"Government information message" - scam to sell IVAs?

lynneinjapan · 12 July 2007 at 10:37PM

I'm not sure whether this forum is the most appropriate place for this post - mods, please move it if you think it fits better somewhere else - but if it is the scam that I suspect it is, then I thought it seemed sensible to highlight it to people who are trying to get out of debt.

Today my phone rang and when I answered it I got a recorded message that said something to the effect of "This is a Government information message" and then proceeded to outline the benefits of an IVA (only pay back what you can easily afford, 75% of your debt could be written off, etc.), ending with an instruction to press 1 to find out whether you could be eligible.

It sounded like a scam to me - I suspect it was a commercial organisation trying to get people to use them to set up IVAs in the belief that they've been somehow endorsed by the Government - but I wasn't about to press 1 and find out (I'm in the fortunate position of not having debt problems in any case). If it was the unsolicited sales call that I think it was then it was also illegal, as I'm registered with the Telephone Preference Service.

Has anyone else had this call? What do others think?

rog2 · 13 July 2007 at 8:38AM

Definitely NOT a Government message. The Government is not known to contact people in this way - certainly not to advise them on ways of tackling debt.
Did you try 1471 to get the number?

Tootsie_Roll · 13 July 2007 at 9:41AM

Amazingly I have just had exactly the same pre-recorded phone call a minute ago.

I am completely amazed that IVA companies market themselves in this misleading way, it is an absolute disgrace. The more I listened the further my jaw dropped. They spoke about 'new goverment legislation that wipes off up to 75% of your debt'. I just can't believe it.

rog2 · 13 July 2007 at 10:18AM

Tootsie_Roll wrote: »

Amazingly I have just had exactly the same pre-recorded phone call a minute ago.

I am completely amazed that IVA companies market themselves in this misleading way, it is an absolute disgrace. The more I listened the further my jaw dropped. They spoke about 'new goverment legislation that wipes off up to 75% of your debt'. I just can't believe it.

Hardly amazing - these companies are indiscriminate in their targeting.

Like MANY other industries that prey on debtors, they will 'twist' words and references to 'government legislation' to put accross the message that benefits their particular interest.

rayday2 · 13 July 2007 at 10:23AM

If you are with BT or whoever your phone provider is I would ask them to find out who called and contact OFFCOM about it, it certainly is a nasty way of misleading people.

Gosh I am turning into an official whinge!

RAS · 13 July 2007 at 10:27AM

Hi

This breaks all sorts of regualtions. Please could one of you try to find out the number that rang you?

fistfullofdollars · 13 July 2007 at 10:53AM

scum of the earth these people! profiting off others mysery!

ghhhrh

Was there a company name. Try and report it.

mm2000 · 13 July 2007 at 3:22PM

I'm not sure wether this is just coincidence or not but it could be they are phoning anyone or everyone trying to drum up new clients. The telephone rang at work the other day with the same message. None of my creditors have that phone number and it is a department number not a number asigned to me. I found it amusing really as the company has had money troubles, I very nearly done it just for them, I'm sure they would like 75% of their debts reduced.
I should imagine it would be distressing to receive that sort of call at home, it's bad enough being plagued with all the adverts on the TV.

climbgirl · 13 July 2007 at 3:48PM

mm2000 wrote: »

I'm not sure wether this is just coincidence or not but it could be they are phoning anyone or everyone trying to drum up new clients. The telephone rang at work the other day with the same message. None of my creditors have that phone number and it is a department number not a number asigned to me. I found it amusing really as the company has had money troubles, I very nearly done it just for them, I'm sure they would like 75% of their debts reduced.
I should imagine it would be distressing to receive that sort of call at home, it's bad enough being plagued with all the adverts on the TV.

If it's a recorded message I'd imagine they're using a machine to generate numbers to call, it'll be totally indiscriminate.

If anyone's able to see a number from the company calling (or get more details from them) I'd definitely report them. Implying that they're somehow "govt approved" is pretty low.

lynneinjapan · 15 July 2007 at 9:49PM

A scam then, just as I thought. I was listening out for a company name but there was no indication whatsoever of the source of the call, other than the aforrementioned implication that it had something to do with the Government. I did dial 1471 but of couse "The caller withheld their number".

Maybe I should have complained to BT - they might have been able to find out who'd called my number at that particular time, but at the time I only thought of complaining to the TPS and now I can't remember exactly when the call was. Perhaps someone else could try that if they get the same call?

Maybe this is something for Martin to mention in the weekly tip (if he hasn't already done so)?

Reya · 15 July 2007 at 9:58PM

Not only could it be a selling scam, it might also be one of those extortionate-amount-of-money-per-minute scams, whereby if you did press 1 to hear further information, you are charged £5, £10 or even £20 a minute for the pleasure. ("£20 a minute?!" I hear you cry. Well, it's been known...)

I'm not saying that's what it is, but it's possible :undecided

"Government information message" - scam to sell IVAs?

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