Hassled by Iqor

Sueinbirmingham

Sorry if this is long, but I have a bit of a problem.

I am receiving repeated unwanted calls about my Paypal account. When I got the first call, I put it down to a scam and then checked with Paypal to see if there was any problem with my account. They said there wasn't and there was no record of any phone call and to change my password.

I got another phone call and googled the phone number and found it was Iqor and that they do debt collection for Paypal.

It all seems very odd because all payments out of my Paypal account come directly out of my credit card account and I check with every credit card statement to see that they've all been paid and there's never been a problem. I don't sell, so there's no problem with a buyer wanting their money back. The resolution centre on my account says 'you have no open cases'.

When Iqor call, they address me as though my surname was my first name, even though my Paypal account is clearly in the form of initial, surname, which is very odd.

They keep telling me they'll send a letter but they don't.

If it weren't for the fact that a 1471 and then googling shows they're who they say they are, I'd think it was a hoax. (They're calling from 0161 870 3625.)

They won't discuss it with me without my giving them personal details and I'm not prepared to give personal details to a stranger on the phone.

I don't know what to do about it.

I can't take the strain of it because I'm mentally ill (I have bipolar disorder) and am seriously struggling to cope at the moment. Just finding the will to keep living each day is hard enough without being harassed by Iqor as well.

If I owed Paypal money, I could simply pay it and get rid of them that way, but I don't. I can't even pay them off for money I don't owe to stop them calling because I don't know how much they think I owe them, but I'm frightened to give them any more personal details in case they or someone they employ turns up on my doorstep. Iqor clearly doesn't know my address because they keep asking for it and their letters aren't arriving, but I've checked my Paypal account and it's correct on there.

I don't know what to do. I'm on means-tested benefit, so if something like this would be covered by Legal Aid, I could get a solicitor, but I don't know if that would make any difference.

Or would it be better to see if the local mental health team can find me a place in a hospital for a while until they go away? My doctor has been very kind and increased my medication to help me cope with things but I'm still freaking out.

I don't want to change my phone number to get rid of them because I can't cope with the hassle of telling everyone.

I haven't been in this bit of the forum before but I thought that maybe with your collective knowledge of these things, one or more of you might know how to get rid of Iqor or alternatively to get them to talk to someone else.

taffy056

IQOR actually do collect for other organisations as well as Paypal, I have had problems from them in regards to the inland revenue so maybe taht is avenue for you? Please don't let this stress you out, take your time and maybe ask someone else to help you handle this if you can't. The Citizen advice Bureau are very helpful, there is even a sub forum on here for them.

Sueinbirmingham

They mentioned Paypal. I don't owe anyone else money. It's not HMRC. They've sent no tax demands although they have asked me to submit a tax return.

I'll look on the CAB sub-forum, too, like you suggest.

I don't know whether anyone here has had success getting rid of Iqor?

DVardysShadow

What I would do is when they ring, I would tell them to write. If they ask for the address, well they should know it, so you will know that they are fishing rather than pursuing a real debt of yours. So then you can tell them that as they are fishing they are harassing you and deal with it as a nuisance call. Obviously don't give them an address.

Sueinbirmingham

Thank you. They do keep asking my address but say it's for verification purposes and they say they've sent letters but I haven't received them. I've checked my Paypal account and the address on there is correct. I've made it quite clear to them that I won't give them any information on the phone, although I have told them the name of the person at Paypal who's written confirming there are no problems with my account.

I don't know what else to do.

Maybe I need to try the old fashioned method of blowing a whistle down the phone that I used to use for heavy breathers when I was younger. (I don't get them any more - can people tell by looking at your phone number that you've become a frumpy old woman?)

DVardysShadow

Sueinbirmingham wrote: »

Thank you. They do keep asking my address but say it's for verification purposes and they say they've sent letters but I haven't received them.

Tell them that you have not received the letters, so they have the wrong person?

Sueinbirmingham

Yes, I'll try that. Thank you.

It's the little things that help. The things like that that I hadn't thought of. I've been feeling more and more desperate. My doctor has been trying to stop me going over the edge, increasing my meds but just knowing there are more things I can try saying/doing gives me hope they'll go away and stop hassling me.

bargainbetty

Don't blow a whistle down the phone at them. Just state that they should send a recorded delivery letter (so it has to be signed for) detailing their business to the address on your Paypal account which, if it is your debt, they will have. If the letter does not arrive, you will have to assume that they have the wrong person, and require them to remove your telephone number from their records.

Ask for a telephone number to call them back. Then give that number to your telephone provider to have it blocked.

You could also contact Paypal again and explain that their DCA are harassing you. Ask for a full email confirming that your account is not in default and insist that they contact Iqor to stop the harassment.

Good luck

Sueinbirmingham

Thank you. I hadn't thought of getting the number blocked.

bargainbetty

You might have to block a few, depending on their telephone system. Keep your chin up though, I can't see them heading down to the phone box

Ask for the letter to be sent recorded, since their previous attempts simply aren't arriving....

Sueinbirmingham

Thanks.

At least they haven't called so far today, which is something.