Talk about quick, I sent a SARN to the B&B on Tues and have received a letter acknowledging it but asking me to fill in and return a Subject Access Request Customer Verification form.

Questions asked are: Branches used, account numbers, which B&B companies, DOBs, as well as previous addresses & full names.

If I fill it in could it be argued that we were accepting the debt or make matter worse? Sue

-- Sue (bradfordandbingley_suck@yahoo.co.uk), January 30, 2003

Answers

Hi Sue,

No we are dealing with B&B and my fiance just filled out form - all you are doing is providing them with information as to which SARN documents you require you are not admitting the debt. We got a load of stuff back including documents pertaining to my fiance's ex-wife which was a huge mistake on their part as this is against Data Protection Act.

-- Chris (chris@anon.co.uk), January 30, 2003.

Thanks Chris,

I've sent the form back now to sit back and wait.

Sue

-- Sue (bradfordandbingley_suck@yahoo.co.uk), January 30, 2003.

Great. Good luck hope you find something dodgy!!

-- Chris (chris@anon.co.uk), January 30, 2003.

Who HASN'T read the Do's & Dont's section ? It quite clearly states what you need to do

"Many lenders send you a form asking for identity. This is perfectly reasonable. It's designed to stop people invading your privacy. They may also send you a form asking you to fill in boxes for the areas of information that you want. Do not tick these boxes. Instead, cross them out and write "All information held concerning me in all areas of your business".

-- John (sharky_john@hotmail.com), January 30, 2003.

If you have debts with an organisation that are old, then just fill in the form detailing account numbers etc where you want information and tell them that's all you want. They won't go to the bother of looking back for years for information you are not seeking. The form just helps them to target the search better.

-- anon (anon@anon.com), February 04, 2003.

It also stops them widening the search and thus including information which may be helpful, but is not held in the departments you have guided them to.

This could mean that you have to serve another SARN to get information which may be held in another department. You should have written that you wanted all information held on you in all areas of business with no exceptions.

Hopefully, this scare won't be necessary, but if you have to serve another SARN again in the future, bear it in mind.

Good luck. I hope you find that they have dropped some real clangers, and manage to completely wipe the floor with them.

T

-- One Angry Mother (madcow678@hotmail.com), February 05, 2003.

I've received the first response to the SARN from the solicitors dealing with it. All there was was about 7 a4 sheets not really saying anything. There is a reference to POT **** which has been scribbled out, it appears to be 2352.20, The shortfall is just over 12k with half being charges. House appears to be undersold by about 15k. I'm surprised there wasnt more info, but it appears they did a credit check on Dec9th which found our address. Hopefully the one ofrm the B&B will show more info.

-- Sue (bradfordandbingley_suck@yahoo.co.uk), February 07, 2003.

I wonder if the 'POT' with the figure scribbled out is the potential figure they feel they might hope to squeeze out of you? Just a thought.

-- Chris (chris@anon.co.uk), February 13, 2003.

I thought it might be something like that as it's just under 20% or maybe even the amount they are authorised to spend in tracing/chasing me.

-- Sue (bradfordandbingley_suck@yahoo.co.uk), February 13, 2003.