Out of interest - HFO sent me an 'HFO Services - Baliff Information Sheet' with my name and address on it but the photo of the house is nothing like my flat and there are no properties in my postcode area like this. I cannot identify where it is and it does not look like it came from Google but could have. I therefore don't have enough evidence to complain to Google. The account number on this sheet is different to the one on the letter they sent, so it could be the house of another one of their 'victims'. Please let me know if anyone gets a photo of a council flat (well, the tree in front of it) instead of a victorian terrace. I suspect HFO seem to be doing this to a lot of people and only a few are in touch with CAG. In my case and others, you also get a Credit Reference Report. This appears to be 'proof' that you owe them money (even though they have put the relevant entry there themselves) and is supposed to replace a properly executed credit agreement. It is worth complaining to the CRA, who will initially say that the DCA can access your file but keep on at them as the 'permission' to access your data depends on the said original credit agreement (which the DCA do not have, hence the credit report). I am still trying to get the CRAs Terms and Conditions relating to DCAs use of our data but they don't seem keen to send these out. In all cases, this abuse of data should be reported to OFT, Consumer Direct and ICO

Hi Send 'Account in Dispute' letter. http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/resources/templates-library/86-debt-collectors/579-letter-when-dca-refuses-to-comply-with-a-cca-request if you have requested a CCA agreement by letter (if not do this and place account in dispute until they do). Don't speak to them on the phone Start a new thread of your own for this and join the HFO fan club Keep reporting to OFT and also the ICO and the credit reference agency whose report they used

Cancel the DD with the bank and tell the company that you will arrange an alternative means of payment from when next due. YOU must be in control here.

The company taking the DD are at fault. They agree to take a payment on a fixed day and to let you know if the amount to be taken changes, well in advance. You should write a strongly worded letter to them and claim any bank charges if they do this and you incur any. I have had this with 'normal' companies (not debt) and it is part of the DD 'guarantee' In a case like this I would investigate setting up a Standing Order or internet payment on the 1st Month. If they are funny about this say you will refer it back to the court who will not insist that you use DD.

First - you need to start your own thread. I had (and am having) similar problems with them ( I have a thread somewhere about them sending me by personal data). DON'T speak to them, everything in writing. DON'T pay anything or offer anything until they can prove that you owe them money and they are entitled to ask you for it. There are some excellent people on this site with experience of this company. You will probably need to provide some more details.

Thank you very much for this! During my recent battles with HFO, Equifax etc, . I have noticed that 1st Credit have been recording searches on my credit files also. I have been through my shredder bag and found some spam letters from them similar to the one you have received but none recently although there are recent searches. I will therefore fire off some complaints about these people. it appears that OFT did 'name and shame' this DCA particularly, in one of their press releases. Also like the web site

Don't phone them - seems to be a direct line to 'India'. It sounds like they don't have a phone number for you but don't speak to them.

I 'signed' my letters but put 3 crosses thru the signatures and photocopied the letters. I think that this is so they cannot 'lift' the signature to fake a document - not that they would do that! postal order is for the same reason. Send 'recorded delivery' and track.

Subscribing to this thread. See my thread below and also the other HFO threads on this forum - threats of 'legal action' are against OFT guidelines and HFO seem to think that they can use personal information to harass you! http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collection-industry/267210-have-hfo-srevices-sent.html?highlight=hfo

Am subbing to this thread as I have my own battle with 'HFO'. Keep going with the official compliants, you are not alone!

Keeping an eye on this thread as I am awaiting replies to CCA requests and use of my personal data.

I am also keeping an eye on the HFO threads as awaiting response to CCA request, complaints etc. Received a call from HFO on Monday from a mobile phone threatening 'solicitors'. Told her to go and look for my correspondence which she claimed had not been received and watch out for my OFT complaint.

Am sending everything to the OFT - suggest that Mccarthybaby does the same as these people seem that have broken every rule about accessing data and 'sharing' it!

Update First of all - thank you very much for your kind messages. No reply yet from HFO they should have received my complaint and CCA/SAR requests on 12th July. Also, have written again to Equifax with complaint. The company who issued the credit report have suspended their customer's account and written to them (interestingly the 'customer' appears to be Turnbull Rutherford as their SW19 postcode is actually on the report). I cannot identify the house photo they sent or where it came from but it is not in my post code also the account number on the sheet with the photo is not the same as the one on the letter. I have contacted the OFT today and am sending a complaint and all the information to them. ICO have advised me to try and sort the matter out with HFO first but don't know if I should send them a complaint anyway? HFO claim to have bought this debt from Citi Card - should I be writing to them with CCA/SAR requests? Also there is another thread on Consumer Forums - 'HFO Services advice please?' where Mccarthybaby seems to be having similar problems with HFO sending info which they shouldn't be.

Please see my thread ''Have HFO Srevices sent you your credit report or any other info? I have written to these idiots with a formal complaint, CCA and DPA requests. I have also complained to Equifax. I have to wait for replies before I can take the matter further with official bodies like ICO. They sent a photo of a house which is not mine and bears no relationship to anything in my postcode.I can't find where it came from but don't think it is Google. I was also called on 1st July from an 020 number by some women called Vinni. I initially thought she was selling something and hung up She then kept phoning and left a message on my phone about 'excalating a legal matter'. I phoned back and she regonised my number, kept calling me by my first name and said she had 'information about me'. I don't know how she got my number and she never confirmed my id. I told her not to ring again. I then received this file of information which had been printed on the same afternoon. I will update my tread when I can add some more info

I have received a letter from HFO Services claiming that they have purchased an old personal credit card debt and treatening legal action unless I phone them. The letter does not mention attachments but a number of sheets were stapled to it and the muppet had left a posit stuck to the letter saying 'First Class post with attachments'. The attachments included an Equifax credit report about me, a company credit report on the limited company I am using to run my small business and a Balliffs Action sheet which amusingly contains a colour photo of a house that I don't recognise and bears no relationship to the block of flats that I live in. The T&C on the company check website have been broken as the 'subject of the search' was not the company but me and the data is 'for personal use only'. Equifax are also investigating how HFO were able to obtain a report without my permission. I have complained to ICO and written to HFO with a complaint, CCA and DPA requests. Has anyone else experienced this type of behaviour from these lowlifes?