Orange-Scotcall-Arrow Global

wittyname12345

Hi
Sorry if this is not in the correct part of the forum but i couldnt see another place to post it.
Basically im having a problem with Scotcall about a mobile phone debt. The short story is i had a contract with orange, i emigrated in 2010 and i called them to close my account and I was under the impression that my account was closed with nothing outstanding (i did not have to pay anything to close it at the time, but it is nearly 5 years ago so i dont remember too much about the conversation). About 3 months ago my father recieved a letter from scotcall (to his home address where i have never lived). I contacted them via email and was told i owe about $800 to orange and how would i be paying. I told them i now live abroad and dont have access to my paperwork from that period (in storage in the UK), and could they forward me a breakdown of my account showing what i have paid, what I owe and the contract I signed showing any liabilty. They said yes and about 8 weeks later i recieved a print out of payments i had made, nothing else. I again asked them for more details. Again they sent me a list of payments this time with an orange letter head. So, i contacted them again and said i need you to provide me with proof that i am liable for this amount of money, a statement of payments made nearly 5 years ago does not demonstrate this. They replied by saying that their client "arrow global" has provided them with everything they have and they cannot provide any more details. I am unsure what to do, if i owe the money i am happy to pay it but at the same time they dont seem to have any proof that i am liable for it and it seems that they dont have anything other than a list of payment i made. I essentially want to see a contract with my signature or something of this level before i pay anything.
I am unsure where i stand. I hope that some one on here might be able to point me in the right direction, thanks

National_Debtline

Hi wittyname12345

Scotcall are now aware that you live abroad, but nothing more specific than that I take it? It seems to me that you and they may end up in deadlock - what they can provide in the way of paperwork isn't satisfactory proof of the debt for you, and unless they can determine your exact whereabouts it won't make much sense for them to seek legal action. Information regarding the account may have been recorded on your UK credit reference file but that won't have any significance in the country where you now reside.

Just for context, roughly where in the world are you based now and can you confirm it is more or less a permanent move? (You did day "emigrated" but I just wanted to check!)

Dennis
@natdebtline

wittyname12345

thanks for the reply
i have not given them any information as to where i am just abroad, im still in europe. The move has been permanent but maybe I have to come back for work next year. As i have said to them many times im happy to pay it if i owe the money but they just dont seem to have any proof of it. The other thing is they are sending letters to my fathers house, hes elderly and he doesnt really understand it and thinks that someone will come around and take his tv or something.

National_Debtline

OK. Just for info, it's marginally easier to enforce UK judgments within the EEC than elsewhere in the world, but I think it's probably a moot point here as the creditor doesn't know your exact whereabouts anyway.

I understand that the receipt of these letters may cause concern for your father. All I can suggest then is that he forwards them on to you - there is no real reason for him to open them and it sounds as if doing so is exacerbating his worries, rather than easing them.

Let's be very clear - Scotcall/Arrow etc. are not bailiffs or enforcement agents, and therefore cannot enter or take anything whatsoever. Furthermore, your father is no more liable for this "debt" than I am.

It's up to you whether you agree liability for the debt with the creditor. As I've said, their options are pretty limited beyond repeated demands for payment. They are likely to have supplied you with all the paperwork they have access to by now, so you must decide whether it is adequate evidence of the "debt".

If you decide to negotiate with them, this could take the form of affordable instalment payments. Alternatively, and perhaps more straightforwardly, they may be willing to accept a one-off lump sum payment in order to close the file. Entirely up to you, really.

Dennis
@natdebtline

sourcrates

Were you still within a contract when you "cancelled" the account ?
If so you would still be liable for line rental till the end of your minimum term.
If you have not made a payment in 5 years, and you don't intend returning to the uk, for at least another year, then if/when you do return, the debt would most probably be statute barred anyway.
Legal action is unlikely due to your non domicile status.


There would not be any proof for a mobile contract would there, as there is no requirement to physically sign a contract anymore, you are deemed to of accepted the contract, inc all terms and conditions, when you receive/use the phone.

[Deleted User]

If you've emigrated, how are they going to find you unless you tell them your address overseas ? it's hardly a case for Interpol. Tell them adios!!