CapQuest - OMG!!

JimGarnett

Tonight, I've just had my 7th call in 2 weeks from a company called CapQuest.

Until I looked them up on the internet tonight - I'd never heard of them before and had no idea who they were.

In the previous 6 calls, someone from CapQuest would call and for "Security" would want me to tell them personal information (address, DOB, Mothers Maiden name etc).

On each occasion, I'd ask who CapQuest were? what sort of company were they? was it a sales call? But all they said they could tell me "for security reasons" was that they were called CapQuest.

Well obviously, I'm not going to give out personal information over the phone to someone who will not tell me who they are, why they are calling etc and on each previous occasion I just became a bit exasperated and bemused that someone would expect me to give them all the information that they would need to access everything in my life and yet couldn't tell me who they were for "security" reasons.

Each of the previous six callers from CapQuest were really rude when I refused to give them this personal info and none of them would give me any more information than their company name. Nothing.

So tonight, the 7th time, I said that I couldn't tell them my information for "security" reasons until they told me who they were. The caller then said that "...he would note my refusal to cooperate and I would be prosecuted accordingly..." he then hung up.

Obviously, this was very upsetting so I've just been on the internet and seen that they are a debt collection company.

Now - can someone tell me if what they are doing it legal? Can they really call me up and expect me to give personal information (that I wouldn't give anyone unless I knew who they were) without telling me who they are? Can they really prosecute me for not giving out personal information to a stranger on the phone who refuses to answer any of my questions to confirm who they are?

This all seems very very worrying and I have to admit that I'm rather upset about it all.

Any light that anyone could shed on whether or not these people are operating correctly would be appreciated as both my wife and I are very upset and have no idea why a debt collector would be doing this to us and we don't want to be prosecuted for not giving out information over the phone.

We don't know what to do.

potnoodleprincess

Hi

I would have a look on the Debt forums about Capquest - there are many tales.

You cant be prosecuted for refusing to give personal details over the phone to a complete stranger who wont even state their business to you, it could be a scam !!

If I rang up a random phone number saying I was Puff the Magic Dragon and asked them for all these personal details and wouldnt reveal my business I am sure I would be on the recieving end of a few four letter words!

If they phone again I would tell them to state their business in writing and stop harrassing you, there is a template letter on the Debt board you can use to get the telephone calls to stop. There is a good chance that if you dont know about it that the debt is not even yours and they are chasing the wrong person so it makes this even more shocking that they threaten you with prosecution !

Please try not to worry, we are in a debt management plan and often get calls from these sorts of places even though we maintain our payments, we have been threatened with a similar line, I complained and recieved an apology, I complained to OFT and told the company this also, as they were under investigation for heavy handed tactics

Pop over to the Debt forum and search for this company and I think you will feel lots better

xxx

LeeSouthEast

OP: You did the right thing.

Their next step will be to write to you, which will then set out what they actually want. Job done.

steveo3002

why not tell them a pack of lies...mr maggo , maiden name trotter , and so on

agreed never hand out your details over the phone

JimGarnett

Thank you.

It is very worrying.

Why are these companies allowed to behave like this?

It's a disgrace.

maninthestreet

JimGarnett wrote: »

Thank you.

It is very worrying.

Why are these companies allowed to behave like this?

It's a disgrace.

They're not - at least, they cannot threaten to prosecute.

marleyboy

I got a letter the other day from them, addressed to my brother (who doesnt live here), Obviously I threw it away "with my brothers permission", my phone is ringing up by various companies for the previous tenant I get fed up with telling them they no longer live here (a good Year I have lived here). I generally can tell by the pause on the phone who is calling.

I await the moment Capquest ask me for my brothers details, so I can happily tell them "for security reasons" that I have no intention of cooperating.

Dont worry about them, they will try all sorts to get you to give your details, it is not a criminal offence to refuse to give your details over the phone.