Debt collector letter

TurboTommy

Hi all,

I've been a browser of these forums for many years. I would like to thank this community for all of the help and advice that I have gleaned from your forum, over the years that I have been browsing. Right now, I need some advice that is more personal to me and my situation.

I received a text message on Friday, asking me to contact PDCS regarding an "important matter". Now, I would usually ignore texts such as these, but considering it had my full name at the beginning of the text message, i tried giving it a call. I eventually, after 40 minutes in a call queue, got through to someone and gave them the customer ID that was stated on the message. They asked me to confirm my name, which I did, but they then stated that I needed to confirm my full address and postcode, which I refused to do, considering I did not know who these people were and whether they had my address already or not. The call-taker advised me that he could not proceed with the phone call without my address details being confirmed, stating that something would be sent out in the post instead.

I arrived home, yesterday (Saturday) to find a letter was already on my doorstep - It must have already have been in the post. Contained within was a letter from 'JC International Acquisition LLC', stating that 'TalkTalk Telecom Limited' have assigned my account to them as of 31st December 2015 and are no longer responsible for my account. Also, there is mention that 'Pastdue Credit Solutions Limited' have been appointed by JCIA to manage my account. The other letter contained within was from 'Pastdue Credit Solutions' stating that they had been appointed by JCIA to recover the account balance of £180 (Purchased Post Office Telecoms).

What's even more concerning is that it states: It is important that you repay this balance before 21st February 2016, the letter was dated 11th February 2016, but only arrived at my door on 20th February!...I tried to call their office to discuss this, and to try and find out what this debt is actually for, but their offices are closed at weekends.

I did have an Post Office phone and broadband at a previous address, some years ago but I can't recall the exact dates. There was a dispute over the final bill, where they attempted to charge me a similar amount to the one requested by Pastdue, so I'm presuming that it will be this. I disputed this final bill (which was mostly due to an installation charge) and OFCOM pursued this dispute for me and it was cleared - I even recall receiving a 'zero balance' statement from PO with regards to this. However, to to the time that has elapsed, I no longer have any of my statements to prove any of this - something that I am incredibly annoyed with myself at, as I have a proper filing system, I keep everything!

I have already drafted a "prove it" letter to PDCS, which will be posted (recorded) tomorrow. I fear that before they receive this, there will already be another letter on the way to me, due to the date stated on the letter that I received yesterday.

Any advice on where to go from here would be very much appreciated. I've never had to deal with anything like this before - I have a sterling credit history, never defaulted on a payment, and this worries me.

Thanks in advance.

sourcrates

Hi,

First off, don't panic, these ridiculas time frames are there's and have no meaning whatsoever.
They are designed to scare you into an irrational responce.

Please stay off the phone to these people, it's never a productive experiance.
The provit letter is the correct responce, they must prove you owe this money, you don't have to prove anything.
See what they come back to you with.

fatbelly

Tommy

First rule - don't talk to scummy bottom end debt collectors on the phone.

Sending a prove-it is the right thing to do. I'm not sure that Post Office and Talk Talk is the same thing so you should not presume this. Your position is that you have never had a contract with Talk Talk and they have to prove that you did.

The other thing is that you should completely ignore their dates and deadlines. You can give them dates of your own if you like, but they will ignore yours too.

It's unlikely this will appear on your credit file. I see a lot of them in my job and can't remember PO, Talk Talk, JCI or PDCS featuring very much. But if yo're worried, sign up to Noddle or do a £2 statutory report with one of the big two CRAs - Experian or Equifax.

Edit - cross posted with Sourcrates and clearly using the same hymn sheet

TurboTommy

'Sourcrates' and 'fatbelly', thank you so much for your prompt replies.

Its great to know that I have done the right thing. My reason for calling was to try and establish what it was that they needed to speak to me so urgently about - I wasn't aware that they were debt collectors at the time. I am already a member of Noddle; I've checked my account and I cannot see any searches from any of these companies. I certainly wasn't aware that TalkTalk were anything to do with PO either - It's more than a little confusing that one company is mentioned on one letter and the other company on the enclosed letter from a different company. As if it wasn't confusing enough that I receive two letters in the same envelope from different company names!

From here, is it probable that they will come back to me with some evidence of me owing these monies, such as a statement? Also, would anyone happen to know whether OFCOM will be likely to still have a record of our correspondence, and their dealing with my complaint? I estimate that It was around 5 years ago - I think i left these premises at some point in 2011.
I'm just trying to look ahead and plan their next move, so that I'm not backed into a corner.

If it turns out that they have a statement from Post Office to say that I do owe the money and it was for the aforementioned issue that was resolved by OFCOM, I'm not sure where I stand with regards to proving that the charge was cancelled and the contract ended.

Thanks again

sourcrates

Worth asking, as case/complaint details should be kept for 6 years minimum.
Wait and see what the responce is before pondering your next move.
Just disputing these kind of debts is sometimes enough to put them to bed, as evidence of liability is seldom available.

TurboTommy

sourcrates wrote: »

Worth asking, as case/complaint details should be kept for 6 years minimum.
Wait and see what the responce is before pondering your next move.
Just disputing these kind of debts is sometimes enough to put them to bed, as evidence of liability is seldom available.

Hopefully they will be able to find something then, if it is required. I imagine that it is coming up to the 6 year point at some time soon, with the debt being sold on to debt-collectors. That's great to know that sometimes the letter will do enough to put them off. You have really put my mind at ease with your advice - thanks so much.

I'll keep this thread up to date with any happenings and developments - I know how useful other people's experiences have been in the past, and how irritating it is to find a thread, only to see that it is closed without resolution.

sambob26

I have had the exact same 2 letters in one envelope, received on the same date. I had an account with Talk Talk which we ended with them in January 2011 and have never had letters telling us that we owe money (and we don't!!). I am about to send a letter to each of the parties involved saying that I require proof of a break down of the money owed. Something fishy about this. Is it likely to be anything to do with the information leak?

sourcrates

samb!!!6 wrote: »

I have had the exact same 2 letters in one envelope, received on the same date. I had an account with Talk Talk which we ended with them in January 2011 and have never had letters telling us that we owe money (and we don't!!). I am about to send a letter to each of the parties involved saying that I require proof of a break down of the money owed. Something fishy about this. Is it likely to be anything to do with the information leak?

Unlikely to be fraud, but you never can tell.


These things tend to originate from either an account with a forgotten balance, or a mis-trace of the person connected to it.


Provit letter is the way to start playing the game with them, yes.

TalkTalk

Hi TurboTommy

I am sorry to hear this. If you contact us via twitter (@TalkTalkCare) or via our community which can be found via our website we can take a look into this for you.

Thanks

Vicky

fatbelly

I would wait until you hear from the present owners of the debt

TurboTommy

samb!!!6 wrote: »

I have had the exact same 2 letters in one envelope, received on the same date. I had an account with Talk Talk which we ended with them in January 2011 and have never had letters telling us that we owe money (and we don't!!). I am about to send a letter to each of the parties involved saying that I require proof of a break down of the money owed. Something fishy about this. Is it likely to be anything to do with the information leak?

Hi Sambob,

Sorry to hear that you find yourself in almost exactly the same situation as myself - I know that it's really not a nice place to be. I find it strange that you have received the same letters, on the same date. I wonder if this debt-collector company has done a group buy of our accounts with TalkTalk?

I posted my Prove-it letter today, recorded, signed-for. Kept the receipt and attached it to a duplicate copy of the letter that I sent.

I've also done a bit of ringing around this afternoon:

Firstly, I spoke to the telecoms ombudsman (who I made the complaint to about PO, i mistakenly thought it was OFCOM). They were very helpful, but advised that they only keep correspondence for 12 months. Worth a try though. They were very helpful in offering advice, and even offered to take on this case again, if a satisfactory resolution was not reached with PO. They advise me to speak to PO and see whether they still had the documents - they said that they are required by law to keep them for 6 years, including all original correspondence between them and the ombudsman.

I called PO and they said that the 'debt' was "written off" in April 2015. I asked what that meant and was told that the debt was cleared as 'unrecoverable', which I was advised would probably have affected my credit rating. They said that they had tried to contact me on numerous occasions over the years since 2011 up to this date, by phone and mail, to no avail - I find this very hard to believe: my number hasn't changed for over a decade and my address is readily available from the electoral roll. The PO operative told me that they cannot see 'documents' within the customer service department, but if I get in touch with "back-office" via email, then they should be able to help. She then went to discuss this with her supervisor, when I questioned why there was any 'debt' in the first place, when the outstanding balance was cleared as "their error" after the Ombudsman contacted them... She returned to tell me that they can no longer discuss this case, as the debt and been "sold on" and is no longer with them, but with the debt-collection company. I would have to speak to them to discuss it.

This is where I am so far. As always, any points of note, feedback, suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.