Question:
A friend has just asked me what they can do to get a debt collection agency
to back off.
Their car was in a garage for an MOT and the garage took it upon itself to
perform hundreds of pounds of work without ever receiving instruction to do
so. The work exceeded the value of the vehicle. After involving trading
standards they agreed to pay for the parts but not the labour. To the point
were they went beyond what TS said they should do. The garage stamped and
signed the invoice as "paid as agreed", now a debt collection agency is
agreesively pursuing my friend and refuse to back off they are theaten court
action unless payment is made within 5 days. They have had the invoice faxed
3 times to them, but claim never to have received it. A copy has now been
sent recorded post and trading standards have been informed again.
Is there anything that can be done to get the debt collection agency to back
off as their agressive pursuing has made my friend physically sick with
worry and their health is now suffering as a direct result. I have assured
them that with the documentation they possess and with trading standards on
their side they have nothing to worry about, but that does not stop the
persistant calls and threats of further action from the agency which are
causing her mental suffering now.
Any advice or numbers appreciated.
Answer:
Debt collection agencies aren't allowed to harass people and can be
prosecuted if they do. Once the debt collection agency has written a
letter threatening court action there should be no need for any further
contact from them. Have your friend phone and/or write a letter to the
agency saying they dispute the debt so no further contact is needed and
any more contact will be considered harassment and reported it to the
police. If they do contact your friend again unnessasarily, do report
them to the police. Hopefully the agency should take this seriously and
stop the phone calls and letters but they may go ahead with court
action. But as long as your friend has enough proof to show they don't
owe any money this shouldn't be a problem.
