Amber Select LTD - debt enforcers. Dodgy?

Sassers

Morning to all you lovely people - hope you're having a great weekend. :j
I was just wondering if any of you have had dealings with a debt enforcement firm called Amber Select LTD, based near Basingstoke?
I think they're kite flying for money and would like some advice if possible.
OH took out insurance on his car and signed a credit agreement - like you do - three years ago. He got rid of the car, wrote and stopped the insurance and thought no more of it.
Now the `debt' for the non-payment of insurance has resurfaced with this Amber company. And they are being extremely demanding to the point of harassment.This debt looks like it has been sold several times.....

OH lived in the south, now lives in Wales and in all the three years has not heard a peep from anyone. He's always been on the electoral roll and easy to find.
Is this all legal - can anyone advise? Also Amber are saying they will deduct £760 from his debit card within 10 days if payment is not forthcoming.
Oh and they've also sent `the boys' round at 8.30pm one night to check OH lives at the house.....v scary :eek: - is it legal?

So my lovely Mse'rs can anyone help with this? Sorry it's been a long post, but I be really grateful if any advice is forthcoming......xx Sas :beer: :A

dollarjon

amber select do alot of the finance agreements for car insurance i cannot find any info on them as to their debt recovery arm
full address is
Amber Select Ltd
Amber House,
Unit 3 Lindenwood,
Chineham Business Park,
Basingstoke, RG24 8BR
0800 587 3016

MSE UPDATE: Amber select has asked us to say that alternative telephone numbers are: 01256 348348 and 0870 5329028. The company is also part of Skipton Building Society who can be contacted on 01756 705000.

is the £760 the full ammount or the remaining ammount of the insurance? usually when you have an agreement such as this you cant cancel the policy and get a refund. it usually works that you cancel the policy then wait until the year is up to get your money back, this is what has happened to me and people who i know in the past

Astaroth

They have up to 6 years to chase the debt and so it is certainly within the timescales.

It certainly is legitimate to send people round to a persons house and make enquiries. Generally investigator reports are basic what sort of house is it (detatched/ terrace, large/ small, private/ council etc), what condition is it in, what cars are there in the drive.... they will also typically speak to neighbours etc too and can try to find out if you work, what you do etc... obviously they it all comes across very innocent... "looking for your neighbour but they arent in".. neighbour says that you'll be at work... they look surprised and say something like "ohh, didnt know they were working, what do they do?" etc.

We used to send investigators around to uninsured 3rd paties when I dealt with motor claims to try and decide if they could afford to pay for the damages they had caused or if we would be throwing money away issuing against them.... it is amazing the amount of information they can legitimately find.

hurrah

Amber Select are a legit company that when you purchase Car Insurance from some companies/brokers,you agree that it pays for the insurance in full for you by way of a loan ,and lets you pay it back by monthly instalments,with interest of course. When your OH cancelled the Car Insurance, he should have contacted Amber Select so a final settlement could be made,of revised amount due.

Sassers

Thanks everyone for all your really helpful advice.:beer: ....the £760 is for the full amount...
OH has promised to ring them and sort it out - although the style and the threat in their letters is quite intimidating.:eek: I'll post and let you know if there are any developments. Thanks once again to you all - how I ever managed without this wonderful website and equally wonderful posters, I'll never know:beer:

Astaroth

There is a optional governing body for debt collectors in the UK which membership requires the companies to follow a code of practice. A quick google should show up if the company is a member and if they are a complaint can be lodged with the body who can "disiplin" their member.

Being somewhat realistic however, debt collectors are always going to be intimidating. There is certainly a logical arguement that if the original company has failed to get its money back by using "nice" tactics the debt collectors arent going to fair any better by using the same and therefore have to be more threating to get any form of success.

sportbeth

Copy of letter to use if debt has been purchased by a debt-buyer. Enclose a £1 postal order in payment of the statutory fee and send by Recorded Delivery. They have 12 (working) days to respond. If they don't supply it within 30 days, they've committed a criminal offence. Report them to your local Trading Standards office.

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I do not acknowledge ANY debt to your company. I require you to supply the following documentation before I will correspond further on this matter.

1. You must supply me with a true copy of the alleged agreement you refer to. This is my right under your obligation to supply a copy of the agreement under the legislation contained within s.78 (1) Consumer Credit Act 1974 (s.77 (1) for fixed sum credit) - your obligation also extends to providing a statement of account. I enclose a £1 postal order in payment of the statutory fee, PO Serial Number xxxxx.

2. A signed true copy of the deed of assignment of the above referenced agreement that you allege exists.

3. You are notified that you are obliged to supply these documents, whether you are the original creditor or not under S189 of the CCA 1974.

Non-compliance with my request is a criminal offence under the above Act and will result in a report being submitted to the relevant statutory authorities.

As you are aware, a credit agreement that is not properly documented and signed by the customer is totally unenforceable under the CCA and therefore is a complete defence to any court claim that is issued.

Take note at this stage, that any legal action you may contemplate will be both vigorously defended and contested.

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Not only will this letter ensure that they are not fishing for cash, it will also enable you to get a full statement of the account and make sure they're not adding in any cheeky figures. This should be your first move on any debt

NEVER, EVER phone a debt collector. Put everything in writing. They will try and back you into a corner that you don't want to be in if they get you on the phone.

Sassers

Sportbeth - thanks so much that's brilliant. Will email this to OH so he can have a look. x

hurrah

Sassers wrote:

Sportbeth - thanks so much that's brilliant. Will email this to OH so he can have a look. x

It sounds from what you said in the op that the debt originates from Amber Select though,and that a debt buyer is not involved.Amber Select themselves are not a debt collecting company,but no doubt they have a department that deals with this sort of thing.