Aegis BPO asked me security questions - and I answered them! Help!

BPOno

Hi there

I'm lagging a bit behind in paying off my MBNA credit card, and got a letter from Aegis BPO, a debt collection agency, asking me to call them now to arrange payment of the overdue amount.

I decided to phone them to let them know that I am planning to pay this off via the MBNA website in the next two weeks, but as soon as the guy answered the phone he asked me my date of birth and mother's maiden name. I wasn't expecting that, and, without thinking, answered his questions. I wish I'd checked these forums first, as there are loads of posts on here about not doing that! At least I didn't give him my bank details - although he was extremely pushy in trying to obtain these.

He's not going to do anything scary with my security information, is he? Presumably now he has everything he needs to log into my MBNA account and do what the hell he likes. Not that there's any money in there, but there will be one day! After I answered the security questions, he read out my password, which nobody apart from MBNA and I know, so this makes me feel he was legit, and probably had the security answers on his screen all along.

Anyway, am about to send off the CCA request letter, as kindly shared elsewhere on the forum. Should it go to MBNA or Aegis BPO? The Aegis BPO letter has an address in India at the bottom of it, with stern instructions not to send correspondence to it! (Weirdly, the back of the Aegis BPO envelope has the MBNA address on it - are these letters actually sent out from MBNA?)

And what will the CCA request letter achieve? Will I get scarier letters in response?

The thing is, I've got a nice hefty chunk of money coming into my account in the next month or so, which swallows the debt nicely. But even after this is paid off, will I be forever harassed by these Aegis dudes?

I'm scared!

GeorgeUK

In your case, i would contact MBNA to see if they have sold on the debt or if this DCA is acting on their behalf.

Can you get the money paid into another account?

Depending on what MBNA say about the debt, you you may be able to offer them a full and final settlement of 50%-70% of the amount owed. Just make sure that it is not a partial settlement.

The CCA request basically is requesting a copy of the credit agreement. If they are unable to provide a copy with the required information (prescribed terms) then the debt may be unenforcable. You may be able to use this request in the short term to stop a default being added to your credit file.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=578486

stapeley

There is absolutely no way anyone should have your security number . Get in touch with your bank straight away . This sounds like a scam . It can be an idea if they ask for a pass word ,only if you ring bank would they ask for that , give then a wrong one first . Only if it really was the bank would they know it was wrong . If I was after details over the phone I would just okay when you told me a pass word . THIS IS VERY DOGGY!

ann_marie77

I also have had experience with Aegis BPO. See my thread below.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1164345&highlight=aegis

From my understanding of them, they are the out-sourced version of a in-house debt collection service for MBNA. I guess the same as the majority of call centres for most banks, etc.
Apparently they have been using them for years (previously called Global Vantadge).

In my experience while they are polite, they were very pushy so I try to correspond by letter only and if I absolutely must speak to them I try to keep any telephone coversation to a minimum.

BPOno

Thanks everyone!

I am slightly anxious about sending the CCA letter, as I worry that MBNA will do something nasty like suddenly reduce my credit limit to zero and force me to pay back the entire balance (+£12k) of my credit card, rather than just this overdue amount.

Should I just be polite and pay the debt? I don't want to stir up a hornet's nest - can comfortably pay my overlimit amount, but there's absolutely no way I would be able to suddenly conjure £12k out of thin air!

My Halifax Internet credit card account was taken over by MBNA a couple of years ago. I never decided for this to happen; it was just arranged by Halifax (maybe they just decided to outsource some of their bigger debtors, or there was a partial takeover). Which probably means that my original credit agreement is with Halifax Internet, and not MBNA. Does this count in my favour in some way?

GeorgeUK

I would phone MBNA and ask who this Aegis BPO are and why they would have your password. This is definately not standard procedure and i have not hear of this happening to others. As Stateley says, please get this checked out asap.

I would suggest changing your password immediately. I advised sending the CCA request because i though that this debt had been passed on to a Debt Collection Agency already. If this is not the case then by all means pay the overdue amount and get your account back on track.

I would still contact MBNA to clear up the matter and change the password details though. Let us know how it goes.