Fredrickson International

LisaB1970

Hi foilks. I just wanted a bit of advice on FI.

My other half received a letter today asking for £9185.86. On the letter it said it was on behalf of Arrow Global.

Now I know the rule of thumb is not to call these people, but he is adamant he has NEVER had a debt that large, so call them we did (usual 141 in front of number)

I put the phone on speaker so i could hear what was going on as i have dealt with many DC's in the past nd am now (thankfully!!) almost debt free.

He asked what the debt was for and he bloke saidit was for an MBNA card. He also asked when it was taken out and the bloke said about 3 or 4 years ago. My OH said he didnt remember ever taking out an MBNA card and could he please tell him when the last payment was and when it was taken out. Bloke said it was "roughly" 4 years but they did not have the exact information. Now my OH lived on a Houseboat after his divorce 5 years ago and because he didnt have what they call a "fixed address" we know he couldnt have got credit.

My OH then asked them to speak to me as he was getting a bit flustered (he's not very good at dealing with people on the phone lol) so i took the rest of the call.

The bloke on the other end immediately said, "so, when is your partner going to clear this debt" to which i said well he isnt unless we know for definate it is his and again asked when it was from and when the last payment was made. He couldnt tell me. So i said, "Well until you can provide that information you cannot pursue this debt as my partner does not acknowledge it and has no recollection of ever having an MBNA card"
Bloke on the phone then tells me if i dont stop talking to him in an aggressive manner he would end the call!!!
I wasnt at all aggressive just asked them why they were pursuing an alleged debt that they had little information on!

He went on to be very rude to me telling me that if my OH didnt pay up they would issue a CCJ, and the bailiffs would come so i said that they MUST provide him with a true copy of the original agreement, and thathey would have to prove the debt was his because "roughly" wasnt good enough. I also added that as this debt was in dispute - which we would be putting in writing - they cannot pursue it. He then said, you are talking rubbish, you haven a clue and hung up!!

My OH gave them my mobile number - Im not too worried as i will deal with them for him in my own way - but was i right in what i said and is there anything we should be doing now??

Thanks in advance

Cooky667

Sounds like you handled them fine to me. Send them a letter asking for them to prove the debt I would think is the next step....im no expert though.

LisaB1970

Thanks for the reply. Im going to use one of the prove it letters on here - oooooh im fuming at his blokes attitude, so let them bring it on!

fatbelly

Yes, send a prove-it letter.

Keep a record of their phone calls (record them if at all possible) and send a 'communicate in writing' letter (there's one in the same thread)

If they don't give up, consider a complaint to the FOS (who have been known to award compensation) OFT (who have power to revoke their licence) and Credit Services Association (their trade body).

Approach this with the right attitude and have fun! Read Zincoxide's 'having fun with debitas' thread for inspiration

christineedge

I've read somewhere that they can't demand money from you, I think it was Citizen's Advice. My partner has had dealing with Fredrickson too and I've got to say they're pretty incompetent in comparison to other agencies, who are extremely helpful, understanding and efficient.

DarkConvict

Good old DCAs on the phone, rude, aggressive and clueless, them not you

You handled it very well.

I wonder if they get much training or are just sat at a desk and told to get on with it?

christineedge

I think they're given a script to stick to and anything that's not on the script they panic and don't know what to say or do.
Not that I would ever commend a DCA but Apex know what they're doing. They don't harass and their staff seem to have some compassion for your situation......

confused90

i personally just find debt collectors like the one the op encounteredto be funny, not at all threatening or worrying but it does concern me that these leeches might be phoning more vulnerable people and terifying them into making payments for debts they are not liable for, definately in favour of tighter regs on these people.

in december last year i encountered a very agressive dca from scotcall who was trying to collect a debt to sainsbury's mobile (never had a phone with them) who's reply to me telling him you'll need to provide some proof of an account if you want to pursue this was "we don't need proof. i'm telling you that you are liable for this debt" he put the phone down when i just laughed at him and retorted "i wouldn't trust you to tell me your date of birth and get it right you mug" and the slow realisation dawned on him that he wasn't talking to some poor old dear who he could terify into making a payment.

I'm still waiting for scotcall to prove this debt.

I know it's not exactly sensible and mature but i actually enjoy a bit of dca baiting, i kinda miss them calling in a way lol (not really)

But it sounds like the op handled the call fine, if they want to progress this case in anyway, either with you or via a court they'll nedd to provide some proof of an account, they know that so any other attempts to make threats and put preassure on you to pay should be taken as a sign that they have no such proof, in which case you can report them to the relavent regulatory authourities, i know the oft take a dim view of dca's who ignore reasonable requests for proof of liability and continue to threaten actions against an alleged debtor which the dca know are not available to them untill they provide proof of liability........or, you can engage in a spot of dca baiting untill they get fed up and p1ss off.