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[spiritof74]

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]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by girlsmum

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]

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by fratty

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]

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.

[welshdemon]

I had a call from this niumber today. Lucky i dont answer to wierd numbers like that, or "withheld" and "unknown" numbers. Anyway I searched for the number on google, but only had 1 result (when I typed in "08701642049" - the number without gaps) so just wanted to add this to the thread for the sake of others.

0870 164 2049
0870 1642049

so people who search for those search strings land on this page too

The more people who know, the better!

[Bleurgh]

I HAD to sign up and give my input because I've had a similar experience to a few people on here.

I got a letter from a debt collection agency in November 2006 for a credit card debt owed to Barclaycard which I knew nothing about. The address they gave was one I lived at over 5 years ago but the purchases had been made in 2005.

I had a Barclaycard when I lived at that address but I cancelled it a long time ago.

I immediately phoned the Police to log an incident and I also phoned Barclaycard. They told me the following facts...

1. I did have a card with them which I PAID OFF in June 2001 down to a zero balance. (I moved out of that house in July 2001)
2. The card was re-issued to that address at a later date (probably for chip and pin).
3. The new card was used in 2005 to pay for goods and draw cash.
4. Barclaycard sold the debt to First Credit Limited.

I told barclaycard that I had cancelled the card in 2001 but they said they had not received a letter. The person I spoke to at Barcalycard was sympathetic - she could tell I was being honest and that it was a case of fraud.

There is no possible way that I could have used the card. As I said, I moved out a month after DESTROYING the original credit card, paying it off and cancelling the account. I believe It was an admin error at Barcalycard that kept the account open and at an address I no longer lived. So at some point a few years later, they re-issued the card to the address on file. I know for a fact that the woman who bought the house was using it to rent out and its pretty obvious that the tenants at the time must have used the card - or the postman.

So I phoned First Credit....

Nothing but abuse from the start. Everything I explained to them wasnt good enough. They said the police incident number was useless - they said that they were not prepared to co-operate with the police and that I had to prove my innocence to them. They said they were going to take me to court. I tried to explain my position but they simply just shouted me down. In the end I got so frustrated that I was very abusive to them on the telphone. I swore my head off!!

Anyway. I put together proof that I sold the house in 2001 by getting the land registry documents. They clearly show that the new owner and the date.

I sent a full letter by registered post both to First Credit Limited and to the debt collectors they had used. It included the above proof that I wasnt living there when the new card was re-issued or used and my police incident number. I also provided the CID details and the officer who is handling the fraud investigation. I indicated to them that I would not take their telephone calls due to their argumentative behaviour and they should write to me.

I asked them to write back to me. They did not.

I then received a letter from another debt collection agency. First Credit had ignored my letter and passed on the handling of the case to another debt collectors. I phoned them and they were very polite!

I explained my situation - they listened. I faxed them all my documets - I'd saved everything. They immediately sent the "account" back to first credit Limited telling me that they should never have been sent it at all and that this is clearly a case of fraud. They explained that the dedbt would be written off.

I was quite relieved.

This week I received a further letter from a litigators, acting on behalf of First Credit Limited. Explaining that they were going to take me to court over the outstanding debt. I was shocked.

I phoned them and explained my situation as I did with the previous company. They were polite, they listened. The litigaor told me that she was amazed that First Credit Limited were still pursuing this. We both agreed that if it went to court, I couldnt possibly lose. She said that she would phone First Credit back the same day and get the debt written off as fraud (de ja vue).

I faxed them all the details and phoned back the next day. I was told that they had sent the "account" back to First Credit Limited with the recommendation that the debt be written off as fraud. They clearly were not prepared to take on a case they couldnt possibly win.

That was yesterday.

As much as I hope this is the end of it, I have a feeling that the harrassment is going to continue.

I'll let you know!

[Clive Woody]

Originally Posted by Bleurgh

I HAD to sign up and give my input because I've had a similar experience to a few people on here.

I got a letter from a debt collection agency in November 2006 for a credit card debt owed to Barclaycard which I knew nothing about. The address they gave was one I lived at over 5 years ago but the purchases had been made in 2005.

I had a Barclaycard when I lived at that address but I cancelled it a long time ago.

I immediately phoned the Police to log an incident and I also phoned Barclaycard. They told me the following facts...

1. I did have a card with them which I PAID OFF in June 2001 down to a zero balance. (I moved out of that house in July 2001)
2. The card was re-issued to that address at a later date (probably for chip and pin).
3. The new card was used in 2005 to pay for goods and draw cash.
4. Barclaycard sold the debt to First Credit Limited.

I told barclaycard that I had cancelled the card in 2001 but they said they had not received a letter. The person I spoke to at Barcalycard was sympathetic - she could tell I was being honest and that it was a case of fraud.

There is no possible way that I could have used the card. As I said, I moved out a month after DESTROYING the original credit card, paying it off and cancelling the account. I believe It was an admin error at Barcalycard that kept the account open and at an address I no longer lived. So at some point a few years later, they re-issued the card to the address on file. I know for a fact that the woman who bought the house was using it to rent out and its pretty obvious that the tenants at the time must have used the card - or the postman.

So I phoned First Credit....

Nothing but abuse from the start. Everything I explained to them wasnt good enough. They said the police incident number was useless - they said that they were not prepared to co-operate with the police and that I had to prove my innocence to them. They said they were going to take me to court. I tried to explain my position but they simply just shouted me down. In the end I got so frustrated that I was very abusive to them on the telphone. I swore my head off!!

Anyway. I put together proof that I sold the house in 2001 by getting the land registry documents. They clearly show that the new owner and the date.

I sent a full letter by registered post both to First Credit Limited and to the debt collectors they had used. It included the above proof that I wasnt living there when the new card was re-issued or used and my police incident number. I also provided the CID details and the officer who is handling the fraud investigation. I indicated to them that I would not take their telephone calls due to their argumentative behaviour and they should write to me.

I asked them to write back to me. They did not.

I then received a letter from another debt collection agency. First Credit had ignored my letter and passed on the handling of the case to another debt collectors. I phoned them and they were very polite!

I explained my situation - they listened. I faxed them all my documets - I'd saved everything. They immediately sent the "account" back to first credit Limited telling me that they should never have been sent it at all and that this is clearly a case of fraud. They explained that the dedbt would be written off.

I was quite relieved.

This week I received a further letter from a litigators, acting on behalf of First Credit Limited. Explaining that they were going to take me to court over the outstanding debt. I was shocked.

I phoned them and explained my situation as I did with the previous company. They were polite, they listened. The litigaor told me that she was amazed that First Credit Limited were still pursuing this. We both agreed that if it went to court, I couldnt possibly lose. She said that she would phone First Credit back the same day and get the debt written off as fraud (de ja vue).

I faxed them all the details and phoned back the next day. I was told that they had sent the "account" back to First Credit Limited with the recommendation that the debt be written off as fraud. They clearly were not prepared to take on a case they couldnt possibly win.

That was yesterday.

As much as I hope this is the end of it, I have a feeling that the harrassment is going to continue.

I'll let you know!

Sad to say, but the simplest thing might be to let this go to court, take along all the info you detailed here and let the judge tell 1st Credit to go jump.

[yellowtr]

I am staggered by this I have gone through exactly the same thing as Bleurgh. The utter rudeness of the staff at 1st Credit.

Basically someone has got a credit card in my name from Barclaycard (I applied for one in 99 never used it) and it was reactivated to an address I have never lived in and they have racked up a HUGE debt which now the knucklescrapper of 1st Credit are pursing with there finest customer service skills

I am seeing a lawyer on Monday about this. 1st Credit claim to have spent nearly 2yrs trying to find me-yet Barclaycard had my original (and only) address. Unreal.

[hulltrucker]

Originally Posted by Clive Woody

Sad to say, but the simplest thing might be to let this go to court, take along all the info you detailed here and let the judge tell 1st Credit to go jump.

I agree - keep all the documentation, dont answer the phone to them, certainly dont ring them on thier 0870 number )as this is just making them more money) and let them take you to court - If you really dont have the debt they will just look daft in front of the courts. If this happens enough times I am sure the courts will start to question this companies "credability"

[Bleurgh]

Originally Posted by hulltrucker

I agree - keep all the documentation, dont answer the phone to them, certainly dont ring them on thier 0870 number )as this is just making them more money) and let them take you to court - If you really dont have the debt they will just look daft in front of the courts. If this happens enough times I am sure the courts will start to question this companies "credability"

I've thought of that but to be honest with you - the stress of going to court would be hard for me and I'd rather avoid it if possible - not to mention the costs involved. I dont cope well with unfamiliar situations and its alot of hassle having to take time off work to do something like that when it should never have gone that far in the first place. Although saying that, if I do end up in court I'm going to make damn sure I get compensated for the stress this whole situation has put me under and for the large amount of time I've been forced to spend on it.

In my last letter to the most recent debt collectors, I told them that this situation was beginning to impact on my life and it is taking me away from my work. I'm a company director and my time is very valuable to my business. I explained that from this point forward any time I spent on dealing with them would be invoiced to them accordingly. The reason being that I have already explained my situation to First Credit Limited in full. All I seem to be doing now is forwarding that same info on to whoever they put onto me next.

Considering the litigators they put onto me last week are not willing to touch me with a barge pole, it looks like First Credit Limited are out of options here.
My big problem now is that I dont know where I stand. Is my credit rating back to normal ? I'm damn sure First Credit wont be writing to me to let me know they are no longer pursuing me for the fraudulent debt.

I think the right thing to do is to contact a solicitor and get them to write a letter for me, forcing First Credit to either go to court or confirm in writing that they are going to drop their ridiculous allegations against me. I wonder if I could take this to court myself - force the situation from this end on the grounds that they are damaging my credit rating.

[BALLADEER]

These 1st Credit are absolute CRIMINALS in breach of the OFT July 2003 guidelines (dec 2006 updated) for debt collectors and in breach of the
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ACT 1970
for causing harassment, alarm and distress to "debtors" while never proving
anything as "due" or supplying credit agreements etc.
REPORT the criminal scum to the OFT ALL of you DO IT and lets get their
Consumer credit LICENCE REMOVED PERMANENTLY......

[Bleurgh]

Heres an update on my situation...

On the 26th April, the litigators sent me this email...

Thanks for your email. Sorry the phone lines have been down all morning. The alleged account has been written off and closed as a fraud.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself if you have any further queries.

I applied for credit yesterday and was refused because the "black mark" is stiLl against my name.

So I contacted the litiagtors again and they said....

I have contacted 1st credit this morning they have advised me that they have closed the account as fraud and passed it back to Barclaycard. The only reason I can think that it is still on your credit file is because Barclaycard are still investigating the fraud. My advice would be to contact them and ask the progress of this account.

I am sorry to hear you are still having problems with this account I was hoping the matter would be resolved for you.

So I phoned Barclaycard. They said that they have had no update since April and that they are waiting on 1st credit to get back to them.

I explained what the litigators said to me this morning - that the account had been passed to them. I was then put on hold...

Suddenly the line clears and I say hello? The voice on the other end says hello. I say "who am I talking to" - he says "this is first credit". I said "why have I been passed to you "? He says "I have no idea".

He then says - "can I take your name" - I give my name. "And the first line of your address". I give him my addrress. He then says in a really nasty way - "whats your previous address". I reply - I beg your pardon - he says - "whats your previous address". I said -" hang on why are you asking me these questions I just need to know whats happening". He says abruptly "just answer the question". I said "whats your name please". He says "fIrst credit". "No whats YOUR name" I say...

He hangs up.

So at this time they are purposely damaging my credit rating. I've contacted a solicitor.

Edit...

I phoned Barclaycard back and they say that because they SOLD the debt to 1st Credit - its not their responsibility and they have basically nothing to do with it.

So.... WHY did 1st Credit tell their own litigators that they had closed the account and passed it back to Barclaycard ? And WHY has the default not been removed from my credit record ?

At this point I'm in the process of getting a solicitor to write them a letter basically saying - confirm in writing that this is over and the default has been removed - or else!

Considering the amount of wasted time and stress this has cost me, I must be able to claim something from them surely? I'm now perfectly happy to go to court over this - I just want it ended!

I'm a totally innocent person who has been treated like a criminal and harrassed for over 6 months for something I have proved to them (in writing by registered post) could not possibly have been my spending - yet they have continued to ignore the information I have given them and essentially now are purposely damaging my reputation by not withdrawing the default against my name.

Not only that, they are costing me money every day because I am wanting to get rid of my credit cards and consolidate with a loan as the interest rates are so high on the cards - but I cant do that until they remove this default. I'm really at the end of my wits.

[123ABC]

Well they certainly are persistant. They have been writing to my parents address for some time now, they keep getting the letters returned with "no longer at this address" written on, they called my parents address and basically called my Dad a liar when he told them that he didn't know where I was staying now and they call my mobile at least once a day - yes, even on a Saturday! I never answer their calls and they always leave this automated voice message. I have even had them texting me.