Sentenced to life .... will serve at least 5 years ? Did I miss something? Surely life means that.. life ?

Ministers have launched a cross-party review of the Freedom of Information Act that is likely to be viewed as an attempt to curb public access to government documents. Critics argued that a commission was likely to lead to more secrecy – allowing politicians and officials to conceal “bad decisions and mistakes”. Campaigners fear that the commission could tighten rules stating that if a request from the public or the media takes a long time to process, it can be rejected on grounds of cost. At present, anyone can ask for information so long as finding it does not cost more than £600 in the case of a government department, and £450 for another public body. Officials have discussed either lowering that limit or including extra items in the cost, including time spent on “considering and redacting” any releases. Labour MP Tom Watson said: “It is quite clear this isn’t a review, it’s a process to roll back the Freedom of Information Act. This is an Act which should be extended to cover more public bodies, yet the Government is going to weaken it by making changes that will render it virtually useless for people who believe in greater accountability.” http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-end-of-foi-right-to-know-in-peril-as-government-targets-freedom-of-information-10397935.html

I've just seen an email from Motormile Finance which I suspect goes beyond being dubious as far as regulator guidelines on debt collection go and into downright illegality. Our home visit team has been scheduled to visit you in person to deal with the outstanding balance of £673.00 that is due to MMF. Our team of Recovery Agents will regularly be attending this postcode with a view to visiting you. Visits can be scheduled between 8am and 8pm Monday to Saturday. We would invite you to contact us to arrange a mutually convenient appointment, to avoid causing you any potential embarrassment that may arrive out of an unannounced visit to your home address. If you do not contact us then we will be left with no other option than to visit your address until we do meet with you. Whilst MMF is always committed to helping their customers reach an amicable solution, if we cannot agree a suitable repayment plan then w e will have no option than to report our findings to our Solicitor who may take legal action against you in your local County Court and thereafter take enforcement action against you. This will inevitably increase the size of the debt due from you. Also this will affect your ability to obtain credit in the future. This email is a genuine attempt on MMF's part to help you resolve this problem without the need for legal action. This issue is not going to go away and needs dealing with. Your options are: Complete and return the payment form attached. Contact our office immediately to arrange a repayment plan that is suitable for both parties. Contact our Home Visit Department to agree an appointment, option 1 on our telephone tree. A quick read of the law: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1970/31/section/40 40 Punishment for unlawful harassment of debtors. (1)A person commits an offence if, with the object of coercing another person to pay money claimed from the other as a debt due under a contract, he— (a)harasses the other with demands for payment which, in respect of their frequency or the manner or occasion of making any such demand, or of any threat or publicity by which any demand is accompanied, are calculated to subject him or members of his family or household to alarm, distress or humiliation; Not a lawyer but they would seem on seriously thin ice with this. Specifically mentioning embarrassment alongside saying that they will 'regularly be attending this postcode with a view to visiting you' and 'be left with no other option than to visit your address until we do meet with you' doesn't strike me as being too clever. What are your thoughts, CAGmeisters?

A few of my own debts are with this bunch if clowns. Three infact. Had letters this month thanking me for corospondance, but they have misplaced it and would I mind sending it again. How can they lose documents? and no, I wont be sending them again.

Hi Caggers, Last year with the help of this site I took control of my debts. Capquest was dealing with one and I sent a CCA request and all they sent was an application form without the correct t's & c's. I sent the letter in dispute and heard nothing for a while. Last December they got Advantis Credit to chase it and I soon sent them away because it is still in dispute. Today I received a letter from Capquest saying that they are requesting my information from Capital Bank?????? ( I had this last year???) I need a dispute letter but with more teeth this time. Anyone out there who could draft a good letter for me I would be very grateful. (Its not SB as I did pay some token payments but not on my credit file) (They know they don't have a proper CCA as it goes back to 2000. Many thanks Blueboy

My ex husband walked out 3 yrs ago leaving me to pay a hefty joint loan on my own. The payments per month are £298. per month. I have just received a court order with a financial settlement of me paying the rest of the loan off in exchange for the family home. I must get his name off the Sainsburys loan within 28 days otherwise I could go to prison (scary when you have 2 children). I rang up Sainsburys to get apply for a loan and was refused on the basis of my credit score which incidently is 999 with experian. I have never missed a payment with any of my finance/mortgage. The new loan I was offered on application was £82 per month. I was told to put a report together, a copy of my credit report/bank statements/decree absolute etc and send it to the underwriter which I did. The underwriter has refused it again on the basis of my £200,000 mortgage even though I am selling the property next year and I have £160,000 equity in my home. So Sainsburys would rather I go to prison and not be able to pay anything whilst in there and struggle paying £298 per month, than pay £82 per month and get all of there money next year!!! Something very wrong somewhere!! Oh and the help they give is absolutely zero.... Do not go near them with a barge pole.....