Anyone heard of EQL?

lizb3112

Has anyone heard of a company called EQL? They have been phoning daily asking for my son but won't tell me who they are; apparently data protection even stops them from telling me what the initials EQL stand for! I'm assuming they are a collections agency but couldn't find anything thro' google (unless he's secretly studying with equestrian qualification limited!) so any info would be much appreciated.

fermi

A long shot, but.............

EQuidebt Ltd?

http://www.equidebt.co.uk/index.php

I would have thought that would be EDL for them really, but you never know....

GeorgeUK

There is nothing to stop them from telling you what EQL stands for or what the full company name or address is. They're talking tripe.

No ideal what EQL is though - might be equity loans or something but i couldn't find any details either. (BPP learning media or e-learning)?

fermi

Do you have a phone number?

lizb3112

Thanks everyone.
Fermi - I do have a number (premium rate of course!) and have just checked it out on Google. It turns out it's on the list of nuisance numbers and belongs, as you guessed, to equidebt. Now I know who I'm dealing with it will make any future calls far more interesting!

Bicky_2

A point to note about Data Protection is that if a company calls you and then asks for personal data to confirm that you are the person (in this case if they got through to your son) then as they have called you, you are not required to provide that information. A lot of companies try and insist that you do, but you do not have, besides they could be anyone! If you ring them however, then you will be expected to go through normal verification checks.

As for them saying that they can't even confirm EQL due to Data Protection! Pah! These companies need to train their staff properly - that said given the way many of them operate they wouldn't be able to get decent staff. I've had dealings with MacKenzie Hall over a debt that does not exist - yes, I had a credit agreeement with a company they quoted, but have the paperwork to show the debt was settled years ago. Mickey Mouse springs to mind!!!!;)

Cheers, :-)

fermi

lizb3112 wrote: »

Thanks everyone.
Fermi - I do have a number (premium rate of course!) and have just checked it out on Google. It turns out it's on the list of nuisance numbers and belongs, as you guessed, to equidebt. Now I know who I'm dealing with it will make any future calls far more interesting!

I was right then.

That guess really was a "stab in the dark"......

lizb3112

Thanks Bicky - I've already had a heated discussion with them re the DPA as I used to be a Caldicott Guardian (data protection in the NHS) and know exactly what is and isn't covered by the act. Interestingly, when I mentioned this (after giving them enough rope to hang themselves) they hung up on me. Unfortunately, it hasn't stopped them phoning ..... yet!

dorisday

Yes its equidebt, ring me everyday but because ive got caller display I dont answer. Its been going on for 7 months!!!!

nickmann101

Seems to me that if they are calling to speak to your son then you should ask him to call them. Firstly they will not stop calling, secondly if this is an error it will only be resolved once they speak to the person involved.

Most of the time it will be genuine, a mobile phone bill, credit card bill, shop finance that hasn't been paid etc. Where it isn't correct the only way to stop it is to speak to them and get it resolved that way. Otherwise credit files etc will be damaged (righly or wrongly).

I guess the number is on nuisance lists because most people that default on payments are in denile and will consider this call to be a "nuisance".

I don't like debt collection companies but it seems to me that lots of people who have a problem suffer from the old ostrich syndrome which doesn't work.

Also if they call and get your son or the person who's name they have been given they will confirm who they are once they have been told they are speaking to the correct person.

However they are trying to protect your son, if they call a number and someone says can I speak to Joe Bloggs, and you say thats my son who is this, they don't want to say "this is the missed payments collection company" he has a right to privacy.

bargainbetty

Oooh, Nickmann101, troll alert right there......

No-one on this board would recommend the OP's son call them. Tell them to write to him, and ask that the number (YOURS, not HIS) be removed from their records.

They are entirely able to confirm who they are, and we all know it. It is up to them to confirm who they are, otherwise there is no point confirming who you are, is there Nicky? All they have to do is give a company name..... not details, just a name.

Nuisance calls and generally added to such lists by an independent judge, who decides on the basis of the behaviour of the callers......

Nickmann, that's a terrible beard you have there..... go hide behind something else. And learn to spell..... denile is the big river in Egypt.