Debt Collection Agency Refuses to Release collected rental arrears

Other

The agency was instructed by my Estate Agent to collect the money from the tenant on my behalf. This has been carried out successfully but the Estate Agent has ceased to trade and left their premises without informing me. I now have learnt to do a better investigation of Estate Agents believe me.

The debt collection agency has stated that because the debt account was allocated under the Estate agents name and we were only entered on the account as the landlord they do not have to disclose anything to us. They continue to hide behind the data protection act and I cannot get a basic yes or no response to any questions. They have not refused to pay me the money but have not said they are going to.

They have proved to themselves that the Estate Agent no longer trades and I have mentioned Citizens Advice, Office of Fair Trading and other people I will be forced to go to.

I have phoned and Emailed them all the time and do not know what to do

Any ideas please as what our rights to the money is and how to force them to return the money to us.

Thanks

SA