Recently received a couple of undated letters from (i wont say who) saying i had an outstanding amount on an account for something i received from them about 10 weeks ago.

Interestingly about a week after i received (it) they phoned me up to basically say they were not sure if i had paid and that could i check my bank statement as they had it recorded as a debit card payment. I thought i had paid cash..They basically admitting there was a problem at their end. No bank record of a payment to them on my bank statement (probably because i paid cash).

The second letter was politely threatening the debt collection agents if payment not made within 7 days (from when..as letters undated)

Rummaging through my draw i find the receipt of payment saying i had paid them the full amount (albeit recorded as a debit card transaction)

Am i holding 4 aces ???

My daughter works for a similar company and says it is possibly they have marked it as a card payment when i have paid cash.

Letter and photocopy of receipts on its way to them... Never met a debt collector before...

You could also point out that potentially this is one of their employees pulling a scam, taking the cash and marking the bill as paid by debit card. You could also report it to the police as a potential fraud/scam.

The balance of probability is in your favour, they haven't issued you an unpaid invoice, so legally how can you possibly owe them money?

Undated demands show how loose their business practices are and will also go against them.

Have they got CCTV covering the tills?

Just in case of the very unlikely event they hand it over to a debt collector, state that as the event, the company and yourself live in this area you want the court to be local, using a distant court (eg to suit the debt collector) would be an unfair and irrational inconvenience.

Thanks for a couple of extra bullets DD. Popped in this morning to hand my letter in and most of the girls working there looked very young . Had thought about the scam thing..wonder how many letters they sent out..that would be quite telling..

After me dropping letter off with photocopy of receipt of payment i get no response from dentist (it was dental work i had basic check up) but today i get a letter from a debt recovery service threatening possible legal action if i dont pay. Whats interesting is the amount they say I owe is different from the amount the dentist letter said i owed...further administration cock up by the dentist.

Have emailed debt services asking if they have copy of letter sent to dentist with the receipt of payment and suggested to speed things up I wont be paying the alleged amount and will be taking legal advice about the stress and alarm it is causing me.. Can imagine how intimidating these letters can be to some people..probably 20 years ago i would have been quite worried...

On the mercenary front if they take me to court and lose can i get any recompense for time lost etc etc

I like the threat in the letter that should i need any more treatment at the dentist they may deny it until account settled...as if i would want to go back to that dentist..

Been about 45 years since i last saw the inside of a court (other than jury service) ..Bring it on...

From now on you have to be very careful, they sometimes attempt every sneaky trick under the sun almost always without the proper court approval.

Don't ever let them into your home even to "just talk", it can change rights to their favour once you have done so.

I'd contact citizens advice, they sometimes make one phone call and it all goes away.

Ask the debt collectors for a copy of the invoice that action is being taken on, they probably won't provide it - willingness and co-operation is an important part of the court's decision.

Debt collectors have no powers whatsoever other than to ask you to pay the debt, it is rare they visit you.

Basically you are probably safe now until you get the pack from the court (in the unlikely event they go to court). Its usually just a scare tactic, I doubt the dentist has followed the correct procedure before passing the debt to the debt collector. If they thought they had a genuine case they would have used the small claims court, it makes no sense to use a debt collector unless you think the victim will bow under pressure.

If you win you can ask the court to consider costs but this is far from automatic and the sums are not huge.

imho (of course)

cheers for your pennyworth DD. Lifes full of interesting surprises. Like the idea of asking for a copy of the invoice...for my legal team of course!

Why do you not go back to the dentist. It seems as if they have contacted you and failed to do anything about it, so an automatic letter has been sent out.

Three occasions in the last week, I have had cock -ups from three different companies. British gas constantly make cock-ups, and I'm sick of spending time and money on the phone to follow up their errors.

These are the degree generation from 'education, education, education'. ...... bloody useless ! (most of them)

Lets hope the ones who control are airplanes, trains, weapons etc dont make any..