Arvato Finance Services Ltd

Horace

Has anyone heard of this outfit, I picked up a letter this morning from my old place which referred to an earlier letter that they had sent to me - not received and this current letter telling me that if I did not contact them by 7 September then they would be instructing solicitors or getting a bailiff to come round.

The balance of the debt is £9.68 - from I & I Internet Services going back to 2006.

In 2006 I&I took some money from my account withotu authorisation because they assumed that I wanted to renew a domain name - I didnt want to renew it and told them so, they sent me a credit note via email, I didnt print it out and never used it (since lost when harddrive was replaced following major virus on computer so data was irretrievable). I haven't heard from 1&1 from that day to this.

I rang this finance company this morning and told them that I had no idea what it was about and that I didnt owe anybody anything. They explained to me that this debt was outstanding from 2006 and I told them that I haven't been a customer of I&I for at least 3 years now. The customer clerk who apparently is not allowed to give her surname told me to wait and that she would have to get in contact with I&I to write off the debt - not that there is anything to write off because I don't owe:mad:

I suspect that once again I&I have acted fraudulently by trying to take money from an account that is now closed to renew a domain name that I once had without any reference to me so they have decided to bill me but rather than contact me directly have put this in the hands of these debt recovery people who have promised to send round a bailiff.:mad:

What course of action should I take other than phoning them? I feel like contacting trading standards as I don't who regulates companies that sell domain names - I am afraid as I have never had to deal with bailiffs before, I am also angry that 1&1 are demanding money with menaces for a service that I don't want from them (I buy my domains elsewhere these days).

Help would be appreciated.

Numpty_Monkey

Just giving it a bump Horace

GeorgeUK

I knew this sounded familiar.

I got a little confused part way though the thread but it seems the OP got the desired result.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=904347

Hope you do too.

As for bailiffs, they only collect debts after the case has gone to court so i doubt you'll be seeing any - especially for this amount.

Horace

I stopped using 1&1 back in 2006, I folded my business and my ex had warned me about them and pointed me in the direction of another registrant company which I have since used.

I do not remember anything in the Ts & Cs saying that they would renew on my behalf. Surely if I wanted to renew then I would contact them? Still, they won't get any money out of me and I can make sure that 1&1 will rue the day they ever tried to get money out of me because I can spread the word far and wide about their shady dealings.

Horace

News, I have spoken to Consumer Direct SE who seem to do the work of Slough Trading Standards and they told me what to put in a letter to 1&1 (although the silly man seemed to think that I should pay up), I have sent that letter first class recorded delivery today.

My ex has just told me that he once moved a domain that had been registered with 1&1 to a different registrant 6 months prior to its renewal date which 1&1 acknowledged but it still didnt stop them taking money from the credit card they had on file a further 6 months after the renewal date even though they knew that the domain name had been moved to a different registrant, he had a hell of a game getting a refund but he did eventually.

I hate 1&1, they are a nasty insidious company:mad:

GeorgeUK

Let us know how this goes, and if possible what should be put in any letter others may wish to send to them.

good luck

Horace

Firstly this is the letter that Consumer Direct suggested I write including the bits about closing business etc.

I am writing further to the above account with regard to a letter that I have received today (sent to my old address) from Arvato Finance Limited which is a debt collection company. I have spoken to them this morning and have since spoken to Consumer Direct South East who provide consumer advice for Slough Trading Standards Office.

On speaking to Arvato this morning I was somewhat angry to discover that you are chasing me for a domain name that I did not renew back in 2006, I recall that during 2006 you took some money from my business credit card for a domain renewal and on speaking to your offices, I received a credit note via email. I actually folded WAAG in 2006 so cannot see why I would want a domain name for a business that I no longer operate? Unfortunately since that time I have had to have a new hard drive fitted to my computer after a virulent virus eradicated all my files including this particular email.

I do not owe you £9.68 as claimed by Arvato Finance Services, when I spoke to someone in your offices at the time I said that I would not deal with your company again and that any domains would lapse. Now I am wondering if you actually understood my point? I am also wondering why you have waited two years to claim that I owe you money, I haven’t heard from you at all in the intervening years!

I do not consider that I owe you any money for any domain that you may have initially sold me, I get reminders from Nominet (I had one recently) advising me that if I did not want the domain name then I should just let it lapse which is what I have done.

I would look forward to hearing your response to this matter within the next 14 days from the date of this letter, any failure on your part will result in another call to Consumer Direct who will take the matter further on my behalf.

I sent the letter recorded delivery and received an emailed response from 1&1 today:j

Thank you for your letter.

This is to confirm that the collection agency have now been informed to
close this case and your account is now fully terminated.

If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact us.

I will never ever use this dreadful company again, I had bought a few domains from them but thankfully they have now all lapsed never to be renewed by me. I wonder if it was thought of Consumer Direct having a go at them that did it or the fact that I would see them in court first rather than pay them any money:D

These people can be beaten.

FatJock

Horace,

Can I ask your advce please.

I am thinking of buying a domain name (and some web space) as I am thinking of setting up a limited company. I had considered 1&1 until I read this thread. Where would you recommend I purchase a .com/.co.uk address from?

Regards and Thanks in advance
FatJock

Horace

I got my most recent .co.uk domain name from 123-reg.co.uk - they were cheaper than 1&1 and there's no funny business with them either (1&1 tend to just renew without asking).

I am getting my website created by a firm called MRS Web Solutions - who are charging me a fixed fee for creating the website and £60 plus VAT per annum to host it. (https://www.mrswebsolutions.com). I like the work that they do and feel that their contribution will help my business succeed.

Horace

And so the saga of 1&1 goes on - I discovered from Nominet today that 1&1 have renewed a domain name until 2010, I never asked them to do it, I don't want it and they claim to have cancelled my account with them - so watch this space.

I wish I had never ever heard of or used this company:mad: One wonders if there is an ombudsman that regulates domain registrant companies because if so, I will be sending a massive complaint about their fraudulent activities.

Horace

1&1 have seen the light and terminated my account with them nor do I owe them any money.:j

I have spoken to Nominet today because I sent them an email reporting the behaviour of 1&1 and the registrant advisor that I spoke to is passing my email to Nominet Accounts for them to investigate the terms that 1&1 use because apparently it is against their rules that a domain registrant company will automatically renew a domain name without asking the customer first. I told the advisor that I had heard that Slough Trading Standards have a large file on 1&1 full of customer complaints.

Although Nominet have no governing powers they can investigate 1&1 and encourage them to reform. I have no idea what else they can do but anything to stop them acting in such a despicable manner will be most welcome.