Scam text.. or just debt that isn't mine?

all16calmtm

Firstly and most importantly, I don't have a clearpay account.

I got a new phone a few weeks ago, new number, and since then have been receiving texts regarding £970 that "I" owe to clearpay.
The texts are coming from CRS (or so it says anyway) and one contained a link and a reference number. I decided against clicking on the link.
Instead, I went directly to the CRS website and put in the ref number plus my date of birth which they asked for. The details didn't match and they requested some other details (postcode and something else) which I decided not to give and just closed the browser.

The only type of credit account I have is nextpay and I'm certainly not in £970 of debt to them. I clear it any month that I've made purchases. I contacted Next just to be completely sure and they've confirmed it's nothing to do with them.

I also have a ClearScore account and I've checked there, again no record of anything except the mortgage etc that I expected to see.

I managed to hunt down an email for CRS and tried to explain the situation there, I got an automated response back telling me to login to my account and speak to an advisor...🙃

I'm unsure what else to do now. Write to them? Block the number since I'm satisfied it's nothing to do with me? I don't want to give them any more of my personal info than absolutely necessary! 
I don't know if the text is even legitimate as I've never received anything like that before.

400ixl

Mobile numbers are re-circulated in a matter of months these days, so can quite easily have the old owner details in many systems against it.

If you are sure it is nothing to do with you, then just block it.

user1977

Anybody genuinely pursuing you would write to you, not merely send a text - and they'd need your name and address to raise a court action anyway.

Brie

user1977 said:

Anybody genuinely pursuing you would write to you, not merely send a text - and they'd need your name and address to raise a court action anyway.

And if they didn't write to you before the new phone they don't know who you are.  The only thing I'd suggest though is to keep a check every couple of months on your credit record (a free version only) to see if anything pops up.  

prowla

I'd block the number - if the mobile is their only point of contact then they don't know who they are talking to or it is a scam.

all16calmtm

Hmm. They've text me today with a mobile number I can call to arrange payment. That'll be a hard no!

Thanks all - I'll go ahead and block. 

flaneurs_lobster

I have similar to a mobile number (spare phone, phone number not given to anyone). 

Three separate (legit) debt collection agencies trying to contact someone I have no knowledge of.

I've followed to advice given above, as long as the (attempted) contact is only this phone number then just block and ignore.

RefluentBeans

flaneurs_lobster said:

I have similar to a mobile number (spare phone, phone number not given to anyone). 

Three separate (legit) debt collection agencies trying to contact someone I have no knowledge of.

I've followed to advice given above, as long as the (attempted) contact is only this phone number then just block and ignore.

I assume the phone number you use is actually used? If PAYG, the network can recycle numbers if they’re unused for between 12 weeks and 6 months. 

flaneurs_lobster

RefluentBeans said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

I have similar to a mobile number (spare phone, phone number not given to anyone). 

Three separate (legit) debt collection agencies trying to contact someone I have no knowledge of.

I've followed to advice given above, as long as the (attempted) contact is only this phone number then just block and ignore.

I assume the phone number you use is actually used? If PAYG, the network can recycle numbers if they’re unused for between 12 weeks and 6 months. 

Yep, used every couple of months to check phone & service OK.

mikb

Quite likely the previous owner of the number -- the number will have been someone else's before it got to you.

Or maybe a joker that has "updated" their number to a randomly picked one, so they never have to hear about their debts again