Hi all. Ive been searching the net for advice and to be frank have been overwhelmed with the amount of info that is out there and is generally confusing me so I decided to sign up and ask here. My situation is Left the country in 1999 to live abroad, parents get a letter from MeritForce as it was back then stating they were debt collectors etc and that I owed money. MeritForce then became Merit Finance as far as I remember. I came to an agreement of paying £35 a month which has been ongoing and which I basically forgot about. Last months payment somehow got refused as HSBC sent me a letter saying so which bought this payment back to my attention. After reading a few threads here I would like a bit of advice on finding out if I actually owe these people any money, if they have any legal right etc. Im sorry for the sketchy details but Im hoping that someone can point me in the right direction as where to start with dealing with them. tthanks

Hi Just had very interesting letter arrive to me this morning. My Property Agent sent me it as it was sent to her from a Tenant at old address. The letter states Bailiff Removal in huge bold font with heading references underneath County Court Judgement and there reference number. Basically if I dont pay amount due then within 7 days bailiffs will seize goods from property. I rang them to find out what the hell it was, first searched for company and lets just say was immediately dubious when I foundthere website, or crappy one page web site with no info present at all. Searched net and cant find anything legal about them anywhere. Only registered entry in companies house. No registration with any other regsitered body Consumer Credit Act or even Data Protection The lady I spoke to you informed me it was regarding a financially arrangement I had with NAAFI back in 1999 (Whilst serving in Army) Medical discharged Army in 2000. Payments were made from wages back then I believe, cant remember to be honest. Basically she triedto explain who they were and why that letter was sent. Informed me CCJ had been applied late 2001 and they had purchased the debt and now demanding payment. I told her didnt know what she was talking about. Thing is I left army and lived at my property for over 6 years after discharging, moved recently since. I have credit reports dated back to 2005 till now and even present form address where I from 2000. None of these reports have nay signs of any CCJ on them. My assumption was CCJ applied to my address at time which was barracks on camp!! Also as cant find entry for them in Data Protection Register was rights do I have. They havent got a CCA licence which I can locate which I what I have been led to believe they need to register even if DCA and not actually lending money. Is this enforceable, can I fight this. I have googled and found cant statute barred if CCJ present. Lady told me she didnt have any details of the CCJ just the date. She didnt have any paperwork out she could send me. Gave my reference numbers and original finance details of company which I told her I would check out as just know what she was talking about. Read on here that you should play dumb and not acknowlege anything which I did Anyone got any info they can give me and guidance as to what steps can be taken Thanks skf58B5.pdf