debt collectors letter... help

JulieClot

Hello,
I got a letter this morning from a debt collection agency... They want over £5000 from me. I haven't got that kind of money. Please help... I just applied for universal credit, am self-employed and will lose my job soon, probably.... this is the letter. please, what can i do? i don't even know where the debt came from.

Thrugelmir

Was there an invoice attached to the letter? 
PS Did you intend to post this in the Savings Forum. 

Notepad_Phil

I can see most of an email address on that letter - the domain of which seems to be for a design company, does that ring any bells?

You say you've no idea where this debt came from, is there a telephone number on the letter that you can ring to find out more?

If this really has nothing to do with you then it could be an attempt at a scam on you, or perhaps the company itself has been scammed. Either way you definitely shouldn't do anything until you've found out what this debt actually is, so don't panic, just get in contact with them to find out what this is.

mikb

Reference: DC123456 ??? Really?

Also "Dear Sir Or Madam" -- we don't know who you are, but you owe us money.

Does look dodgy from those two things, could also be a debt-recovery fishing letter, sent to anybody with the same inital and surname as you, to see who phones up.

EimearF

mikb said:

Reference: DC123456 ??? Really?

Also "Dear Sir Or Madam" -- we don't know who you are, but you owe us money.

Does look dodgy from those two things, could also be a debt-recovery fishing letter, sent to anybody with the same inital and surname as you, to see who phones up.

Seconding this view. If they knew you personally owed them money - wouldn't they know your name?
The 'debt collection' company in the address is different form the one in the email. I checked smith ltd and their emails use first names not initial and surname. 
Also there is a font difference in the £ amount which i found very odd. 
The use of decimal point and comma is not in the UK style. 
I am unaware of contract clauses being referred to as 'EO' - although i may be wrong but i do read a lot in my job. 
It looks like a scamming attempt. 
If you used this company for something and you may owe them money contact them directly using details from their website and not any contact details on that letter. 

sourcrates

Hi there,

It looks to me like a client invoice for possible legal or debt collection services, have you instructed them to recover a debt for you ?

Also the letter is addressed to sir or madam, is your actual name on the letter ?

A quick Google brings up a DCA website under the name "OXFORDSHIRE DEBT COLLECTION", but a quick check of the FCA register reveals no such company registered under that name, so if that is their trading name, then they are not registered to act as debt collectors.
It says they are a part of "GLOBAL COLLECTIONS LIMITED" who again, are not FCA registered.

I would say this invoice has been sent to you in error, send the "provit" letter to them, and query if you were the intended recipiant, anyone who asks you for money must be able to prove you owe it, and also ask them if they are registered with the FCA to act as debt collectors, and if so, why they do not appear on the FCA register under that name.

Galloglass

There are suggestions (not yet confirmed) that debt collection is being suspended in some areas of business as it is impossible to work out who has money and who hasn't i.e. no affordability checks available. So if you think it is a scam, report it to Action Fraud.