Solicitor acting on my behalf when I did not contact them?

JessWooler

I sent an email to Toyota Financial Services using the template on this site back in November and haven't heard back from them. I then chased them up again a few weeks ago. Since then I have been contacted by Consumer Rights Solicitors asking me to upload my ID for my claim. I am getting loads of phishing emails about the claims, so I replied to them asking how they got my details and to confirm my finance agreement number. They have replied today with my agreement number and an update on the my claim. I am very confused, as I never instructed them. I contacted Toyota directly, because in the event I had a successful claim I do not want a solicitor taking it in fees. Has anyone had any experience with this? Has Toyota perhaps instructed them to handle the claims? I also haven't uploaded my ID, as I don't know who they are! TIA

MyRealNameToo

Toyota won't have instructed solicitors to deal with it; financial institutes do occasionally use outsourcers to deal with redress schemes but in most cases they will still operate under the instructors branding and in the cases where they dont it will almost always be cobranded. 

Most likely you, or a family member, have clicked through and provided details on some social media advert or such. In some cases lead generators are almost posing as the finance company to make people not realise they are dealing with a middleman. Lead generators for claims management companies do similar with Google AdWords advertising on "Direct Line Claims" etc so people think they are calling/emailing Direct Line but instead it's a lead generator. 

dunstonh

Since then I have been contacted by Consumer Rights Solicitors asking me to upload my ID for my claim. I am getting loads of phishing emails about the claims, so I replied to them asking how they got my details and to confirm my finance agreement number.

There have been reports of people being opted in to services with no contract.   

Soemtimes through facebook ads, sometimes by spoof websites that look like real sites (such as clones of MSE or the finance company) where the person thinks they are using a template of the genuine firm but instead they are doing it via a CMC.

 Has Toyota perhaps instructed them to handle the claims?

While it is not uncommon for firms to use third parties to handle their complaints process, there is no way a firm would use a no-win-no-fee claims company.   They are not allowed to as the complaints process is free-of-charge for the consumer to use.

Plus, financial firms consider claims companies to be evil and unnecessary.  Even the FOS is negative about claims companies.

Mark_d

This sounds like a scam.  Solicitors can't work on your behalf unless you explicitly authorise them.  It sounds like they're trying to trick you in to authorising them

JessWooler

MyRealNameToo said:

Toyota won't have instructed solicitors to deal with it; financial institutes do occasionally use outsourcers to deal with redress schemes but in most cases they will still operate under the instructors branding and in the cases where they dont it will almost always be cobranded. 

Most likely you, or a family member, have clicked through and provided details on some social media advert or such. In some cases lead generators are almost posing as the finance company to make people not realise they are dealing with a middleman. Lead generators for claims management companies do similar with Google AdWords advertising on "Direct Line Claims" etc so people think they are calling/emailing Direct Line but instead it's a lead generator. 

Thank you! I don't recall ever signing up to anything and none of my family would know my number. My confusion is how they got my agreement number. If I tell them I want them to remove my details, do you think this could affect my claim I've made directly with Toyota? 

JessWooler

dunstonh said:

Since then I have been contacted by Consumer Rights Solicitors asking me to upload my ID for my claim. I am getting loads of phishing emails about the claims, so I replied to them asking how they got my details and to confirm my finance agreement number.

There have been reports of people being opted in to services with no contract.   

Soemtimes through facebook ads, sometimes by spoof websites that look like real sites (such as clones of MSE or the finance company) where the person thinks they are using a template of the genuine firm but instead they are doing it via a CMC.

 Has Toyota perhaps instructed them to handle the claims?

While it is not uncommon for firms to use third parties to handle their complaints process, there is no way a firm would use a no-win-no-fee claims company.   They are not allowed to as the complaints process is free-of-charge for the consumer to use.

Plus, financial firms consider claims companies to be evil and unnecessary.  Even the FOS is negative about claims companies.

Thank you! It's very frustrating that they've got my details somehow! If I tell them I want them to remove my details, do you think this could affect my claim I've made directly with Toyota?