Message left with a colleague

SaLoGo

While outside of the office on a break, Capquest called my work number today and left a message with a colleague stating that they were calling from Capquest and could I call them back.

I'm not aware that I have any outstanding debts, let alone any through Capquest. I have had no correspondence to my home address, nor any calls to my home or mobile number. This call is completely out of the blue. They asked for me by first and surname so they know who I am.

I do not know how they got my work number as I have never given that number to anyone outside of the business. We're not allowed to take personal calls so I have never given anyone that number.

I shall be calling them shortly to find out what they think I owe, but I am mortified that they have disclosed where they were calling from to a colleague. I do not wish my colleagues to know that I may have an outstanding debt.

Having read the OFT Debt Collection Guidelines I have come across this:

Physical/psychological harassment
3.6 Putting undue pressure on debtors or relevant third parties27 (for example, appointed representatives) is considered to be oppressive and an unfair or improper practice
3.7 Examples of unfair or improper practices are as follows:
inappropriately disclosing, or threatening to disclose, debt details to third parties
acting in a way likely to be publicly embarrassing to the debtor, either deliberately or negligently (that is to say, through lack of care)
For example:
using postcards or other correspondence, or leaving answer phone messages (including via interactive voice messaging (IVM)36), in a way which may disclose to someone other than the intended recipient the involvement of a debt recovery business
asking others to pass on messages to debtors, and in so doing potentially revealing to them that the intended recipients of such messages are being pursued for repayment of debts

Given the above are just 'guidelines' do I have a cause to complain? In my job if I were to disclose to a third party where I am calling from I would be sacked for breach of the DPA! I know they haven't disclosed any personal details, but stating that they are calling from a DCA is enough to cause embarrassment and distress.

How is the best way to deal with this? Firstly there's the question of the unknown debt (which I know I can call them to ask for details) then there's the disclosure to a third party. Can they contact me at work in this manner? If I ask them not to use my work number, do they have to oblige?

RAS

Hi

I would start by getting all three of your credit records.

And yes they have broken the OFT Guidelines and the the Data Protection Act.

chanz4

capquest are also a payroll company

matttye

RAS wrote: »

Hi

I would start by getting all three of your credit records.

And yes they have broken the OFT Guidelines and the the Data Protection Act.

How they have breached the DPA?

Genuine question. I wouldn't have thought simply saying where you're calling from without revealing anything about the nature of the call would amount to a breach.