' me in the direction they want me to go. My experience of DCA's thus far is of mind games and intimidation backed up by fear inducing tactics, so maybe you can understand why I'm left with a nasty taste in my mouth. I might have this totally wrong, and may well be left with egg on my face when 'it will all make sense' and if I am I will apologise. But at this moment your 'Machiavellian' tactics isn't sitting comfortable with me. If your post is alluding to how DCA's work, their tactics, and how they ride roughshod over peoples lives and emotions then I don't need an example or a reminder. I, along with many others, have first hand experience of that behaviour.

Hi GH....thought you might be interested in this.... If you wanted to find the original then you'd have to take a look through the OFT's website....this is quoted directly from the website, but I only cut and pasted this bit... A ‘true copy’ of an agreement principally consists of the terms and conditions of the agreement and the statutory content of the agreement. The name, address and signature of the debtor do not have to be provided. Additionally, the creditor must supply the total sum paid under the agreement by the debtor; the total sum which has become payable under the agreement but remains unpaid; and the total sum which is to become payable under the agreement by the debtor (the latter two must include the various amounts comprised in that total sum and the date when each is/was due). However, the copy must be a copy. It need not be exact on immaterial points, but it cannot be a conjectured reconstruction. If the trader has no original copy, the trader will have difficulty showing that he has complied with the regulation by supplying a ‘true copy’, since nobody would know what was in the original. When the trader comes to enforce the debt in court, he needs to have a signed copy of the agreement in order to enforce. As the law stands currently he cannot otherwise. In the absence of a copy of the original agreement someone's liability for a debt can only lead to further query. However in circumstances like this we would view it is as unfair practice under section 25(2) (d) of the Act and relevant to licence fitness if a trader failed to investigate and/or provide details as appropriate when a debt is queried or disputed

Hi Today i got a letter from Lowells We refer to your recent request for a copy of the orginal credit agreement in respect of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. After liasing with our client in an effort to obtain this document we have been advised that it is no longer available. Under the circumstances, we have closed our files in relation to this account which has now been returned to our client. We can confirm that no further contact will be made by us regarding this account. We trust that the above clarifies matters for you. If you have any queries regarding the above, please contact us on Great news although i do realise that i may get contact from the OC or another DCA but the debt as i understand in now unenforcable. I would like to thank CAG and all the MODs the site helpers, and others who i have helped, a special thankyou to ODC and Curly Ben as their posts have inspired me, i think ODC should be made a site helper. Thankyou all once again Adamski

This is precisely where the industry staff training lets itself down - any informed member of staff would know this is completely wrong. No DCA or DCA agent should do this and share "personal data" with anyone else. OTB - working as field collection agent in this manner your job is to knock a door see if a person is there - NOT to divulge any persons personal information. Could you explain where in any law it states that if a person "moves home" they lose any rights to privacy - I'd be interested to see which laws back your theory. Just goes to show what some will do to earn a commission. Hardly surprising that people have such attitudes towards DCA's staff is it? What does make me laugh though is - many of us where someone knocks a door asking for a neighbour / previous person who lived at an address would be pretty quick off the mark and send the DCA/person asking somewhere "way off the mark" For instance my former neighbours have emmigrated to Spain if anyone asks (I know exactly where they are) Theory is if my old neighbours wanted to be in touch with some company - they'd have already given new address etc.. themselves. So realistically putting the squeeze on people doesn't always work - cause there are always those willing to help out and fight against these data spilling fools he think they are above the law themselves.

go to the cell you want the answer to be in, then click on the sigma sign, hopefully it should put a flashy lign around the column of numbers you want to add up. If it doesn't you need to click and hold down on the last number in the column and then drag up to the first number. then release and press enter. This should then add up the column

Hi there, I'm sorry to hear you find yourself in this situation. Firstly - under no circumstances should you resign, if you feel you have been treated unfairly then you must defend yourself. You can always look for another job and it is easier to find one while you are still working. Now, these disciplinary warnings that you were given - did you receive a letter inviting you to a disciplinary meeting, detailing what the reasons were, and also advising that you had the right to be accompanied? If not, then your boss has not followed statutory procedure. Also, if your job has changed significantly from the job description that you were offered originally, then the changes should have been by negotiation. You cannot be disciplined for work which is not within your remit or that you have not been given proper training for. Please try to stay positive, I'm sure you can retrieve the situation. Are you a member of a union? What sort of business is it you work for? Kind Regards Ell-enn

No return of premiums on policies that have incurred a claim(s) is correct industry practise. Your comments do tend to suggest mis-selling! It's worth pursuing this tack! H

Seahorse's blog is NOT commercial. This is nuts.

Isn't it strange that a strong sense of morals on both sides in this issue (Seahorse not wanting to be censored and CAG with it's very sensible policy) has actually achieved what underhand activity by DCAs hasn't. The separation of Seahorse from CAG. What a pity, what a shame. Newborn

Try this one

the recording will still exist and you can apply for all of your DWP records by writing to your local offices mamnager and asking them to give you the information. State they have 40 days from the date they recieve the letter and if they dont supply the information you will seek the information threw the courts in necessary. trust me it does work as i hvae done it. Your royal mail trcking problem. It can take a few days for it to come online as it will need to be scanned and processed.

just change the Bradford court reference for the to the court where the claim was started leave the reference to Northampton CC where it is , all that needs changing is the name of the court where the action was started

This is VERY interesting, do you know how much they will be getting via the IVA? This looks promising.

I think a formal complaint to the CSA complaints team is in order. I'm not sure how things stand legally, I hope someone will be along to advise on that shortly, but I think morally this woman should have declared a conflict of interest and handed the case to someone who didn't know either of you. I would print off the facebook screens as evidence in case they are removed and perhaps send copies with your complaint. If this has helped please click my scales

All my DCA's have gone a bit quiet recently. Not heard from any of them for over a week now. I have a feeling they're behaving, after the OFT slapping 13 of them received recently. Now it's quiet it gives me the time to concentrate on the formal complaints letters and my turn to give them some threat-o-grams. My next round of calls, when they do start up again, will be to "chat up" the DCA employee. Or just have the memory span of a goldfish. One thing I have discovered, is give them the wrong address and date of birth. Then insist that the details you gave them are correct. Just see how many of them will continue without the correct security info. Don't forget to complain to the OFT & FOS if they do.

Write back and suggest they contact RWC as they are supposed to have State of the Art Tracing systems who apparently can track down anyone, anywhere, anytime. This reply is valid even if not read by them. Or of course you could send them a little puzzle to tax their tiny minds. Dear RWC Please rearrange the following words into a well knownphrase or saying Stuffed and get go:D

To be honest with you Jon I really dont think Im mentally strong enough to go through another civil case, especially with out legal guidance. Not to mention the cost, I may have gotten compensation from the bailiff etc but it would not cover legal costs. A complaint was made against the police and it has been dealt with so to speak and I was fairly happy with the out come.

I managed to get interest on top of an overpayment I made to a DCA that they held until I spotted but I asked for it at the same time as I requested the refund. it doesn't hurt to try though and if it were me I'd write to them and ask for interest on top (contractual interest if you know the rate?). Hopefully someone more knowledgable will pop along anyway

no more from me until i got at least 5 "green blobs"