Credit Solutions Limited, mobile debt..letter... fake ??

[Illusive_89]

Hi guys,

 

 

My boyfriend has received a letter in the post today, and it just seems like a complete [problem] to me, but I want to make sure! It says it's regarding Telefonica O2 UK Ltd. The letter is from -

 

Credit Solutions Limited

Capella Court,

Brighton Road,

Purley,

Surrey

CR8 2PG

 

 

The letter reads - -

 

Dear Mr _______

 

 

Our recent investigations have resulted in your details being obtained from a credit referencing agency due to a link with data we hold regarding the account shown above.

 

To verify you are responsible for the account shown above, or if you believe that this is not the case, please contact us urgently on 0208 763 4569.

 

If we do not recieve a response to this letter within 7 days, we will assume you are responsible and debt proceedings will commence.

 

PLEASE GIVE THIS LETTER YOUR URGENT ATTENTION

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

John White

For Credit Solutions Limited

 

 

 

 

Under their address (as given above) there is an 0800 number, yet in the letter there is an 0208 number?? Also it gives a website to pay online at paythisaccount.com

Is this a fake letter ?!

 

 

Thankyou

[citizenB]

Until and unless they write providing you with more detail, I would treat this as a phishing letter.

 

I think the wording of their letter breaches OFT guideline - it forces someone who might be totally innocenct of a debt to provide evidence that they are NOT the person they are seeking. They should be sure of this before making contact.

 

You should send a copy of that letter to the Office of Fair Trading.

[Illusive_89]

Until and unless they write providing you with more detail, I would treat this as a phishing letter.

 

I think the wording of their letter breaches OFT guideline - it forces someone who might be totally innocenct of a debt to provide evidence that they are NOT the person they are seeking. They should be sure of this before making contact.

 

You should send a copy of that letter to the Office of Fair Trading.

 

 

Hi and thankyou for the reply!

 

My boyfriend when he gets home from work, will no doubt want to ring them and find out what's going on. How much/how far should he ask questions about what this is regarding, without him falling into their trap they no doubt have set?

 

 

Thanks again

[renegadeimp]

Do NOT call them or write to them. As CB said, it is a phishing letter. THAT is the trap. They have no idea at all that you live there and want you to confirm it so they can start harassment and threats. This is normally done by a DCA that has a lemon debt and has no info on you, so they make one or two attempts at contact then give up.

 

If you call them or write to them, you have fallen right into their trap and they will start a torrent of threats.

[citizenB]

Hi and thankyou for the reply!

 

My boyfriend when he gets home from work, will no doubt want to ring them and find out what's going on. How much/how far should he ask questions about what this is regarding, without him falling into their trap they no doubt have set?

 

 

Thanks again

 

NO !!! One thing he MUST not do is telephone them. He needs to keep everything in writing if he has any intention of contacting them at all. IMHO he should let them make the next move.

 

I would however suggest that your BF checks his credit files to ensure there has been no adverse reporting by this company or any company they claim to represent.

 

The telephone is the weapon of choice of DCAs and they are skilled in pushing buttons to make people say things they may later regret having said.

[Illusive_89]

Do NOT call them or write to them. As CB said, it is a phishing letter. THAT is the trap. They have no idea at all that you live there and want you to confirm it so they can start harassment and threats. This is normally done by a DCA that has a lemon debt and has no info on you, so they make one or two attempts at contact then give up.

 

If you call them or write to them, you have fallen right into their trap and they will start a torrent of threats.

 

 

That's what I thought, I just wanted to make sure before we called them. My partner and I have never been in trouble, and if this was serious and genuine, I didn't want to leave it by not calling etc..

 

It's sad how they prey on younger people or naiive/vulnerable people

 

So absolutely DON'T call them?

 

 

Thanks so much for your help!

[Illusive_89]

Just out of curiosity too, how on earth do all these DCA's get away with this kind of behaviour ?? Also, how did they get his name and our address?

[Illusive_89]

NO !!! One thing he MUST not do is telephone them. He needs to keep everything in writing if he has any intention of contacting them at all. IMHO he should let them make the next move.

 

I would however suggest that your BF checks his credit files to ensure there has been no adverse reporting by this company or any company they claim to represent.

 

The telephone is the weapon of choice of DCAs and they are skilled in pushing buttons to make people say things they may later regret having said.

 

 

Great advice, thankyou! We definitely will not be ringing them now. And i'll get my partner to check his credit record etc.

 

Thanks

[Bazooka Boo]

Just out of curiosity too, how on earth do all these DCA's get away with this kind of behaviour ?? Also, how did they get his name and our address?

 

Does you BF have a familiar name?

 

What they do, is send out these phishing letters to anyone and everyone with the same name or initials, until they get someone who falls for their con, and contacts them to either say they are not the person they are after, hence doing their dirty tracing work for them, or they might actually hit their intended target and they can then commence their deforestation of threats and harassment.

 

You should definitely make a complaint to the OFT about that letter, it breaches their guidelines, and implies that should the recipient fail to contact the powerless DCA they will take that as their guilt and commence harassment.

[Illusive_89]

Does you BF have a familiar name?

 

What they do, is send out these phishing letters to anyone and everyone with the same name or initials, until they get someone who falls for their con, and contacts them to either say they are not the person they are after, hence doing their dirty tracing work for them, or they might actually hit their intended target and they can then commence their deforestation of threats and harassment.

 

You should definitely make a complaint to the OFT about that letter, it breaches their guidelines, and implies that should the recipient fail to contact the powerless DCA they will take that as their guilt and commence harassment.

 

 

Hi there,

 

 

No my boyfriend's surname isn't very common at all, first name is though. The only thing I can think of recently that may or may not be relevent, is a while back he was involved with a few payday loans etc. His details obviously got passed around, as even now he gets calls/emails/texts pretty much daily from all different companies offering loans, and he has to keep telling them straight to leave me alone.

[Guest]

They rang me recently, and I wouldn't confirm anything, as they had rang me I told her that she should be fully explaining herself and the point of her call and not asking me to confirm anything. She was well bossy and abrupt, I just told her to write and explain herself if she couldn't do it on the phone. Its just over a week now and no letter.....so far.

[renegadeimp]

 

So absolutely DON'T call them?

 

 

 

 

 

Look at it this way. If i sent out a random letter to you saying you owed me money but i needed to confirm you were at the address before i started a torrent of harassment letters, what would you say?

[Illusive_89]

 

Look at it this way. If i sent out a random letter to you saying you owed me money but i needed to confirm you were at the address before i started a torrent of harassment letters, what would you say?

 

 

I'd give a nice reply, first word starts with F and second word off

 

Thanks for your help!

[citizenB]

I'd give a nice reply, first word starts with F and second word off

 

Thanks for your help!

 

 

Please let us know if you receive any further correspondence from them.

[Illusive_89]

 

Please let us know if you receive any further correspondence from them.

 

 

 

I sure will do! And we definitely will NOT be contacting them.

 

Thanks again!

[Illusive_89]

*** Update ***

 

Hi guys,

 

Just updating as receieved a second letter today from Credit Solutions dated 25th March, after no contact from us following that first letter. Again, addressed to my boyfriend.

 

Letter reads ----

 

 

 

REGARDING: Telefonica O2 UK Ltd

CSL REF: ____________________

 

 

Dear Mr ________

 

 

Our trace teams have confirmed that you now reside at the above address.

 

As you have failed to notify our client of your new address and have ignored our previous requests for contact (Really.. ONE phishing letter?!?), we must now ask that the outstanding balance be paid in full.

 

 

If you choose not to reply to this letter, further collection activity will commence and may lead to one of our contact agents visiting you at the above address.

 

PLEASE GIVE THIS LETTER YOUR URGENT ATTENTION.

 

 

 

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

 

J White

John White

 

 

 

 

 

Ok so what is going with these guys now?? Should I still ignore.

Thanks again for all your help!

Edited March 30, 2013 by Illusive_89

[renegadeimp]

Dear oh dear. Breach of oft guidance and the dpa there. This dca seems to be doing it a lot.

[Old Cogger]

Ignore see what next?

[intend]

Would ignore - definitely no proof that they are communicating with the correct person.

[citizenB]

You are not obliged to let them know you are moving !

[renegadeimp]

Ignore them. If they do try and give details of any debt out in a future letter without 100% confirming you are there, then they are in breach of OFT guidance and the DPA, regardless of if you live there or not.

[Jam_Buttie]

PLEASE GIVE THIS LETTER YOUR URGENT ATTENTION.

 

You could waste your money on a 2nd class stamp and write to tell them that the letter did indeed get your most urgent attention and is now in the bin, or lining the bottom of your hamsters cage.. and explain that the next letter they send will recieve the same treatemtn until they provide further info.

[Illusive_89]

*** Update ***

 

 

Hi guys

 

 

So, when my boyfriend was home by himself the other day, curiosity got the better of him and he decided to bite the bullet and ring Credit Solutions (DESPITE me telling him not to, and that it's the advice of many others too)

 

It turns out it was kind of good he rang them, as this turns out it's actually a previous un-paid debt that we forgot about, when he ended his old mobile phone contract at our previous address. This was over a year ago though, and I didn't know they were allowed to trace you..?

 

 

He spoke to some really rude south-african guy on the phone, and when my boyfriend first explained he was a little weary about divulging his info, this guy was like ''Well, you either tell me or we can't get any further on this issue, can we.''

We questioned why the first letter was so aggressive and they were in breach of OFT guidance etc, and why it was so omnious if they rightfully had a debt to collect?? We couldn't get an asnwer...

Luckily, my boyfriend recorded the whole phone conversation. They confirmed the end of his previous mobile phone number etc, and the amount that was outstanding. We said we'd pay it within the next week.

 

 

Today, we recieved a new letter from them and a rather odd one at that. This was offering us a discount?? I've never heard of this happening before, how very 'nice' of them to cut the debt in half.....

 

 

This new letter reads - -

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Dear Mr ___________

 

 

Regarding: Telefonica 02 UK Ltd

CSL Reference: _____________

Client Reference: ___________

Balance: £147.31

 

 

OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE 50% ON YOUR OUTSTANDING BILL

 

 

We understand that our client has previously attempted to contact you, yet the above oustanding amount remains unpaid. As a specialist DEBT COLLECTORS we have been asked to recover the balance in full.

 

It may be that you are currently experiencing financial difficulties. To show their willingness to assist you in resolving this matter, our client is prepared to offer you a 50% discount on your account. This means you only pay the sum of £73.66. Please note that this offer is only valid until 12 April 2013.

 

 

To take advantage of this generous offer or to make payment by Debit/Credit card, please contact our PAYMENT HOTLINE, where one of our advisors will be waiting to assist you.

 

Should you fail to pay, we will request field agents to call upon you to collect the debt, or ascertain your financial circumstances. This could result in recommendation for the commencement of LEGAL ACTION to recover payment for the outstanding balance.

 

Be advised, the issue of court proceedings will increase the oustanding amount.

 

BALANCE: £147.31

SOLICITORS COSTS: £50.00

COURT FEE: £30.00

 

 

PLEASE QUOTE YOUR REFERENCE NUMBER WHEN SENDING PAYMENT TO ENSURE THAT MONIES ARE IMMEDIATELY CREDITED TO YOUR ACCOUNT.

 

 

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

J. White

John White

 

 

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________

 

So, is this even valid? And are they/were they in breach of anything?

 

 

 

Thanks so much for all advice so far, it's been VERY helpful!

 

 

 

Nadine.

[intend]

If discount offered then something not quite right but if can afford to pay might be good to clear as long as marked on CRA file as completely settled so as to prevent rest being chased.

 

Please stay off phone and check CRA file.

[Guest]

Well one of the guys with knowledge will answer that for you, one thing though, I have read on here many times that when a DCA offers a discount then there is something wrong with the debt....I would hold on and don't pay anything or ring them/write to them until more advice has been given here on CAG.