i agree that the letters sent out by certain DCa's are full of empty threats and incorrect consequences. this does need to be resolved and i think it is something that the OFT are continuously looking into. i did not mean to offend anyone by saying the letters on the site are ineffective, thats not what i meant, i was merely saying that the different letter might have registered more with those dealing with them.

I was only speaking from experience, no need to get irate or personal.

I'm glad that your situation was resolved. surely it would be possible for you to advise on your story, without mentioning the specific company. site team?

Yes, I have been in the industry previously. and that is something I picked up from admin staff (who will deal with incoming letters)

Yes, I imagine the CAB get fairly busy. its a shame that they could not offer any useful information when you eventually received a response. Its a shame that you had to pay a fee to simply be listened to by the DCA. I think they tend to ignore the clone letters they receive from templates provided on these sites so that might be why yours was more effective.

citizens advice may help, they don't charge. not sure how good they are at the letters though.

fair comment. apologies. c

rockwell304 I thinks its great that you assume all DCA's are 'morons' it clearly indicates your narrow mindedness and in ability to understand that those 'morons' are simply doing a job. some of them may well have been in debt themselves, I have spoken to a few in my time and whilst some seem aggressive and uneducated, many were polite and focused on collecting the money in the most efficient way. Some were happy to query accounts that I did not agree either existed or added up correctly, and providing I could show, for example, that I had moved out of a property prior to the end of a water bill they would leave me alone. Some of the advise on this site appears to be useful, however the rest appears to be the ramblings of a certain few who claim to have 'saved' people thousands. in retrospect its more like they have helped to con thousands out of large companies who provide stability and employment to this rapidly declining economy.

BRIGADIER2JCS - 'DCAs are not important at all!!!' Except for collecting debt from people who actually owe it?? I'm sure there is a reason they are there, and if people genuinely owe money to somebody, surely it is only morale to pay it back? i cant understand this culture where people believe they should recieve something for nothing... Anyway, I can appreciate your son in laws concerns mlt2159, however I would be very careful to check that there has indeed been no contact and acknowledgement within 6 years. if there is record of that available I'm sure the owner of the debt will have it. a way of ensuring that they do/don't is to request an sar, (One of the main rights which the Data Protection Act gives to individuals is the right of access to their personal information. An individual can send a subject access request, requesting any personal information held about them, and to provide them with a copy of that information. ) if they have had contact with your son in law and he has in any way acknowledged the debt, then he will need to look at a repayment plan. please don't put your head in the sand as these 'experts' suggest, it could only make matters worse and continue to stress your son in law. I do hope you get this resolved. c p.s there may be a small administration charge for any SAR's as it requires somebody to compile print and mail it to you. and they do not hold any rights to come and collect the debt in person in a forceful manner.