Pensioner neighbour sent letter from Direct Collection bailiffs - looking for advice

martpendle

Hi

I was hoping I could get some advice on an issue for my neighbour.

She is 90 years old and received a very scary letter today from Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd saying she’s owes over £3k! I’m fuming to say the least with how scary they made the letter.

They says the money was due to a firm called “Avanti Comms Ltd”. I’ve called who I assume to be Avanti Comms (https://www.avanti.space) and they say they don’t provide services to consumers. (I also tried the number on this site but it appears to have been reused by a law firm now https://avanticomms.co.uk)

I’ve tried to find out what Avanti comms provide and apparently they are an ISP?

My neighbour has no modern tech, not even a mobile so would unlikely have taken out anything for an ISP. She is also quite “with it” for being 90 and I believe she’s not had any letters before this stating she owed money.

It appears that direct collection bailiffs are a legit (if a little morally suspect with their tactics) firm.

I think this leads me to believe one of two options, she took out something with some form of telecoms/isp provider and wasn’t getting the bills (paperless?) or someone has taken something out in her name, used a different address and then the debt collection form found her real address and sent the notice.

I’m going to call the money advice line with her on Monday but wondered if anyone has any other ideas for how to help her with this one?

Boohoo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6682262/pensioner-neighbour-sent-letter-from-direct-collection-bailiffs-looking-for-advice

Can you put a copy of the letter on here with personal details redacted as it may give a better understanding of the neighbours issue.

Boohoo

https://avanticomms.co.uk/

Could this be them for broadband and phone line?

martpendle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82126919#Comment_82126919

here is a copy of the letter thank you

She has her phone with BT so hoping this isn’t related. She doesn’t have broadband as far as she is aware (she’s has no devices to use it)

Boohoo

I would check with all the credit reference agencies for your neighbours credit file to see what is on there in reltti this debt. You will need her to be with you when you register as they need certain details to set up an account.

You may also need to get an email address account for account verification and maybe a mobile number.

See what turns up when you check and you could send a "Prove it" letter to these collection people and they should send some sort of proof.

This thread is better of in the Debt section.

Have you looked in there for help?

I have asked if this can be moved to the Debt section I think the people that frequent there are better placed to advise.

martpendle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82127016#Comment_82127016

thanks, I haven’t posted there, I’ll post this again there if this post doesn’t get moved

twopenny

Well Avanti Comms ltd seems to be in Tele communication which is as vague as it gets from Companies House . Seems to be run by one man.

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/15990889

Is this the number you called

https://avanticomms.co.uk/home-phone

But how would your neighbour have signed up if she doesn't have any internet action? You definitely need to know when they say an account started and what address they were billing to. That information gives you a handle on the thing.

Would it help to call BT to confirm that the landline is owned, run and billed by them? Surely you can't be paying to two companies at once unless Avanti have been authorised to .

Authorisation could have been a phone call or door. If your neighbour doesn't remember either then it couldn't happen.

It's disgraceful that these companies can make threats without giving any details. I've had it tried on me and it's scary even when you've done nothing wrong.

Glad you're helping. I also have a 91yr old neighbour, sharp as a tack. I've been to her for advice more than once 😊

user1977

One possibility is that they've mistakenly traced her and the debtor is somebody with the same or similar name.

eddddy

As above, it's very possibly a case of mistaken identity.

For example…

Somebody called, say, "Jane Smith" has done a runner owing £3664, and they think your neighbour "Jane Smith" is the same person.

Or…

They are taking a punt, and sending that letter to lots of people called "Jane Smith", in the hope that one of them is the correct "Jane Smith" that owes the money, and will pay up.

It's probably sensible to phone or write to the debt collectors, to try to get this cleared up - in case they try pursuing this to court, etc.

But bear in mind that they might be a bit suspicious and might need convincing. From the debt collector's perspective, they might suspect that your neighbour is the correct "Jane Smith", and that the phone call or letter is intended to throw them off track.

Also, maybe check credit reports to see if a default has been wrongly reported.

GDB2222

Assuming it is mistaken identity, or even deliberate identity theft, how does the neighbour convince the collection agency?

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82127211#Comment_82127211

1st request a "prove it letter" Which should provide more details on what the debt is actually relating to.

Given the amount, this may relate to something quite a few years ago. That possible that a partner may have taken out that OP was not aware of.