Thanks for the responses. My major concern is the fact that the debt isn't alleged as I have admitted as much through prior payments that the debt is outstanding. With the sort of luck I have, the buggers would likely have the original documents for the debt The original debt is no longer on my credit file, and I'm also concerned if I were to contest this by asking for a CCA they would try to strike at my credit file. I'd be grateful if someone could point me in the direction of any letters or procedures I would need to be aware of, and advise on which party to concentrate my efforts on. Many thanks!

Hi, I hope you can advise me with a problem I'm having with a DCA called Meritforce. Here's the story... Back in 1998 I had a loan with the Co-operative bank which I defaulted on soon after the break-up of my marriage. After being bandied about several DCAs subsequently, it ended up in the hands of Meritforce around 2003. I admitted the debt at the time, thus resetting the 6-yr rule and began small payments which Meritforce were happy to accept. While the repayments would cause me to almost take the debt to my grave, it was no problem and both the DCA and myself were happy with the arrangement. Apart from a small period last year when Meritforce stopped taking money from me (sorted) I've paid my small sum every month. Then 3 or 4 months ago, I got a letter from a company called NewSec who said they were now the owner of the debt and I was to make payments to them, not Meritforce. They wanted £75/month which I couldn't afford so wrote to them telling them I would stick to my original payment, and not having heard back from them subsequently made payments to Newsec of the amount I had always paid previously, but they returned each payment to my bank account a few days after my making payment. Then last week I got a letter from Meritforce stating that I had broken my agreement and that legal proceedings blah blah blah... the letter cites the client's name as NewSec. Now, I'm not disputing the debt - i do owe it, and i've been paying off a little every month but now I don't know who is the owner of the debt, or who to pay. I've half a mind to ask for proof of debt now, but I'm worried it would blow up in my face and I'm not sure who to address anyway! So, who actually owns the debt? NewSec return my money, but according to the letter i have i'm to pay them - not Meritforce, but it's Meritforce who claim i haven't paid despite instructions to the contrary and they are collecting on behalf of NewSec? I'm utterly confused!