Odd telephone call from First Credit Limited

spiritof74 · 14 November 2006 at 2:33PM

Hi:

Received a telephone call today from a company calling itself First Credit Limited, who called themselves a debt collection agency and claimed to be chasing a debt, even though I know I don't have any outstanding debts or payments. They had my telephone number, name and address.

There are two companies listed on the Companies House web site under this name, one of which was dissolved in 2004 and the other "Status: Active - Proposal to Strike off", which was started in 2004, both located in Lancashire. Their accounts were dormant in 2005 and their annual return, due in April, is overdue. Dialling 1571, their telephone number would appear to be 08701642049, although I have not called it back.

Does anyone else know anything about this company, whether the late company returns could be a cause for concern and/or whether it might possibly be some kind of scam?

Finally, I should say this is my first post on the forum, so sorry if it's in the wrong place and I'd be grateful for any assistance received.

Thank you.

D

girlsmum · 14 November 2006 at 6:05PM

Not sure if it was this company, but my sister has just had something similar, a company caled her and mentioned some debt, she had no idea what debt they where talking about and asked for more information, they ignored her request and just stuck a default on her credit rating, she then took it further so some organisation (sorry I cannot remember who but if needed i will check for you) and eventually the mark has been taken off as the debt agency could not provide any proof of the so called debt etc

I would not contact them, let them contact you, ask them for more details first

take it from there, but keep an eye on your credit rating

richt71 · 15 November 2006 at 2:12PM

Hi,
I have recently got a letter from 1st credit ltd. Not sure if this is the same company (as this is a debt recovery company). There letterhead has the following address on it: po box 278, Reigate, RH2 7WB.

Company reg. no: 3752940

Phone: 0870 164 2042
Email: enq@1stcreditltd.com

Not sure if this helps??

richt71 · 15 November 2006 at 2:17PM

girlsmum wrote:

Not sure if it was this company, but my sister has just had something similar, a company caled her and mentioned some debt, she had no idea what debt they where talking about and asked for more information, they ignored her request and just stuck a default on her credit rating, she then took it further so some organisation (sorry I cannot remember who but if needed i will check for you) and eventually the mark has been taken off as the debt agency could not provide any proof of the so called debt etc

I would not contact them, let them contact you, ask them for more details first

take it from there, but keep an eye on your credit rating

Yes they tried to be sneeky with me as well. This letter stated I owed royal bank of scotland some money. I called them and they said it was a credit card debt from a few years ago. I said I haven't had a credit card for the last 5 years and I can't remember having a RBOS one but I did get into some difficulties in 99 and the CAB helped me pay everything off. They got real shirty with me saying that if I denied it they get the police round as it was fraud or I could accept it and pay it. I said well let me have copies of what you say I owe. They then asked for a fee. I refused. They said ok we'll take you to court. That's were we are at.

changkra · 28 January 2007 at 1:48AM

You will probably get more info if you post this on the debt free board or ask one of the board guides to move it for you. You will find the board guides right at the bottom on the right hand side of the board you posted this on. There is a way to make them prove that you ow the debt for i think a fee of £1, but as i said you will get more help on the debt fee board and good luck, don't pay them anything until you have proof that you ow this debt as some debt collection agency's will send the same letter to numerous people with the same name as you knowing that someone will pay up regardless of whether it is their debt or not. You need proof this is your debt before you do anything.

Matteus_2 · 12 March 2007 at 8:39PM

I'm having a problem with 1st Credit Ltd. They sent me a letter in October 2006 saying I owed Abbey National money. I spoke to them stating I hadn't been with Abbey for ten years and I owed nothing.
They send me a bank statement claiming it was from Abbey National, but the account number and sort code didn't match the one they claimed owed the money. So I wrote 1st Credit and Abbey a letter with a statement basically stating I will not be making any payment as this debt is statue barred.

I heard nothing from Abbey but was sent a threatening letter from LCS Solicitors threatening court action within two weeks if I don't pay up. So I referred back to the letter I sent and highlighted the information I received from the Office of Fair Trading about it being statue barred and what they were doing was unfair.

I received a phone call from 1st Credit today and the woman I spoke to wouldn't let me get a word in. Dismissed the evidence I presented, called me a liar six times, cross-examined me and tried to twist my words to try and catch me out into admitting this debt. But the cherry on the topping was that she claimed the Office of Fair Trading don't know what they're talking about and I had been given false information. :rotfl:

But I'm glad to read that I'm not alone and this company is certainly a scam and should be investigated. Hopefully BBC Watchdog will look into this as I've contacted them regarding it all.

blk_mk · 27 March 2007 at 1:25PM

I've been through hell with 1st Credit Limited as they tried to force me to pay a statute barred debt. Along the road to hell I found out lots of nice information that may help you guys.

1. I know the identity of the the lady who is abusive (I can provide this if need be). I also know the identity of the signature on the poor quality letters.
2. The Company website is http://www.1stcreditltd.com/
3. The Company registered address is Hill House, 1 Little New Street, London, EC4A 3TR, but be careful it is not the only 1st Credit at that address. The directors have been busy making other companies to handle funding, claims, etc. so they are difficult to sue.
4. The directors are Mike Cleary, Managing Director & Co-founder; Najib Nathoo, Finance Director & Co-founder; Charles Holland, Marketing Director & Co-founder. These guys are formidable, they have quite some form in the debt collection world.
5. They are a big debt collection agency that buy debts from other companies (especially banks and credit cards). By the time 1st Credit phone you they own the debt - you cannot contact the original creditor. They are specialists in enforcing debts that are difficult to enforceable (usually impossible).
6. The best way to stop them forever is to make a complaint through the Office of Fair Trading. If enough people complain they will remove 1st Credit's license.
7. 1st Credit are members of the Credit Services Authority (CSA) who are absolutley useless. I complained through the CSA but they just photocopied information from 1st Credit onto their letterhead and sent it to me.
8. 1st Credit recorded phone calls are never released to the debtor - no matter what (they amy ask you to send tham £10 for the service but don't you'll never see the tenner again). When they applied for their credit license they filed a report which described that their recording system was non-standard archiving which meant that only they could retrieve the calls in extreme circumstances.
9. They ARE bullies, they ARE offensive, they WILL push you to the limit regardless of CSA and OFT guidlines. My advice is to keep copies of everything and refuse to speak to them over the phone (swearing at them is an excelllent way of letting off steam!).
10. MOST IMPORTANT get in touch with the National Debtline http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/ I did, they are better than CAB and cost nothing.

I have copies of the company's accounts, in depth company and director info and a whole heap of other very intersting stuff which will be available once I've completed my crusade. I intend to provide all this information to the BBC Watchdog program and I will write to every company that sells debts to 1st Credit to let them know what they are up to.

Black

changkra · 28 March 2007 at 7:44PM

I noticed on their web site they state they go for full payment of debts that are to be written off, in other words statute barred. As well as making your complaint to the OFT please also make your complaint to the CSA as these are the ones to enforce the rules not the OFT. The OFT will only investigate if there are many complaints but the CSA will investigate each complaint individually. Strange thins is there were only approx 70 complaints about company's such as this one last year because not many people know about CSA. This information is on the Watchdog web site as it was aired back in Feb, if you can't find the info on there it has already been posted on either the vent board or warnings board during the month of Feb, so searching back shouldn't be too difficult. There is also information on this on the debt free board. Good luck and don't give in and let them wear you down.

fratty · 28 March 2007 at 9:32PM

FYI: from the BBC website....

There's a code of practice concerned with debt collection. It's sponsored by the Credit Services Association whose address is:

Wingrove House
2nd Floor
Ponteland Road
Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 3DP
You can also contact them on 0191 286 5656
Email: mail@csa-uk.com (general enquiries) or complaint@sca-uk.com (complaints)

If the debt recovery agency to which you refer is a member of this trade association, it's required, under the code of practice, to respond sympathetically to consumers in financial difficulties.

The guidelines to the code prohibit members from embarrassing debtors or disclosing their indebtedness to neighbours, employers or relatives.

For complaints, conciliation is available and then a disciplinary committee of the association's council may become involved.

We would, therefore, advise you to contact the Credit Services Association at the address above to see if the relevant debt collecting agency is a member of it.

richt71 · 29 March 2007 at 12:19AM

fratty wrote: »

FYI: from the BBC website....

There's a code of practice concerned with debt collection. It's sponsored by the Credit Services Association whose address is:

Wingrove House
2nd Floor
Ponteland Road
Newcastle upon Tyne NE5 3DP
You can also contact them on 0191 286 5656
Email: mail@csa-uk.com (general enquiries) or complaint@sca-uk.com (complaints)

If the debt recovery agency to which you refer is a member of this trade association, it's required, under the code of practice, to respond sympathetically to consumers in financial difficulties.

The guidelines to the code prohibit members from embarrassing debtors or disclosing their indebtedness to neighbours, employers or relatives.

For complaints, conciliation is available and then a disciplinary committee of the association's council may become involved.

We would, therefore, advise you to contact the Credit Services Association at the address above to see if the relevant debt collecting agency is a member of it.

1st credit do belong to the CSA and I complained to them about 1st credit but just got back a rather standard reply TBH. It said they believed Ist Credit as an upstanding member would be aware of their responsibilities etc. I'd not waste your time.

blk_mk · 29 March 2007 at 1:20PM

I wrote to the CSA twice, I have also telephoned them and emailed them. I have also made a complaint to the OFT about the CSA.

The CSA are muppets - they took 1st Credit's repsonse to my complaint word-for-word and put it on their own letterhead. They sent this to me stating they had closed the complaint. I sent a second complaint but was rebuked with comments reinforcing 1st Credit's unlawful debt collection practices. After advice from the NationalDebtLine I found the CSA have a council that rule on complaints and member issues. I telephoned the CSA asking for my complaints to be put before the member-council - I was refused. The CSA are a useless diversion who legitemise the illegal debt collection methodology employed by 1st Credit Limited. They are not worth complaining too.

My advice is - don't waste the stamp.

Odd telephone call from First Credit Limited

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