Difference between revisions of "Consumer Credit Act template"
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The Consumer Credit Act states that a creditor must send the agreement within 12 working days of receiving your request, otherwise they are in default. You should count the day of receipt as day zero, and not include weekends or bank holidays in your calculations. | The Consumer Credit Act states that a creditor must send the agreement within 12 working days of receiving your request, otherwise they are in default. You should count the day of receipt as day zero, and not include weekends or bank holidays in your calculations. | ||
− | + | It used to be that if the default continued for a further month, this would constitute an offence. However, this has now been removed from statute and so any letter quoting this would be quoting old law. | |
− | Should the creditor attempt to take further action | + | Should the creditor attempt to take further action whilst the request to be supplied a copy of any agreement as above is outstanding, it is recommended that you contact Trading Standards or Citizens Advice and make a complaint to the OFT; who regulate and license Debt Collection activity. |
==Is the agreement enforcable?== | ==Is the agreement enforcable?== |
Latest revision as of 22:56, 4 January 2010
Contents
Introduction
When reading the CAG forums, you will often see advice suggesting sending a "CCA request". This is a letter to a creditor or debt collection agency asking them for a copy of an executed credit agreement, without which a debt may be unenforceable. In simple terms, you are asking the Creditor/Collector to prove that they have the legal right to demand payment from you.
Sending a CCA request effectively puts the account into dispute, during which time the creditor may not take any further collection action. Without a valid agreement, the debt is unenforcable without a court order.
However, it is important to reaslise that lack of response to a CCA request may render a debt unenforcable, it does not cease to exist. This process can not, and should not, be used to evade debts.
When to send a CCA request
You should send a CCA request when you require more information about your account, or when you genuinely dispute a creditor's right to collect an alleged debt. The process should not be used for the purpose of debt avoidance.
Please be aware that there are certain types of debt which will not be covered by the advice here, such as utility bills, bank overdrafts, CCJs and court fines.
Suggested template
This template is adapted from "Letter N" on the Consumer Action Group forum. You can amend it as necessary.
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Recommendations
It is recommended that you do not sign the letter with your usual signature, as there have been rumours of creditors "cutting and pasting" it onto their own paperwork. You could use a handwriting font in your word processor, or sign over a thick line which would make it obvious if your signature was tampered with.
It is strongly recommended that you send the request by Recorded Delivery, which for a standard size and weight letter costs £1.04. The delivery receipt should be kept with the copy of the letter. Delivery confirmation is available using the 'Track and Trace' feature on the Royal Mail website home page. It is best to print this off when it becomes available and also keep it with the copy of the letter.
The £1 fee is best paid with a crossed postal order. The postal order receipt should also be kept with the copy of the letter.
Timescales
The Consumer Credit Act states that a creditor must send the agreement within 12 working days of receiving your request, otherwise they are in default. You should count the day of receipt as day zero, and not include weekends or bank holidays in your calculations.
It used to be that if the default continued for a further month, this would constitute an offence. However, this has now been removed from statute and so any letter quoting this would be quoting old law.
Should the creditor attempt to take further action whilst the request to be supplied a copy of any agreement as above is outstanding, it is recommended that you contact Trading Standards or Citizens Advice and make a complaint to the OFT; who regulate and license Debt Collection activity.
Is the agreement enforcable?
When you receive your reply, you should check carefully that it is an enforceable agreement before making an offer of repayment. You may find the threads listed in the external links section useful.
If you have access to a scanner you can scan the reply and - taking care to obliterate ALL personal details - upload it to one of the many free photo sharing websites such as www.photobucket.co.uk . Post a link to the image on the Consumer Action Group debt forum, and members will give their advice.
Please be aware that any advice given on the forum is not legally binding, and if you are in any doubt you should seek the advice of an organisation such as Trading Standards or the Citizens Advice Bureau.