Thank you for the comments. Points taken, a change in perspective is required.

Point taken, and I accept that. It's the blatant lies and the eventual outcome that the agency was privy to all along that irritates. I don't expect businesses to be charitable. I expect honesty though, from them, and the agency. Lesson learned.

I thought as much. What is irritating though is that the employer is a member of a local FB group I am also a member of. His online persona is very much different to reality...lots of virtue-signalling, philanthropic acts in order to advertise his business. People regard him as a saint. He knew my personal situation and the sacrifices I made to cover the shifts he needed.

I don't know whether this constitutes a general grievance or whether it's simply something that is 'the norm'. It was my first ever experience of working via an agency: In July I and my family relocated to another part of the country. I got a job via an agency for a very specific role, requiring a licence in a sector I have over 10 years experience in. The "employer" was only just starting out in this sector and I was introduced to the "supervisor" who was previously just the admin lady, and it soon became apparent she had only a few months experience. I saw lots of issues straight away - they were pretty clueless, and I voiced my concerns to my job agency "handler". I was reassured the company was 'going forward' and they would make whatever changes needed in order to comply with the industry standard. The admin lady "supervisor" had some holidays booked. I spent pretty much working solid for 3 months - doing 12 nights straight in one case. I raised the issue with the agency again and stated I was thinking of leaving as the current roster was untenable. A new lad was also taken on, who had as much experience in the industry as I, it eased the workload whilst covering the admin lady's holiday period. A meeting was called and we were informed of a bright new future, lots of big plans etc. Being a naive idiot I declined several interviews with other companies during this time. My 3 months initial contract with the agency came to an end and my employer became increasingly hard to contact. We had been assured we would be 'taken on the books' etc. The admin lady's holiday periods had been pretty much covered and, as soon as all my promulgated rostered shifts had been covered I was told they could not afford to take me on as permanent staff. The other lad was told the same a few days later once he had completed his shifts. My gripe is - I am now 100% certain the agency knew all along I was only being employed in the interim - My "handler" mistakenly sent me a text intended for my then employer. I am also owed a few hours pay, it only amounts to about £30 but it was not 'put through the books' at the agency. The job agency has still not sent me my P45 after more than 8 weeks. I phoned HMRC and they informed me a P45 had been received about a week before I was "laid off". My fear is my new job will stick me on emergency tax. Do I have a genuine grievance or should I just put it down to experience? My former employer enjoys a very high profile social media presence appearing to many as some latter day Mother Theresa. The truth about him is somewhat different though. Thanks.

It was paid for by bank debit. How am I expected "not to use" a sofa that is to be returned that is to be taking up much of my room for almost a week? You can imagine the disarray the room is now in. One of us will now have to take a day off work for the collecetion. Edited to add: Its an 'L' shaped sofa that does not match up so you can imagine the space issues is poses.

I arrived home from work tonight to find our new £900 sofa was in fact half of the one we ordered, and half of another one, as well as a two person footstool. This only became apparent when my wife unwrapped it. She phoned them straight away and they said they could only replace / collect next Monday (6 days away). I phoned to complain and they said the earliest they could collect would still be Monday. I do not have the room for this mismatch in my house and with an 11 month old baby its dangerous. Also, their returns policy on the website states that goods to be returned must not be used. Where do I stand? ...Yeah yeah I know...

I received a letter today Here's what it said: We have discovered that section 5 of the limitation act 1980 now applies to your account and we will no longer be asking you for payment. We will not send you any more letters and we have now closed your account with Lowell. I would like to offer a huge thankyou to all who have offered advice on this. I would also urge anybody in a similar predicament to utilise the excellent advice on here sooner rather than later. I have had a few years of worry and it was all unnecessary. If only I sent that statute barred letter 18 months ago, I'd have a few less grey hairs. I hope somebody in similar situations finds comfort in reading this conclusion I must have read this entire forum trying to find a happy outcome to a similar situation as mine in order to put my mind at rest - I found most threads ended up dead-ends though with no clear conclusion. This is my happy ending and I couldn't have done it without the knowledge base on here. Thankyou Cheers everybody

Does what I have described seem "normal"?

Ive just received my experian/creditexpert pin and have checked my credit file. There is zero record of Lombard on it, nor are there any searches by Red/Lowell et al. The only recent searches have been generic from my experian application, car insurance and car purchase etc. It says my credit score is 'excellent' with a score of 967. It seems way better than I was expecting. Considering Lowell reference experian on their letters I'd have expected some sort of search registered by them but - there's nothing. Any ideas?? I have not yet had a reply to the statute barred letter but it was only posted on Monday.

If that has happened what do I do?

I'm expecting them to say it's not SB as in a previous letter, which I no longer have, they mentioned a default in 2008. As I have stated, I have not acknowledged anything to do with this since the mid nineties. I suspect they may have invented it or class when they aquired it as a default. What action should I take if this is the case? Does this happen a lot?

Letter has been sent recorded delivery. Have also signed up to credit expert and awaiting my pin to be sent.

Thanks everyone. I will definately take the advice and send the letter. I would have expected the latest letter off them to state a time limit such as "If payment is not made within x days etc etc" but there was no timescale. I'm confused by their apparent lack of aggression. Is there a timescale they have to reply to the sb letter? Do they reply regardless or will they just go quiet? Sorry about all the questions - this is most worrying!

Thanks, I'll send it Monday.

I don't have the letter now but they previously sent a reference to an unspecified default on a cca in 2008 - which is simply impossible! Where could they have puled that from? Do they actually make things up? I will send the letter on Monday. What response can I realistically expect? I have definately not acknowleged this debt to either Lombard or any dca since 95-96. Will they just fold straight away or try different tactics? Will I have to take remedial action on my credit record after this? I have not dabbled with the experian thing yet.