Dear Mr Wise

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (`FoIA') - Acknowledgement of a request for information

Thank you for your email in which you requested information from the OFT in respect of Debt Collection Agencies.

Under the FoIA a public authority must inform the applicant in writing whether it holds any information relevant to their request and, if it does, supply this information to the applicant subject to certain exemptions. We try to respond to all requests promptly but no later than 20 working days after receipt, and will therefore aim to answer your request in full no later than 16 December 2008.

In the meantime, if you have any further questions regarding this request, please feel free to contact me quoting the above reference number.

Yours sincerely

Mary Linacre

OFT Information Access Team

Office of Fair Trading

Fleetbank House

2-6 Salisbury Square

London EC4Y 8JX

Switchboard: (020) 7211 8000

www.oft.gov.uk