Keep Organised! Very important- make copies of everything that you send out. Clip the registered mail receipt to the copy letter and put all your letters in chronological order in a file. If you are dealing with more than one company at a time, it is a good idea to put your letters into a folder.
Make a note of the dates to send your letters out at 10 day intervals, in your diary or on your calendar, so that you do not forget to send the follow up letters out on time.
Double Check all details in the letter, especially reference or account numbers and check for typos and grammatical errors. Don't forget to sign the letter. Ensure all type in blue has been substituted for your information and changed to black. If you have received a recent letter from them, you can always acknowledge it in the first sentence with something like, thank you for your letter dated... then use the standard paragraphs. Check you use the correct complimentary close e.g. Dear Sir or Madam ends with Yours faithfully.
Mark the letter 'Private and Confidential' and send it recorded delivery so it has to be signed for on receipt..
Watch the 30 minute presentation: Get out of Debt Free Paperwork on the Videos page, to get a good overview of what it's all about. Also watch 'Money as Debt', to understand how fraudulent the whole system is.
Always sign you name in RED INK, this signifies that you are the living breathing soul and NOT a corporate entity.
Breathe! Stay conscious of your breath and stay in the moment. Have Fun. After all, it is just a game...
This site would not have been possible without the dedicated work of Mary Elizabeth Croft, who's work is an inspiration to us all.
Banks & Credit Cards
Please read carefully, make sure you've read Getting Started and also look at the Hints and Tips in the left margin lower down this page.
Phone Calls
Banks and Credit Card companies tend to phone you every day, sometimes up to 5 times a day, once you default on then, however they do not tend to leave messages. Some use automated calls to ask you to contact customer services and they may also text you and call you at work.
Most important, DO NOT DEAL WITH THEM BY PHONE (AFTER THE FIRST CALL!)
1) The first time they phone up, explain to them that:
'I wish to deal with this matter in writing only, and should I continue to receive calls from you or your company, then this may constitute ‘harassment' in which case I will be forced to take further action under Section 1 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. ' Thank you and good bye
2) Second time they phone up:
When they ask for you, just say: 'Who is it?; hold on a minute' (as if you are just about to get that person) and then LEAVE THE PHONE OFF THE HOOK
They normally hold on for around 4-5 minutes, but after a while they get the drift
OR you may wish to try:
'Could you please hold on a minute whilst I log this call, as I believe these calls may now constitute harassment'...
OR my current favourite:
Ask them security questions, like their full name, their job title, direct number and the name of their line manager. Also inform them that the conversation may be recorded for training purposes. Most mobile phones have a sound recording function. When they ask you a security question, simply say that you do not disclose your personal details on the phone for security reasons!
OR
If you're really getting tired of all the calls, you can ask the service provider to block the number.
Either way it's great fun! And you do not give in to their intimidation! If they feel they are intimidating you, they are far more likely to continue. Don't let them harass you- Harass them!
Decide on your strategy before they phone up. You may wish to print some notes to put by the phone so that you will know exactly what to say when they phone up.
Remember, if what they were doing was completely lawful, why do they harass us with loads of calls? Why do they not follow the legal process every time?
I've dealt with 7 or 8 different companies and despite threats and letters, have never been successfully taken to court, even on moderate sums of around £10,000/$15,000
It's far easier and cheaper to harass and intimidate those people who do not know the truth, and get them to pay up, than it is to take you to court...
Two Options for Dealing with Banks and Credit Cards
There are two sets of letters we offer, Option 1, the 'standard letters' which work well and are quick to get up and going, however Option 2 the 'Copyright and Trademark procedure' offers a greater level of protection, especially if the individual accounts are over £5000/$7500 and especially over £10,000/$15,000 where there is more chance of being taken to court, however, you have to place a notice on your Facebook, MySpace, etc. and print out an ink stamp.
Option 1
Standard Letters
If you decide to keep it simple, then use the standard letters, however they are not recommended for debts over £10,000/$15,000.
There are three letters, which need posting at least 10 days apart. Together they will create a tacit agreement, which is a lawfully binding agreement. Address the letters to the CEO- Chief Executive Officer, (you will find their name easily enough on the forum or by Googling it). 'CC' a 'Carbon Copy' of the letter to the contact in the collections department who has written to you. Sign the letter with your first names hyphenated and a colon before your last name,as in the example- John Arthur of the family: Smith, (this signifies you are from the clan/family of your last name and differentiates you from your UPPER CASE 'legal fiction'. Do NOT use Mr/Mrs/Miss/etc in front of your name as this also links you to the 'legal fiction'.
The letters open as a Microsoft Word Document, however if you do not have a Word installed, get a copy of http://download.openoffice.org/
Standard Letter 1
Standard Letter 2
Follow up Letter 1 ten days later with Letter 2 which starts the formation of the lawfully binding agreement.
Standard Letter 3
Finally follow up ten days after sending Letter 2 with Letter 3, the third and final letter to the bank or credit card company, which completes the lawfully binding agreement.
If all is quite after about a month send the estoppel template near the bottom of the page. If they continue to chase you, Invoice them as per the Fee Schedule in letter 3.
Option 2
Common Law Copyright Procedure
For debts £5000 to £10,000 ($7500 to 15,000)
This procedure simply allows you to take control of your name under Common Law and International Treaty. First, print out and sign the Copyright Notice below and get it signed by three witnesses. The Notice makes it clear that you have copyright on your name and that use of it without consent is copyright infringement.
Common Law Copyright Notice
The documents open as a Microsoft Word Document, however if you do not have a Word installed, get a copy of http://download.openoffice.org/
You will then need to print out the ink stamps, on top of the postage stamp as per image, to seal the document. (The stamp in the image above is a UK stamp, but use a stamp from the country you are in if not in the UK).
To get the Copyright and Trademark stamps with your name in, firstly ensure your details are entered into Your Account page in the main menu. Then click on the Copyright Stamp button below, let it download and then open the document in Word or Open Office. The image appears in the document upside down on the top left margin, so when you print it out, it appears the right way up on the bottom right of the page. Print it on a blank page, just to see where your margins are and from this you can work out where to put the postage stamp on your copyright docs.
This means that when you put your copyright notice through your printer, once you have placed the postage stamp in the right place, you then put the document through again, but the opposite way round from the way it came out of the printer, so the copyright stamps print over your postage stamp on the bottom right of the page. Your may need a couple of attempts to get this spot on. Rather than wasting postage stamps, may be an idea to draw a postage stamp sized rectangle on the bottom right of the copyright document, to ensure that when it goes through the printer, the copyright circle stamp and the trademark name stamp, both print over postage stamp.
We suggest you send a photocopy of your Copyright Notice with Copyright Letter 1 and Letter 3, below.
Also publish Copyright Notice. You can publish it in your local paper/s, however, these days, we believe it is acceptable to post it on the Internet. You can post it on your Facebook or MySpace, etc. or you can also post it the Get Out of Debt Free forum under the heading 'Declarations', however, rather than divulge your name with your username and losing your anonymity, we suggest you copy and paste the document into the Contact Us form and we will post it in Declarations for you.
Copyright Letters
These letters are for when you have copyrighted your name. Should they continue to pester you, you can bill them for £/$1,000,000.00 for each time they have used your name plus all the other charges.
There are three letters, which need posting at least 10 days apart. Together they will create a tacit agreement, which is a lawfully binding agreement. Address the letters to the CEO- Chief Executive Officer, (you will find their name easily enough on the forum or by Googling it). 'CC' a 'Carbon Copy' of the letter to the contact in the collections department who has written to you. Sign the letter with your first names hyphenated and a colon before your last name,as in the example- John Arthur of the family: Smith, (this signifies you are from the clan/family of your last name and differentiates you from your UPPER CASE 'legal fiction'.
Send a copy of the signed and sealed Copyright Notice with letter 1 and 3.
Copyright Letter 1
Copyright Letter 2
Follow up Letter 1 ten days later with Letter 2 which starts the formation of the lawfully binding agreement.
Copyright Letter 3
Finally follow up ten days after sending Letter 2 with Letter 3, the third and final letter to the bank or credit card company, which forms the lawfully binding agreement. Send another copy of the signed and sealed Copyright Notice with this letter.
Estoppel Notice
The Estoppel Notice or to give it it's full title, Notice of Irrevocable Estoppel by Acquiescence, is sent around 30 days after the third letter if you have not heard anything from them, whether or not you have gone through the Copyright procedure.
The letters open as a Microsoft Word Document, however if you do not have a Word installed, get a copy of http://download.openoffice.org/
Invoice
If you do hear anything, from them, then send an invoice as per fee schedule in letter 3 (and as per fee schedule Copyright Notice if applicable).
If they do not pay the invoice within the time limit in the invoice, send them a warning, then make a claim against them. If you are in the UK, follow this link for more information https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome
Have Fun!
Do share your experiences on the forum where any questions or queries may be posted.
