Debt Managers

Gnomoospan

Have received a final demand for 420 quid from a debt managing company on behalf of a company I've never heard of. I have no knowledge of owing anyone this money. How can I tell if it is a scam or not? Surely if I ring up and ask they'll say yes you owe us money. We've never had any demand for money from them before and now they're threatening legal action in 48 hours if we don't pay it, sounds really fishy to me? Any ideas?
Thanks

trisontana

Gnomoospan wrote:

Have received a final demand for 420 quid from a debt managing company on behalf of a company I've never heard of. I have no knowledge of owing anyone this money. How can I tell if it is a scam or not? Surely if I ring up and ask they'll say yes you owe us money. We've never had any demand for money from them before and now they're threatening legal action in 48 hours if we don't pay it, sounds really fishy to me? Any ideas?
Thanks

Does this originate from the Czech Republic ? The reason I ask is that the DTI have issued a warning notice about a bogus debt collection agency supposedly based in that country.

Gnomoospan

No it originates in edinburgh apparently but who knows. It also says cheques not acceptable only pay by credit card. I've looked up the debt agency it is real, and the client who we '' owe' seems to be two companies joined one of which looks like it might be Finnish???

tr03bor

ask for proof of the debt, they have to give this to you, and regarding the legal action, If i ever found a company that could take legal action in 48hours I would be amazed! Just make sure you get names, times, deptments of people you speak to. Also try to call a local or freephone number

Darksun

Ask them for more information about the debt. If they do anything that constitues harrasment, report them (not sure who is responsible for dealing with complaints, but Consumer Direct should be able to point you in the right direction).

Gnomoospan

Thank you for that advice, that's excellent. Can't understand it, but I know there are situations when people have 1.50 that they haven't paid 10 years ago and the interest accrues! Hope that isn't the case.

Astaroth

It can also be that debts have been sold on so many times that the original name of the company almost "gets lost" - if they are doing everything correctly though it will be in the file.

Gnomoospan

Thanks for that

sea-sidelady

What is the name of the company???

sea-sidelady

Ur best advice wud be go to this web site, they have all the advice u need for this type of thing.

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-bailiffs-advice-4.html

Gnomoospan

Well we rang up, they asked for previous addresses. 8 years we were overseas. They said it was for 10 years ago in London, neither of us had ever lived in London. When we asked for more detail they said they couldn't give it to us as we thought it wasn't our debt, so we're not much closer to finding out if it is one of those long time ago, unfinished accidental payment things or a complete mistake. Obviously my OH has no recollection of buying a hi-fi (they said it was a hi-fi) on HP, which we're guessing is what happened but he says he could have done. However we're handing no money over til we've got written proof. Thanks for all the advice, we'll let them get back to us one way or another, they can't take it to court if we've contacted them can they?