Direct Legal and Collections. Northants. NN13 7DN

jayship

I have today received a demand from the above company which is a trading name of Hillesden Securities Limited based in Buckingham Rd. Brackley, Northamptonshire. They are demanding payment of £1128.31 on behalf of their client Orange Personal Communications with whom we have had no dealings. However they would accept payment of £116.40 and waive the remaining £1011.91 if paid immediately.

I have no intention of communicating with them despite their threat of registering a default on the credit file. The company registration no is 1418063 which is still active. It looks like a scam where they are willing to write off over £1000. All the paperwork looks very professional. Payment can be made by phoning 0844 800 9889 or via bank giro credit slip. They have also sent a pre-paid envelope.

I wonder if forum readers have heard of the company and what are their experience. I hope this has been posted on the correct board.

I have just added this post on the Praise, Vent and Warnings board














3

Reaper

They are a debt collector and while there are complaints about their tactics on the internet I don't think they do scams.

Could it be a very old debt you have forgotten about? It might have been for much less originally and the interest has pushed it up. Orange Personal Communications operated the Orange mobile phone network. It was renamed from Microtel.

Alternatively it might just be an error, perhaps the debt was for a previous occupant at your address. Their willingness to discount it so heavily suggests it is a very old debt the original owners have written off. The debt has probably been sold on cheaply hence their williness to negotiate.

magpiecottage

A couple of years ago I put a post here about these matters.

This only applies where they are pursuing a debt covered by the Consumer Credit Act. However, Orange has its own Consumer Credit Licence.

I suggest you complain to Orange first.

Ifts

jayship wrote: »

I have no intention of communicating with them despite their threat of registering a default on the credit file.

Just to say I have had similar letters from 2 different debt recovery companies over the years sent to me at my address. On both occasions they were collecting money on behalf of their clients that apparently I owed them. I did call them to say this was some sort of mistake as I have never dealt with the company they were supposed to be collecting an unpaid debt on behalf of.

On both occasions after speaking to them they said not to worry as there has probably been a mix up, I never heard anything else from them.

So if it was not you owing the money maybe just contact them by phone and tell them they have made a mistake. It may well be a mistake on their behalf and this way you can clear it up with them.

brewerdave

I found DLC very reasonable when HORRANGE were pursuing me for an apparent internet debt;I contacted them by phone and followed up with an email including my evidence that the debt didn't exist.They referred back to HORRANGE and I heard no more.

vax2002

Stale debt shark
Just ignore
Let them put up or shut up.

vulcan59

I had dealings with DLC when I was sorting out the estate of a deceased relative who owed them money. I found then very helpful and reasonable. I would suggest contacting them and explaining you have no knowledge of the debt. It may well be a mistake and better to get it sorted out now than after they have put a "black mark" against your credit information.

jayship

Thanks to all those who answered to my query. I have today spoken to DLC and Orange Communications and it is definitely identity theft as the transaction is recent although they would not provide details. Orange have handed my complaint to their fraud department to investigate. They will get in touch with DLC who originally requested that i put my concern in writing although the lady @ Orange said there was no need. Neither of them would put it in writing or send an email.