Approximately six years ago my previous partner and I split up acrimoniously. We had purchased a house together and had a joint bank account - although she alone used it to get her wages paid into and various direct debit payments were made from it. When she moved out, she changed the address on the joint bank account to where she moved to - the bank never informed me and I must admit I didn't notice the statements not coming to the joint property any more. We then sold the property and during this time I found a place to buy on my own and got a mortgage agreement in principle. When the time came for me to go through with the new purchase the credit check came up with lots of defaults. It was lots of bounced direct debits - she had stopped using the joint account but not cancelled any of the direct debits. As soon as I found out I cancelled all of them. The charges added up to over £1000 which I refused to pay as I felt that because my ex had changed the address details for the account but the bank never checked with me I therefore never had the chance to cancel the direct debits as soon as charges starting being made. Anyway now Equidebit are chasing me threatening doorstep visits etc. I ignore their letters but today they caught me off guard on my work telephone - they asked for me by name and I said 'speaking' but refused to confirm the first line of my address and postcode. The guy then said he would send a doorstep agent round - I said I don't think so then hung up. Are they able to enforce this so called debt?

Please can someone give me some sound advice...... 5 yrs ago i paid for my double glazing with interest free finance from GE Money. About 2 yrs ago I got into difficulty paying my direct debit on time, and although it was always paid it was often late, and GE Money always let me know this with numerous letters/reminders to myself, my wife, and both of us at the same time ! Now my 5 yrs is up and GE Money have informed me that I still owe £600 for late payment charges etc, so my payments will continue, interest free for another 10 months. I have no problems with making these payments and even contacted them and asked if I could settle the account with one payment if they were willing to discount it a bit, even by just 25%, to which they said No Way ! I have to pay the full amount as it was an interest free account. As I've said, I can afford the payments but it just drives me mad that they are so pedantic and unhelpful, So, the crux of the matter is, Can I in anyway reclaim these charges, simply for the satisfaction of getting them back !!??? Any advice, ie am i wasting my time, will be gratefully received, Many thanks B68