Advice needed - really confused!!

Sharon30

Hi

I'm looking for some advice please. I have an outstanding debt with Capital Bank (BOS Loan) which I defaulted on more than 6 years ago. The debt was passed to iQor recovery services based in Preston a long time ago, this company was a nightmare but I did pay each month to them but they still harrassed me and each month always tried to get me to pay more than I could afford. In 2008 my circumstances changed and I was off work on sick leave which I informed them off but needless to say they weren't happy as I couldn't make their demands each month. In september 2009 my file was passed to geoffrey parker bourne solicitors threatning to commence legal proceedings so I arranged a payment plan of £10 per month as I'm only receiving employment support allowance which they accepted. I phoned each month (stupid I know now) and made the £10 payment but when I phoned in February 2010 I was told by them that the file had been passed back to Iqor.............I didn't call as I wasn't prepaired to talk or bargain with them but decided to wait on written correspondence from them and I would reply in writing to them!!! Roll on to this morning received a letter from iQor with an address at the top of the letter with a PO Box number and the town listed as the same hometown as myself with a local postcode!!!!! Never had this before and I'm very confused at this letter. The reference number is the same as last time but at the top it lists a mobile number and a local telephone number!!! It goes on to say we write to your recent correspondence (which I didn't do) and confirm that your offer of £10 is acceptable on the strict understanding that these payments are paid direct to the address on the top of this letter (which is highlighted with a pink marker) and maintained on a regular basis. Again highlighted with a pink marker Payments sent elsewhere may cause delays and may result in further action. Payment of £10 must bein our hands on or before 10th May 2010 bla bla bla. Yours sincerely (a had written name) on behalf of iQor recovery services Ltd. No giro slip at the bottom............ just a Home Collections Standing Order Manadate enclosed!!

The letter looks really odd and have never in the past had a letter like this before from IQOR!!! I've tried searching the address on the internet and nothing comes up and doesn't look like a registered business address either. Can this be correct?? It seems a bit odd I've to pay direct to the local address enclosed...........am I meant to chap on the door lol!!!

Is it possible this has been passed to a local debt collector or something even so would the address on the letter not be the name of their company?? I'm not going to phone or send any payments there but I think I'll need to write to iQor head office in Preston for explaination! Any advice would be appreciated as I'm lost!!

Thanks

handyman123_2

Hi Sharon30, I'm confused by this as well, this weekends not the best time to post as most of the real knowlagable MSE's are taking some well earned downtime, not only that after 2 jugs of scrumpy the old handyman is having problems seeing his keyboard. I am shure that there are options open to you. The best thing to do is if the cavalry (THE REGULARS = niddy, DarkConvict, DvardyShadow,etc) dont pick up your call, then re-post after the holiday. I am shure there will be some help forthcoming.

Regards, handyman123.

Sharon30

Thanks Handyman123!!! I'll wait for the others then maybe re-post..........I don't want to ignore the letter but something doesn't feel right!! I just wouldn't know what to say etc in the letter, no way am I phoning either phone numbers and don't want to call iQor's registered office in Preston either...........the letter just seems so unofficial!! No giro slip for payment so they just want me to send some way of payment to an unofficial address!!!

Thanks I'm so jealous that you've had a few and I've not lol!! :beer:

Tixy

Hi Sharon

That does sound a bit strange and I would never pay anyone unless you are certain about the situation. I would agree that writing to head office is probably the best option to start. If you are still unsure you could always send the prove it letter and wait for them to give you proof you owe the money and proof they have a right to collect it - see here - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11570893&postcount=2
(actually whenever a debt changes hand its not a bad idea to send this letter).

DVardysShadow

handyman123 wrote: »

]The best thing to do is if the cavalry (THE REGULARS = niddy, DarkConvict, DvardyShadow,etc) dont pick up your call, then re-post after the holiday. I am shure there will be some help forthcoming.

I'm just an amateur at this.

Sharon30 wrote: »

... Roll on to this morning received a letter from iQor with an address at the top of the letter with a PO Box number and the town listed as the same hometown as myself with a local postcode!!!!! Never had this before and I'm very confused at this letter. The reference number is the same as last time but at the top it lists a mobile number and a local telephone number!!! It goes on to say we write to your recent correspondence (which I didn't do) and confirm that your offer of £10 is acceptable on the strict understanding that these payments are paid direct to the address on the top of this letter (which is highlighted with a pink marker) and maintained on a regular basis. Again highlighted with a pink marker Payments sent elsewhere may cause delays and may result in further action. Payment of £10 must bein our hands on or before 10th May 2010 bla bla bla. Yours sincerely (a had written name) on behalf of iQor recovery services Ltd. No giro slip at the bottom............ just a Home Collections Standing Order Manadate enclosed!!

The letter looks really odd and have never in the past had a letter like this before from IQOR!!! I've tried searching the address on the internet and nothing comes up and doesn't look like a registered business address either. Can this be correct?? It seems a bit odd I've to pay direct to the local address enclosed...........am I meant to chap on the door lol!!!

Is it possible this has been passed to a local debt collector or something even so would the address on the letter not be the name of their company?? I'm not going to phone or send any payments there but I think I'll need to write to iQor head office in Preston for explaination! Any advice would be appreciated as I'm lost!!

Thanks

Yes, it looks highly suspicious. May be some start up has bought up your debt. It would be, I think, totally out of order for them to pass themselves off as iQor. So I am torn between thinking it is a scam based on stolen data or a wannabe DCA.

In your position, I would forward a copy of the letter to iQor and ask for their explanation and send the 'prove it' letter to the wannabe DCA. These should have a deed of assignment, but given that they look like DCA wannabe's, they might not understand the need to prove that the debt is assigned to them. Getting the info from them which allows you to pay them with peace of mind may be like drawing teeth.

Sharon30

Thanks Tixy and DVardysShadow for your help!!! I'm a bit worried about this as the letter doesn't look genuine at all and something is telling me that it doesn't add up. I looked at an old iQor letter from a while back and their letters always had a giro slip at the bottom and also a bar code code at the top of the letter, the letter I received on saturday is so unproffesional especially as it's highlighted in pink marker pen!!! Also I checked the bank account on this old iQor letter from the giro slip and it's totally different to the bank account details on the standing order mandate attached to the letter I received on saturday the only thing that's the same is the name of the bank (HSBC). Something is telling me that a local dca has perhaps bought the dept but surely they wouldn't be allowed to use another DCA name........this surely wouldn't stand in court if it went that far?? I'll write a letter to iQor in Preston and enclose a copy of the letter and ask for an explaination and I'll see what comes back, I'll also ask for a copy of my recent correspondance!!! I'll send the 'prove it' letter to this PO Box address in my local town and see what I get back!!!

Thanks again, seems rather strange!!

P.S. I might be back for more advice on this at some point down the line