Hi,
I'm new to this forum so apologies in advance for any faux pas.
A few days before christmas (21 or 22 December 2009) I received a phone call from a rather cocky man from "DML" asking me to give him my credit or debit card details in order for me to pay the £200+ debt I have with them. He called me at my work's telephone number. He gave me an address that I haven't stayed at for around 3 years. He said the Clydesdale bank account I had has outstanding bank charges on it which have reached the £200+ mark and I must arrange to pay it.
I said I wouldn't pay anything unless he gave me details of the debt. he couldn't. he pointed me towards a sister company whose name escapes me. I contacted them that same day and they were just as vague. They told me my old address, the fact that I used to have a Clydesdale account and that was it! If I needed to know anything else I'd have to contact the bank. I called the bank but, understandably they can't help me unless I have my account details, which I don't.
I walked away from this account. I didn't close it properly; just stopped using it. It's possible that I've left a DD open on the account which has gone into my overdraft. If this turns out to be the case I'm only too willing to pay what I owe.
So, I forgot all about it. I received a phone call today (again, at work) from a different person from the same company (DML). She was a bit more forceful on the phone. She asked for card details as well. no chance! Again, she could give me no details re. this debt.
She said the bank had sent letters which had been ignored by me. these would have been sent to my old address (the one I had when with the bank, and the one that DML are aware of) so I didn't receive the letters. If I did, I would have acted on them.
The woman I talked to today said I need to send a "letter of dispute" to:
DML
PO Box 168
19 Heriot Row
EDINBURGH
EH3 6JB
within 14 days of the phone call otherwise they can call to my house to receive payment. Before I ended the call she asked for my current address. I told her she'd get this when I sent the letter.
Sorry to be so long winded here! I just want to know if anyone has any advice. I guess the law on this stuff differs in Scotland? Most forum stuff I've read about has been in England and I don't want to take any of that as being the case for Scotland too. Should I just ignore this? Should I send a letter of dispute? What should I ask/say/demand in such a letter? Where does the law stand on this kind of thing? Can I provide my work's address as a contact address rather than my current home address?
As you will all appreciate getting such calls is a bit of a worry, especially when they are so unhelpful (almost to the point of belligerence) on the telephone.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me here.
