universal debt collection

blobbydoo

Hi
Im not sure if this is the right thread if not could someone direct me to the right one
I have received a letter from this company telling me that I have an
unresolved issue and could I contact them. I was wondering if you have
had any other queries about this company or have heard of them. Their
address is a PO Box in Manchester. Im really worried about this so any
information at all will be gratefully received. Thnks in advance

4743hudsonj

blobbydoo wrote: »

Hi
Im not sure if this is the right thread if not could someone direct me to the right one
I have received a letter from this company telling me that I have an
unresolved issue and could I contact them. I was wondering if you have
had any other queries about this company or have heard of them. Their
address is a PO Box in Manchester. Im really worried about this so any
information at all will be gratefully received. Thnks in advance

Have they notified you of what the debt is?

IF not find out and tell them that you are disputing it(if you dont agree you owe it) and in the mean time they should cease all contact.

Remember that they are not court appointed bailiffs and so have no automatic right to reclaim the debt with forced entry etc. Its like any other person knocking on your door and demanding money, if its denied they will have to take you to court and prove that in the balance of probabilities, you owe the money.

If they do continue to contact you whilst this is in dispute then you can warn them that you will sue them under the protection from harrasment act.

Above all, get this sorted, if you dont owe the money, you wont have any issues. If you owe the money then pay up. Either way its in your best interests to actively persue a resolution.

Hintza

Do some googling might very well be a scam so DO NOT contact them. Do not get into any discussion and ask for anything to be put in writing.

If they are genuine they will soon be in touch unfortunately.

Edit:-

hudson I think you are wrong here (I could very well be the one that is wrong) but I think OP need to be careful here

cabbage

Hi
Its probably just a fishing trip and its best to ignore it. If you can't do that, do not write to them asking for details of the debt as it could be classed as acknowledging the debt (see national debtline for further details on this) and do all the talk over the phone. Failing that, there is a good template letter on https://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk that does not acknowledge the debt but tells them in no uncertain terms to naff off.

RobertoMoir

I'd second ignoring it. If they can't be bothered to write you a proper letter explaining their credentials and the issue they're contacting you over properly then I don't see why you should worry too much about them.

Don't be scared of them: Debt collectors do not have any powers to do anything to you. If they call at your house they are not bailiffs and don't have any right to be on your property or power to take your stuff (in face neither does a bailiff, without a court order).

These kinds of people thrive on bluff and bluster. Don't be fooled by them now you know better about their rights, and don't deal with them over the phone where they can easily try to bully you with no proof of who said what.

Optimist

I third ignore it. They have probably bought a debt and are now phishing to find someone with the same or similar name to pay up.

4743hudsonj

i dont get whats so wrong with the op contacting them to ask what the supposed debt is and asking them to cease contact if its being disputed. At least it will put the OP's mind at rest. What if it is genuine? No halm in dropping a call IMO

DVardysShadow

cabbage wrote: »

Hi
Its probably just a fishing trip and its best to ignore it. If you can't do that, do not write to them asking for details of the debt as it could be classed as acknowledging the debt (see national debtline for further details on this) and do all the talk over the phone. Failing that, there is a good template letter on www.nationaldebtline.co.uk that does not acknowledge the debt but tells them in no uncertain terms to naff off.

If you go to the DebtFreeWannabe section of these forums, you will find exactly the opposite advice to the above

1. There is absolutely no problem with writing to them and demanding that they prove the debt. The DebtFreeWannabes have a template letter for this which is written so as not to acknowledge the debt.
2. DON'T phone them, it gives them a free shot at bullying you. Once a debt is alleged which you do not recognise, writing and keeping copies is the norm.

ManxAvenger

My brother recently had the same sort of thing, i.e. a debt collection agency demanding payment for a mobile phone bill of nearly £200!

The agency were legit, the phone company could not, however, provide and paperwork, phone number used etc.

Agency passed it back to the company, nothing heard since.