Ascent Legal - Strange Letter
Discussion
Just received a strange letter from legal firm called Ascent Legal regarding a debt they claim is owed by my late wife (whose name they spelled incorrectly). They mention that she is deceased but they got the date of death completely wrong too.
The debt claims to be related to a mortgage for -
a property that isn't and never was our home
a property I've never heard of and not in my home town
the mortgage apparently was taken out in partnership with an individual I've never heard of i.e. not me
So -
is the letter genuine in that it really emanates from Ascent Legal?
Ascent Legal is a genuine entity and I did phone them and the receptionist seemed to think that the letter was genuine.
If it IS genuine, the statements in the letter are so utterly and completely incorrect, what does that say about the competence of the firm?
The debt claims to be related to a mortgage for -
a property that isn't and never was our home
a property I've never heard of and not in my home town
the mortgage apparently was taken out in partnership with an individual I've never heard of i.e. not me
So -
is the letter genuine in that it really emanates from Ascent Legal?
Ascent Legal is a genuine entity and I did phone them and the receptionist seemed to think that the letter was genuine.
If it IS genuine, the statements in the letter are so utterly and completely incorrect, what does that say about the competence of the firm?
Might be worth checking if the person named in the letter died on on the day stated.
Then a brusque reply and if they continue a complaint to the boss of the law firm if they don't desist.
Must be distressing for you and I'm sure you are too polite to tell them to get f
ked.
Which would be my reply.
Then a brusque reply and if they continue a complaint to the boss of the law firm if they don't desist.
Must be distressing for you and I'm sure you are too polite to tell them to get f
ked.Which would be my reply.
"Our Business Values - We have built our business on ethics which drive honesty, transparency and integrity. These values underpin everything we do as we believe this approach will create successful and long-standing relationships. We are committed to conducting our operations fairly, ethically with the utmost regard for customers’ wellbeing. Putting it simply we see exceptional compliance and the highest possible standards of dealing with customers as central to doing business and serving customers."
They say they are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
I suggest an immediate complaint to SRA is in order here.
They say they are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
I suggest an immediate complaint to SRA is in order here.
Panamax said:
"Our Business Values - We have built our business on ethics which drive honesty, transparency and integrity. These values underpin everything we do as we believe this approach will create successful and long-standing relationships. We are committed to conducting our operations fairly, ethically with the utmost regard for customers’ wellbeing. Putting it simply we see exceptional compliance and the highest possible standards of dealing with customers as central to doing business and serving customers."
They say they are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
I suggest an immediate complaint to SRA is in order here.
Will get nowhere unless you have followed the firms complaint process first They say they are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
I suggest an immediate complaint to SRA is in order here.
Judging from their website they are part of Irwin Mitchell, a big law firm , and they specialise in debt recovery for mortgage lenders, so it won't be a scam. Of course cock ups can be nearly as hard to unravel.
They will just be using info given to them by their client, and it sounds as if either their client has cocked up or been defrauded by someone taking out a mortgage in a false name- identity theft.
Surely Ascent will be open to discuss this, it is in their interest to know the truth.
Be glad that your property is not the security.
They will just be using info given to them by their client, and it sounds as if either their client has cocked up or been defrauded by someone taking out a mortgage in a false name- identity theft.
Surely Ascent will be open to discuss this, it is in their interest to know the truth.
Be glad that your property is not the security.
They'll have been instructed by someone to persue the claim - a quick call letting them know the circumstances should get them to refer the claim back to their customer.
I've had a collections agency send letters to me for an erroneous HMRC debt before (it was my name, but with a Mrs rather than a Mr). Told them what had happened, the said they'd let HMRC know and they never got in touch again.
I've had a collections agency send letters to me for an erroneous HMRC debt before (it was my name, but with a Mrs rather than a Mr). Told them what had happened, the said they'd let HMRC know and they never got in touch again.
As others say, it sounds like a big cock up.
I presume that a call directly to the Lawyer or Paralegal who wrote the letter would end the matter. I wouldn't waste my time writing back to them. I would just call them and explain their error.
I would be straight on the phone to them.
If that call doesn't settle the matter, and you receive another letter pushing the issue, I would write back with a formally constructed letter that was absolutely filled to the brim with expletives.
Something along the lines of:
"Dear Sirs, thank you for your recent correspondence. You are clearly complete morons with st for brains, and you can go fk yourselves. As I clearly explained to your fkwitt lawyer, during my phone call of 10/07/24, this case is absolutely nothing to do with myself or my late wife, and is an error, but as you are a bunch of utterly reprehensible s, you clearly do not understand. I suggest you proceed to take this matter to court, where I will easily make you look like the incompetant wkstain chancers that you are and by the time I am finished with you, you will feel like you have been fked by a train. Yours Sincerely, Eric Mc"
Thats what I would do, personally, but knowing your history of being nothing but a gentleman Eric, I know you will be far more civil.
I presume that a call directly to the Lawyer or Paralegal who wrote the letter would end the matter. I wouldn't waste my time writing back to them. I would just call them and explain their error.
I would be straight on the phone to them.
If that call doesn't settle the matter, and you receive another letter pushing the issue, I would write back with a formally constructed letter that was absolutely filled to the brim with expletives.
Something along the lines of:
"Dear Sirs, thank you for your recent correspondence. You are clearly complete morons with s
t for brains, and you can go fk yourselves. As I clearly explained to your fkwitt lawyer, during my phone call of 10/07/24, this case is absolutely nothing to do with myself or my late wife, and is an error, but as you are a bunch of utterly reprehensible s, you clearly do not understand. I suggest you proceed to take this matter to court, where I will easily make you look like the incompetant wkstain chancers that you are and by the time I am finished with you, you will feel like you have been fked by a train. Yours Sincerely, Eric Mc"Thats what I would do, personally, but knowing your history of being nothing but a gentleman Eric, I know you will be far more civil.
Wills2 said:
I'm not sure sending sweary letters will help, it would pay to deal with the letter promptly and quash their claims, I'd be asking for proof of what they claim for a start and probably asking a professional for some advice in terms of how and when to engage.
You are absolutely correct of course.But if I had exhausted all options during polite and reasonable phone calls, then an offensive letter would make me feel better.
Had something similar a few years ago, they said my wife had an outstanding debt (but quoted a middle name, which my wife doesn't have). I wrote a civil letter back and received a reply a few days later apologising. They assumed my wife was the same person as the debtor and I think they were "fishing" to find the correct one (probably sent a few letter out to the same name).
So, write a letter, recorded delivery, and see what come back. No need to do anything else at this stage.
So, write a letter, recorded delivery, and see what come back. No need to do anything else at this stage.
From their FAQs
Ambulance Chasers said:
I have received a letter addressed to someone else. What should I do?
We would appreciate it if you could give us a call on 0345 604 0860 to inform us that we appear to be sending mail to an incorrect address based on the information provided to us. If you know the person, any forwarding details you could supply would be helpful. Alternatively, you can return the letter to us, clearly marking the envelope with the words “Go Away”.
https://ascent.co.uk/questions-regarding-mortgage/We would appreciate it if you could give us a call on 0345 604 0860 to inform us that we appear to be sending mail to an incorrect address based on the information provided to us. If you know the person, any forwarding details you could supply would be helpful. Alternatively, you can return the letter to us, clearly marking the envelope with the words “Go Away”.
PoorCarCollector said:
Sounds like a simple cock up, mistakes do often happen
As mentioned above, give them a call to discuss
Done that.As mentioned above, give them a call to discuss
The first objective was to find out if the letter was genuine or not. After all, even legitimate law firms and debt collectors can be the victims of fraud too.
But it seems like it is a genuine (if grossly erroneous) letter. I actually called twice and on both occasions the case handler was not available to speak. I was told that he would call back but so far not a peep.
So, next up will be a VERY strongly worded letter from me. Maybe the wording might not quite as strong as suggested above but they'll certainly know how I feel about things and what steps I will take if I do not get a fulsome apology and a withdrawl of all the allegations in the letter.
Eric Mc said:
Done that.
The first objective was to find out if the letter was genuine or not. After all, even legitimate law firms and debt collectors can be the victims of fraud too.
But it seems like it is a genuine (if grossly erroneous) letter. I actually called twice and on both occasions the case handler was not available to speak. I was told that he would call back but so far not a peep.
So, next up will be a VERY strongly worded letter from me. Maybe the wording might not quite as strong as suggested above but they'll certainly know how I feel about things and what steps I will take if I do not get a fulsome apology and a withdrawl of all the allegations in the letter.
I'd ignore it then, but if you have time on your hands for a letter, go for it, I really can't see the point, sounds like a simple mix up.The first objective was to find out if the letter was genuine or not. After all, even legitimate law firms and debt collectors can be the victims of fraud too.
But it seems like it is a genuine (if grossly erroneous) letter. I actually called twice and on both occasions the case handler was not available to speak. I was told that he would call back but so far not a peep.
So, next up will be a VERY strongly worded letter from me. Maybe the wording might not quite as strong as suggested above but they'll certainly know how I feel about things and what steps I will take if I do not get a fulsome apology and a withdrawl of all the allegations in the letter.
PoorCarCollector said:
I'd ignore it then, but if you have time on your hands for a letter, go for it, I really can't see the point, sounds like a simple mix up.
It doesn't sound like a mix up to me. It seems like they have connected a number of aspects of my life DELIBERATELY and then contrived a completely made up scenario.As has been stated above, it sounds like a fishing expedition. If that is what it is, that is extremely professionally unethical and I will make sure that The Law Society, of which they are a member, gets to hear about it. I would also like to know what procesures they carried out to obtain the CORRECT information they have about me (i.e. they may have breached GDPR rules).
I'm not taking this lying down and not just hoping that it will just go away.
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