Communication from Opos Limited / Sky Card regarding Final Settlement of unknown debt

Bluecheesemoon

Hello, first post from me!

Over the last couple of months I have received 3 texts purporting to come from Opos Ltd, asking me to get in contact.  The texts come from the same mobile number and use same OP reference each time.  A quick google reveals the number has been raised as a scam by other people.  The message addresses me by name but calls me Mr rather than Mrs (I have a name that could be either).  I have therefore ignored the messages.

I have now received a letter in the post from the company, again with my name and address, and the same OPOS reference number.  The letter details a debt of £639.99 to Intrum UK limited for a Sky Card credit card.  I have never had a credit card with Sky.

Like others I have seen when researching, the letter offers me a 'final offer of settlement', in my case £160, to be repaid over 12 months.  The letter is signed by an Alison Walker.

I have checked my credit rating with Experian and it's 999 (whoop)
The only contract I have ever had where my name was written as Mr instead of Mrs was with O2 (same account that I still have for my phone).  I'm wondering if this is where the information has come from.

It feels like this is a scam, but I would be interested in any advice or comments from people who may also be in the same situation.  Thanks everyone

sourcrates

They are a genuine debt purchasing company, it could be a mis-trace, or an old, long forgotten debt they have recently purchased, advice as always when you are written too about any debt whether you recognise it or not, is to send the PROVIT letter to them.

Available here-

Letter when you know nothing about about the debt - AKA "Prove it" letter — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Their response should give you all the information they have, so you can then make a determination as to what to do next.

Bluecheesemoon

Hi Sourcrates, thanks for the advice, and the 'prove it' letter was next on my to-do list

I actually decided to access the OPOS online portal to try to get some more detail as to the nature of the debt but was unable to do this as my date of birth did not match the information they had

Decided to give them a call (checked the number on the CSA website) and had rather an unsatisfactory experience where the operator hinted that they may have sent the information to the wrong person and that they would remove my address and number from the account.  I asked if they would put this to me in writing, but they said they could not do this.  They then put me on hold, transferring me to an automated satisfaction survey that disconnected after completion.  So I am still not 100% sure whether this was a scam or a mis-trace, but hopefully I should hear no more.

Would you recommend I put something in writing to them summarising the conversation I had with the agent and asking for written reassurance, or do you think what I have been given is sufficient?  Thanks again for any advice!

sourcrates

Honestly this happens all the time, although they will never admit to it, when these companies buy up old debts, they don`t always come with that much information, like a first name missing, or partial address, so they target all likely people who could be the debtor with texts/emails/calls and finally a letter if they get no other responses.

You would be wasting your time complaining, as they would deny all of this, and likely throw your complaint out citing how they always comply with legislation etc etc, and how solid there tracing process is, all complete rubbish of course, but that`s what you would be faced with.

If collection activity resumes, send the Provit letter.