'Wipe Off Your Debts!' from +447935989346

david39

About 18 months ago, I was receiving phone calls on the same subject from debt solving agency. Via a thread on whocallsme.com I established it was a company in Stockport - but not the name mentioned in this MSE thread.

They eventually lost their MOJ approval - but it would seem that unless the location of Preston is a coincidence, they have restarted a similar company using texts rather than phone calls.

From my previous experience, these companies get round the laws by using an "agent" in another country to make the calls (send the texts) and so are out of the jurisdiction of TPS, OFTEL and any other body in the UK. It takes months for the MOJ to act and investigate them, so don't hold your breath on that one.

The number you see on your CLI screen is not the number from which the message is sent - they use SMS over the internet to get to you and the number you think is calling you is not actually the source of the call.

These operators close down as and when they feel the authorities are getting close to them and then start up again with another address and another set of phone numbers. Unfortunately, they carefully retain their list of phone numbers of potential customers through each re-incarnation.

The main rule in dealing with them is to never respond to them, verbally or textually, otherwise your number will get sold on to other scammers as a "live" prospect.

Intasun32

Bankfair_Limited wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

A few people on this forum have claimed to have traced numbers back to Bankfair Limited.

I can wholeheartedly assure everyone that Bankfair Limited does not and has never sent out SMS.

We used a marketing company whose method of finding clients was sms but we stopped using them almost 6 months ago.

Regards,

James

Bankfair Limited

Hi, James of Bankfair,

Thank you for posting in response to the texts that we all have received.

You state;

'A few people on this forum have claimed to have traced numbers back to Bankfair Limited.'

You will see that it's more than 'a few people', check out 'Who calls me' as well. I was not the only one to have traced it to a company calling itself 'Bankfair'.

You also state;

'We used a marketing company whose method of finding clients was sms but we stopped using them almost 6 months ago.'

Can you inform us what was the 'method' the marketing company used to promote your company? That is to say were the leads obtained from enquiries to Bankfair and your marketing company then acted upon them. Or were the sms sent from a marketing lists obtained from other means which would indicate that unsolicited promotional texts were sent. I dont need to tell you that this is against the rules & regulations set down by the ICO & MoJ.

If these text had nothing to do with your company why was the Bankfair name used to people who followed up the link on the texts?

As you can see I am a little confused.

If Bankfair had nothing to do with these texts I take it your company is looking into who is using your company name and giving you this bad publicity?


* I just saw this posted here on the 26/8/10 by Jayrowe;

'I replied to the text and the Company called me back today (26th) from number 01617131883.......'


This may be a good place for you to start looking.

:beer:

Gingernutty

:mad: I complained to hello AT Bankfair as well as the MoJ.

The MoJ didn't seem interested and I got an email from James


"I believe the research you have found to be incorrect.

If you are referring to the posts on the consumer actions forums we are
aware of these posts and I have since added a post to the bottom of the
thread.

I can assure you wholeheartedly Bankfair Limited has never contacted you by
sms.

I hope you can understand my distress that complaints are being lodged
regarding Bankfair Limited.

Thanks

James Upjohn

Bankfair Limited.

Regards,

James Upjohn

Banfair Limited

0161 713 1883"

Well, if it's not him I'm sorry. If it's another company on his own company's behalf, then he's just being weaselly. However, who spells their own company name wrong? :mad:

Intasun32

Gingernutty wrote: »

:mad:
James Upjohn

Bankfair Limited.

Regards,

James Upjohn

Banfair Limited

0161 713 1883"




Posted by Jayrowe 28.8.2010 - Post #7

Hi All,

I replied to the text and the Company called me back today (26th) from number 01617131883 the rude little ratbag on the phone wasn't really happy that I'd duped them into calling me. quite frankly i wish they hadn't the arrogant turnip wasn't interested in divulging company name and where they got my details. I've Googled the number and it belongs to a company called 'Bankfair Limited'.

Our friend from Bankfair has still to respond to my post of the 21st October but the telephone number that has been quoted on the e-mail that you have received is the same number that called Jayrowe when he clicked on the link of the text, see post #7 dated 26th August 2010 (Above).

Something here doesn't seem right, don't you agree?

Comments Bankfair?

:beer:

Intasun32

Jayrowe_Post_#7 wrote:

Posted by Jayrowe 28.8.2010 - Post #7

Hi All,

I replied to the text and the Company called me back today (26th) from number 01617131883 the rude little ratbag on the phone wasn't really happy that I'd duped them into calling me. quite frankly i wish they hadn't the arrogant turnip wasn't interested in divulging company name and where they got my details. I've Googled the number and it belongs to a company called 'Bankfair Limited'.

Hi James of Bankfair,

Thank you for your post regarding some of the points that I had made in my post. Being one of the many that had complained to the ICO & MoJ it is good to have you post here giving us a chance to put our questions to you.

I would like to inform you that I would not have 'opted in' for any financial or any other promotional texts. Having been a victim of unsolicited reverse bill texts scam in the past I, more than most, am very aware as to where and how I use my personal details. The fact that so many people have posted receiving unsolicited texts I would question your marketing company as to the source of their contact list, as it is this that has caused Bankfair problems. When I was scammed the company involved purchased the marketing/contact lists, as you will know this is frowned upon by The ICO & the MoJ.

You have also not made any comments to the post by Jayrowe made on 28th August, quoted above, where the Bankfair phone number on your post is identical to that which appeared on his phone when he received a reply to a click on the link of the text. As you will see a Google search found it to be Bankfair, the sign off on your post confirms that he is correct.

I this a little odd!

:beer:

Intasun32

Bankfair_Limited wrote: »

'As a result Jayrowe would have received a call from 01617131883 which is our company.'

'We do not send out text messages from 0161 713 1883 nor any other number.'

'I'm not too sure how I can better explain the situation, but any further questions are welcome.'

Hi Bankfair,

Thank you for your answer to my post, you have explained your position very well.

If I can sum the situation as I see it, please correct me if I am wrong;

I agree that you have never sent out texts from your own number because you have employed a marketing company to obtain customers or leads for your financial business.

The company seems to have used a marketing list which contained my details, to which I am 101% sure that I have never opted into.

You have said that you have no idea as to where or how the contacts were found?


I thank you for being up front about this matter.
:beer:

Intasun32

Thanks James,

I have sent you a reply.

:beer:

jayrowe_2

@Bankfair Limited/James

Since you use a third party to obtain leads, what is the name of the company or companies that have provided you with our personal information?

I am sure that everyone who has contributed to this thread or those who are following this thread and those who will find this thread by using a search engine would like to know who they are...?

So they can contact them and get them to remove there details from this companies databases.

regards

jayrowe

Intasun32

@Jayrowe

Although Bankfair hoped to gain business from the leads that were obtained by the marketing company, it is the marketing company that have breached regulations as set down by the ICO.

They are not daft, they have bypassed the control of Phone Pay Plus (the premium rate regulator) by using normal mobile phone numbers and not chargeable premium rate short codes. The first time I have come across this. They had no need to use chargeable texts as Bankfair have had to pay for each lead that clicked onto the link.

From my own experience I have found that companies that send unsolicited texts, promotional or chargeable, either use a peice of software that generates mobile phone numbers from random or they purchase marketing lists from 'other' sources. Both of which breach rules and regulations set down by OFCOM, Phone Pay Plus and the ICO. As we both have never opted into such a service it must be one of the two.

:beer:

Exhortation

Intasun32 wrote: »

...or they purchase marketing lists from 'other' sources.

Just over a year ago, a large list of numbers was sold by a disgruntled employee of one of the networks. OFCOM knew which company they'd come from but refused to give them the o2xygen of publicity in case they got sued en masse.

That's OFCOM's definition of protecting the consumer for you.