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Fredrickson International
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Hi All,
It’s sometime since I posted on here, but the problem is the same, FI bullying people.
Many moons ago my friend got a job with a debt collection agency (not FI), they would buy say £100 of debt for £5, they would send out a threatening letter, “we will take away your children, you will go to debtors prison, you will never get credit again, etc. etc.”At this point most people paid up, because they believed the letters.
Some didn’t, they contacted the debt collection agency, “it wasn’t me guv”, I can’t pay, etc etc, these got moved on to their ‘appeals’ procedure. They all got the same letter, “we have looked into your complaint, you still owe us money, pay now or face the consequences”. Most of these paid up.
There were a few who really couldn’t pay; they were bullied into making regular payments plus ‘admin charges’.
A tiny minority ignored their letters, they got pestered for a while, but as the guys in the debt collection agency got paid commission on the amounts they collected, they eventually gave up.
No one was ever taken to court, the debts were unenforceable, and chances were that the person selling the debt had screwed up, and the debt collection agency would end up paying out money if they had tried court action.
My friend left after a few weeks and helped on a TV documentary about the firm.
I stand to be corrected, and my background is not in the law, but has anyone on MSE ever been taken to court by FI or any of the other company names that this pond life hide behind?
I could have plastered my walls with their letters, after I left Talk Talk, every week I got the same letter, “you have one week to pay otherwise...” I’m still waiting.
Don’t write, don’t phone, simply ignore, they will continue to get money from those who they manage to intimidate, sadly the most vulnerable and least able to pay.
These people are simply bullies, and as you were told when you were a child, ignore them, and they will pick on someone else.0 -
He needs to speak to the bank. Tell them that money has been taken fraudulently and that he only authorised one payment.
I think what they have done is against the new OFT guidelines for debt collection in that if misusing a continuous payment authority is, then using card details that were only provided for one payment is certainly is:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=47811971&postcount=9
They can charge £10 for the recording under teh data protection act, but I bet its gone missing...Marmaduke1962 wrote: »My son has a debt which Frederickson International purchased and because of being constantly harassed by them he made a debit card payment and ever since they have been taking money from his card at their leisure without his consent. He has argued that he only gave permisssion for a one off payment earlier this year but they say he consented to them taking payments as and when and that if he would like a copy of the telephone conversation he has to pay them £10. I would like to know is all this legal and would it be best to cancel his debit card?:beer:0 -
i have had a text of these and rang them they said they had a debt of mine but when i asked for additional info to be sent to me that they had been sent so said they dont send any. the figure they quotes seemed to be wrong also.
they told me i had 5 days to write to them after receiving there letter (they sent yesterday and xmas post) to send a reply requesting info. the lady was very pushy and not helpful and did not want to listen to me. she then extended it to 15 days to reply to them.
I dont mind paying a debt if it is mine and they have been given it but previously had two companys after one debt paid one and they did not leglly have it so had to pay it again.
My advice if u have anyone wanting money off you for debts ask for information off them about what info they have been sent all this company said they had been sent was a letter with balance and my info on.0 -
hi as you can see I had alot of problems with fredrickson and because of all the harrassment and emotional stress they were causing me i almost paid for a det that i dont think was mine. As you made a payment they can argue you excepted liability However a friend of mine introduced me to the term duress (look it up its a legal term ... very interesting). Fredrickson were completely ignoring my requests for them to prove my debt , the also ignored a complaint letter - bombarding me with pay or else letters rather then provide me with the documentation i was asking for: they were exploiting my lack of legal knowledega and using scare tactics so i would pay under duress. However when a company does this they are breaking the law and your (sons) agreement with them doesnt stand (if you can prove duress - i had loads of letters from them and there solicters letters , plus my letters and cross refrenced them with the unfaid buissiness practice codes - found on here). If however you do have to pay them - stop the direct debits and request a payment card and you can pay that way (by taking it to the post office) they arent nice people and i have read hundreds of stories of people who were bullied into paying back more then they could afford and what happens when they get your bank details - One thing - write to them NEVER talk to them on the phone and be careful what you write - people on here will help you. when they were trying to bully me into a payment they sent me a budget form asking me to include any overtime in my earnings (the national debt helpline always tell you to only budget money you definatley have ) thats one way they get you to pay back more then you owe. Goodluck0
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hi can i just add ; do not pay them a penny until they prove it and proving it is not their crappy letters saying 'you owe it because we said' in my case i alledgedly owed on a mobile phone bill (my final card which i didnt even play because it wa snone of there buissiness was at the time i had a company mobile) Anyways after they ignored 2 proveit letters i sent a complaint which they ignored (you can read all about it on here) so i sent another stern complaint using the template but adding - '[FONT="]I do not admit [/FONT][FONT="]liability for the debt in question. [/FONT][FONT="]Your unwillingness to address my queries and complaints is contrary to the Civil Procedure Rules. You have repeatedly ignored my request for [/FONT][FONT="] proof; The original Contract containing, my signature, [/FONT][FONT="]tariffs, contract length, method of payment and the amount of notice you have to give to cancel the agreement, the cost of calls, the key charges such as the minimum contract charges and any early termination charges (if any), payment terms, the start date of the service ,termination rights (if any),any minimum period of contract and a copy of the bills and payments which will clearly show the details of this alleged debt'
stay strong i almost caved so many times cause i was afraid and didnt want them knocking on my door- NEVER sign anything they will forge your signature and documents - never give them any info they can use. follow the templates, personalise them. If you have to agree a repayment plan call the national debt line and use their budget planner not fredricksons - I would have gone to court and let the court decide over allowing fredrickson to decide how much i could afford. Send your corrospondence by registered mail, dont talk to them and if they ignor eyoucomplain and if they ignor eyour complaint complain again.
[/FONT]0 -
My mother now uses my fathers old mobile number abd kept receiving these nonsense texts from Fredericks international, after i did a bit of research about this company i read all i needed to read about them. I withheld my number and rang them, they were very adamant that i should give them reference number etc which i didn't care about. I asked to be taken off this miling list or the equivalent for phones. The lady yes okay and put me through to a department which clearly are more trained than the previous person. They wouldn't let me get a word in and when i did get my point in they tried everything from blaming me to blaming my mum. As you can imagine i was quite incensed about this and decided to turn the tables. I asked the man "how does it feel to make a 70 year old widow cry every morning for a week"? he stuttered and stumbled and went unto his script. I said did you know that she didn't get her only grandchild the present he desired but couldn't because she was saving for a non existent debt "does that make you feel good when you go home and think about your day"? and the conversation went on like this for a while until i demanded that the number be removed and if there is anymore communication from you to this number i will sue you not the company i will sue "you" i know the legality is all wrong but he soon changed his attitude and apolgised and offered a free gift. Sorry for the eassy i thought some people might be interested.0
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These people (at Fredericks International) are complete morons, so DON'T PAY THEM!!.... I left the UK 9 months ago and now live permanently in Australia but they still keep on sending stupid letters out to where I used to live saying they've 'confirmed I live at a UK address'. They're sooooo incompetent, and what kind of psycho would you have to be to work there... goodness knows!!
They also keep on ramping up the amount hoping that people will cave in .... but Martin's advice is great, as always, don't be fooled into paying up, but get professional advice.
Captain R. Bilko
(ex-SAS, now retired to a sheep farm in southern Queensland)0 -
This is the first time I have been on here but I am a bit worried because I just received a text message from Fredrickson International saying that I need to ring them immedietly quoting a reference number........I have read through all these links on here and I'm guessing I should just ignore them, is that right? They wont have a home address for me as I have moved a lot recently but should I just wait until I hear from them by post? I have no idea what they want or what it may be regarding. What should i do???
Also whilst im here, does anyone know what sort of an impact it may have if i go to a company who will consolidate my debt and talk to the people I owe. I think it will affect my credit but i'm not sure?? Thank you0 -
Ignore Ignore Ignore.
Are you on the electoral role?0 -
No i'm not! I have only just moved to my current address....Is that where you think they could have got my phone number??0
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