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Outrageously some dodgy firms have been offering debt help via text messages, which make it look like its from the Citizens Advice Bureau.
The text message says:
"Citizens Advice Bureau will talk to 6,600 people today with debt problems. Do you need advice on debt? Reply TALK to receive a call from a friendly advisor"
THIS MESSAGE IS NOT FROM CITIZENS ADVICE
This is NOT from the Citizens Advice Bureau and you won't get through to its advisors; rather a profit making 'debt' company. Read the full Citizens advice info on this
If you've got problem debts: Read the full Debt Problems Help guide which includes full details of all the non-profit debt help agencies.
Bogus text messages claiming to be from Citizens Advice Bureau
Beware!
It looks like firms have been offering debt advice by sending bogus text messages to people's mobile phones, claiming to be from the Citizens Advice Bureau.
Exactly the same sort of 'people' that come up when you google CCCS - see the sticky at the top of the page.
Debt is big business and will, inevitably, attract the 'profit driven' scavengers who will stoop at nothing to earn easy money from the misfortune of others.
I am NOT, nor do I profess to be, a Qualified Debt Adviser. I have made MANY mistakes and have OFTEN been the unwitting victim of the the shamefull tactics of the Financial Industry. If any of my experiences, or the knowledge that I have gained from those experiences, can help anyone who finds themselves in similar circumstances, then my experiences have not been in vain.
HMRC Bankruptcy Statistic - 26th October 2006 - 23rd April 2007 BCSC Member No. 7
DFW Nerd # 166 PROUD TO BE DEALING WITH MY DEBTS
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Just a timely reminder that the recorded phone messages are also about again.
Over the last week, we have received four calls which, when you pick up the phone, are recorded messages saying 'if you have debt problems please call for free advice' - as if.
I did not write down the number, and it has been my wife who answered the other three calls, but it is an '0870' revenue sharing number - no number shows up on 1471 - just beware.
I am NOT, nor do I profess to be, a Qualified Debt Adviser. I have made MANY mistakes and have OFTEN been the unwitting victim of the the shamefull tactics of the Financial Industry. If any of my experiences, or the knowledge that I have gained from those experiences, can help anyone who finds themselves in similar circumstances, then my experiences have not been in vain.
HMRC Bankruptcy Statistic - 26th October 2006 - 23rd April 2007 BCSC Member No. 7
DFW Nerd # 166 PROUD TO BE DEALING WITH MY DEBTS
The Following User Says Thank You to rog2 For This Useful Post:Show me >>
I was struggling to keep up with my debts and seemed to be getting further behind so decided to take action and enquire about an iva.
I did so with debt free direct. I spoke to a guy from baines and earnst who assured me that I qualified for an iva and I was doing the right thing so went through all the details over the phone and was sent all the information through the post. He stressed that I had to return the authorisation form asap which arrived the next day. However, after he explained that I would have to pay £370 in weekly instalments before they could actually do anything I started to panic.
I checked on here for anyone else's experience of this company and on the back of that, straight away emailed them to say I had changed my mind and wanted to cancel my application. Within an hour the guy who I spoke to about my application phoned me and to be honest was very rude. He said I was a timewaster and I should think twice about calling them again should I decide to continue their application. I was quite upset but I still feel I did the right thing.
I used the money that would have been used to set this up to clear one of my smaller debts and came up with my own repayment plan that would suit me better. I borrowed enough money from a family member just to clear arrears to get people off my back and thought hard about my budget and where i could improve. 2 weeks on I feel good that I didn't waste precious money on this company and I hope that others will benefit from my experience.
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I've learned from recent experience that there is a lot of free advice out there but unscrupulous companies are charging people for the same advice (even the same service).
Why don't we collectively pool our resources and name those organizations that are genuinely free?
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Why don't we collectively pool our resources and name those organizations that are genuinely free?
We do, and have - see the opening post. Unfortunately, not everyone who is experiencing problems will see this site. Niether do the Charitable Organisations have the resources to 'advertise' their services in the same way that the 'Profit Motivated' Ambulance Chasers do.
I am NOT, nor do I profess to be, a Qualified Debt Adviser. I have made MANY mistakes and have OFTEN been the unwitting victim of the the shamefull tactics of the Financial Industry. If any of my experiences, or the knowledge that I have gained from those experiences, can help anyone who finds themselves in similar circumstances, then my experiences have not been in vain.
HMRC Bankruptcy Statistic - 26th October 2006 - 23rd April 2007 BCSC Member No. 7
Just a timely reminder that the recorded phone messages are also about again.
Over the last week, we have received four calls which, when you pick up the phone, are recorded messages saying 'if you have debt problems please call for free advice' - as if.
I did not write down the number, and it has been my wife who answered the other three calls, but it is an '0870' revenue sharing number - no number shows up on 1471 - just beware.
I've had a few of these recently - I didn't listen to the whole message and it shows up as "international" on my handset when they ring so I don't know their number. I'm a member of the Telephone Preference Service (as well as being ex directory) so I shouldn't be getting these calls anyway - is there any way I can stop them?
The Following User Says Thank You to Minerva69 For This Useful Post:Show me >>
Not sure what the policy of this site is regarding things like this but couldn't this be made a sticky for a while?
While a good suggestion, I think it may clog the boards unnecessarily.
Remember I put this high up in the weekly email that goes to 2,000,000 people - many more than use the forum. That also means it is now searchable from the main site search - so I hope the message is already out there to many...
Martin
Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert.
Please note, answers don't constitute financial advice, it is based on generalised journalistic research. Always ensure any decision is made with regards to your own individual circumstance.
I got the message today and replied stop thinking I'd subscribed to something. have I just caused myself more problems ?
also the number was 07788552855 can a trace of some sort be applied to it ?
Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps. Take care over copyright. Use excerpts and links rather than copying long text. This site asserts copyright on all comments posted on the board.
Pls be nice to all MoneySavers. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and even if you disagree courtesy helps.
Bogus Debt Help Text Messages
Who knows where thoughts come from - they just appear!
Love me as I am or not at all! 
How can I stop the recorded messages?
BSC #122 
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