Fredrickson international and O2 - Extremely worried

[Domlewis]

Hello,

 

My girlfriend took out a phone contract with O2 and lent the phone to a friend as her father bought her another (long story)

the friend then stole the phone and sold it (police couldnt do anything as the phone was lent )

And it had just gone over the 2 weeks so the contract couldn't be cancelled.

 

My girlfriend then lost her job so couldn't afford to pay the phone contract, and is still unemployed with no income.

 

She received multiple texts and phone calls of fredrickson which she ignored,

they then sent a letter demanding payment which she didn't reply to again as she's under a lot of stress as it is!

 

today she received another stating 'letter before action - there remains an outstanding balance on this account a

nd legal action is now being considered.

 

Should it be necessary to instruct solicitors to issue proceedings in the county court,

further additional amounts will be claimed which may increase the balance outstanding

outstanding now £867.75

new if proceedings issued £992.75.

it then goes on about Bailiffs may be instructed.

 

i am only part time and have a low income and she is now unemployed and lives with her parents.

 

There is no way we can afford to pay this and she is stressing out and crying because of this situation.

 

Is there anything we can do ?

 

Please can someone help us!!

I'm 18 and she is 20, neither of us own our homes and if her dad finds out hell kill her!

 

What can we do we are extremely worried

Thank you

[fkofilee]

HI Dom

 

First all welcome to CAG

Second off... Usually threats from Freds... Part of Lowell Group... I would tread carefully with them.

 

Your thinking too much into the LBA with them. They are "Considering" Legal Action. They put all this together to scare you. Im dealing personally with 9,5k of debt and trying to whittle it down. Others here are dealing with a lot more.

 

Could you please put a copy of the letter up removing any personal info and barcodes and let us see it?

As she is also unemployed, priority debts come first, rent etc. Travel to work etc, instead of something like this and dont let them bully you.

 

First of, can she afford £10 for a SAR (Subject Access Request?) if so, send this to O2 and it will open up the door to see what information they hold on your OH.

 

1 step at a time. Once you see through the Veil of S***Storm, its easy to keep your head above water.

[Domlewis]

HI Dom

 

First all welcome to CAG

Second off... Usually threats from Freds... Part of Lowell Group... I would tread carefully with them.

 

Your thinking too much into the LBA with them. They are "Considering" Legal Action. They put all this together to scare you. Im dealing personally with 9,5k of debt and trying to whittle it down. Others here are dealing with a lot more.

 

Could you please put a copy of the letter up removing any personal info and barcodes and let us see it?

As she is also unemployed, priority debts come first, rent etc. Travel to work etc, instead of something like this and dont let them bully you.

 

First of, can she afford £10 for a SAR (Subject Access Request?) if so, send this to O2 and it will open up the door to see what information they hold on your OH.

 

1 step at a time. Once you see through the Veil of S***Storm, its easy to keep your head above water.

 

Thank you for your fast reply !!

I will upload photo tomorrow as I am not at home at the moment, she can't afford £10 a month but I could possibly pay it for her but I'm struggling my self at the moment!

Thank you

[fkofilee]

Hi Dom... The SAR Fee is a one of payment for the request for Data....

So no £10 a month ^__^

 

Please do... Dont stress on it... Keep yourself upbeat as best as you can... DCA's attempt to drive you into the mud to get you to cough up. They bully you... Dont let them

[dx100uk]

did she get a crime reference number though

even though they did not proceed with the investigation?

 

dx

[nuclearshark]

Hi Dom,

 

I had similar dealings with Fredrickson International over a vodafone account which a similar balance to yours. I refused to pay for break of contract after they allowed my service to be crosswired to another person who then started throwing abuse whenever they recieved my messages/phonecalls (Very long story that one)

 

I Also received the calls and text messages and ignored them, I have seen the same type of letter you describe. Sit down with your girlfriend over a cup of tea and read the letter from a different perspective. Does the letter contain phrases like: "We MAY take further action" or "We are considering litigation proceedings" The wording here suggests they may or more importantly may not do any such action!!

 

She may also receive a piece of card which has in BIG BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS the words CONFIRMED RESIDENT As if I need reminding of my home address!! I wrote a sarcastic email to them thanking them for reminding me of my home address and I will keep the card with me to provide to a member of the Old Bill if I ever find myself lost and in a state of Amnesia!

 

I've got to get off my train in a second so I'll close there. But best of luck with this. Try and reassure your girlfriend it's not as serious as the playground bullies make out! Have a good weekend.

 

P.S. Also I recommend that SAR. It's a one off fee for £10 and you can purchase a Postal Order to cover it. The Post Office charge a fee for such an item, but that is £1.50 from memory. I would recommend this method if you have worried that a cheque may bounce.

[Domlewis]

Hi Dom... The SAR Fee is a one of payment for the request for Data....

So no £10 a month ^__^

 

Please do... Dont stress on it... Keep yourself upbeat as best as you can... DCA's attempt to drive you into the mud to get you to cough up. They bully you... Dont let them

 

What is this sat and how do you go around doing it ? many thanks

[Domlewis]

did she get a crime reference number though

even though they did not proceed with the investigation?

 

dx

 

Nope it wasn't a crime they said as the phone was given

[Domlewis]

Hi Dom,

 

I had similar dealings with Fredrickson International over a vodafone account which a similar balance to yours. I refused to pay for break of contract after they allowed my service to be crosswired to another person who then started throwing abuse whenever they recieved my messages/phonecalls (Very long story that one)

 

I Also received the calls and text messages and ignored them, I have seen the same type of letter you describe. Sit down with your girlfriend over a cup of tea and read the letter from a different perspective. Does the letter contain phrases like: "We MAY take further action" or "We are considering litigation proceedings" The wording here suggests they may or more importantly may not do any such action!!

 

She may also receive a piece of card which has in BIG BOLD CAPITAL LETTERS the words CONFIRMED RESIDENT As if I need reminding of my home address!! I wrote a sarcastic email to them thanking them for reminding me of my home address and I will keep the card with me to provide to a member of the Old Bill if I ever find myself lost and in a state of Amnesia!

 

I've got to get off my train in a second so I'll close there. But best of luck with this. Try and reassure your girlfriend it's not as serious as the playground bullies make out! Have a good weekend.

 

P.S. Also I recommend that SAR. It's a one off fee for £10 and you can purchase a Postal Order to cover it. The Post Office charge a fee for such an item, but that is £1.50 from memory. I would recommend this method if you have worried that a cheque may bounce.

 

Many thanks to your reply has stopped my stress as much, what is this sar and how do I do it ? thank you

[nuclearshark]

No trouble; A pleasure actually, as I had similar issues with these idiots I found it helpful to hear other experiences from people about them as it helped me deal with the situations.

 

You need to send them this letter from the CAG library: http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?387306-Full-Subject-Access-Request but adapt it to your needs. i.e. Name, Address, Company etc. Use the Account Number or Mobile Number on their Invoices so they can find the records.

 

Enclose a Postal Order (Purchasable at the Post Office Counter fee of approx £1.50) or Cheque made payable to "Telefónica UK Limited" and send it Recorded Signed for Delivery to their address listed here: http://www.o2.co.uk/contactus

 

Ignore Fredricksons for the time being. As a DCA if they do not own the debt they cannot take court action as that would be up to O2 to do.

 

The letter you said lists fees if the case went to court? I presume they have listed a court fee? IGNORE these charges also. Another scare threat tactic. The Court sets those fees not the DCA!

 

If the calls and texts messages become too much of a problem you have 2 choices:

 

1) Send them the Harrassment Letter as listed here: http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?387367-Harassment-by-Telephone

 

Adapt it to add the text messages as well. Most importantly DO NOT sign the letter. Print / Type your name instead. Under no circumstances should you sign anything you send to Fredricksons or any DCA for that matter. Send Recorded Delivery

 

2) When they phone, take the call and when they ask to speak to Miss Domlewis state you are NOT that person. If they ask if you know that person, decline to comment and say that as they have made an unsolicited call it would be irresponsible to comment and insist the number be removed from their records (Or if they ask you if you know Miss DomLewis just say no).

 

If they ask for a name either give a pseudonym or say politely "Well it doesn't matter what my name is because you wanted to speak to Miss Domlewis" confirm that the number was removed and end the call. Record it if possible. Android Phones have many free apps that do it. I personally use Galaxy Recorder. This will record all incoming and outgoing calls automatically so you don't need to remember to hit a record button each time.

 

If you take the first option and the calls fail to stop; you need to report Fredricksons to the Office of Fair Trading and Trading Standards and your Local Police Constabulary.

 

Lets us know if you have anything else you want to know. Also let us know if they start getting "nasty"

 

Best of luck and have a good weekend

 

Nuke

[nuclearshark]

Sorry forgot to add. Make sure you keep the envolopes of the letters they send to your OH. Quite often the DCAs use second class post. Then ask for payment to be made in seven days but in a rather sinister method like this:

 

1st Day of the Month = Letter is typed by DCA asking for payment within 7 days

2nd Day of the Month = Letter sent to debtor

4/5th Day of the Month = Debtor receives letter

 

As you can see; leaves the debtor with about 2 days to pay (sometimes more and sometimes letter arrives after their own deadline ) this often encourages a knee jerk reaction. Don't bite. They intentionally do this to make it seem like they are doing you a favour. If they were doing you a favour would they ask for payment to be made in 7 days and then send it second class post?? I know what my personal opinion on that is...............

[Domlewis]

Sorry forgot to add. Make sure you keep the envolopes of the letters they send to your OH. Quite often the DCAs use second class post. Then ask for payment to be made in seven days but in a rather sinister method like this:

 

1st Day of the Month = Letter is typed by DCA asking for payment within 7 days

2nd Day of the Month = Letter sent to debtor

4/5th Day of the Month = Debtor receives letter

 

As you can see; leaves the debtor with about 2 days to pay (sometimes more and sometimes letter arrives after their own deadline ) this often encourages a knee jerk reaction. Don't bite. They intentionally do this to make it seem like they are doing you a favour. If they were doing you a favour would they ask for payment to be made in 7 days and then send it second class post?? I know what my personal opinion on that is...............

 

 

Thank you so much for all this information it's calmed us down a lot

What will sending this letter to them do? Sorry I'm pretty clueless,

Ill get it sent out on Tuesday afternoon

Thank you again

[Domlewis]

Thank you so much for all this information it's calmed us down a lot

What will sending this letter to them do? Sorry I'm pretty clueless,

Ill get it sent out on Tuesday afternoon

Thank you again

 

I have thought of a solution, kind of, my phone contracts just ended, so I can take that one and ask for a new SIM card as we don't have it and get the number swapped, I won't get a new phone but it'll be £10 cheaper and get my girlfriend out of the debt ?

[dx100uk]

doubt it!

 

it cant cross to you that way still be her debt in her name.

 

i'm wondering if it might not be an idea to contact the ceo of o2 here

 

explain, without too much waffle [i mean that n a nice way always better to KISS]

 

I would expect from their data that they should be able to geographically

look at where the phone was used etc etc

and be able to confirm it was stolen

 

just remember, they will probably have alerts to it anyhow

most stolen phones quickly get used for high rate calls etc etc

 

dx

[Domlewis]

doubt it!

 

it cant cross to you that way still be her debt in her name.

 

i'm wondering if it might not be an idea to contact the ceo of o2 here

 

explain, without too much waffle [i mean that n a nice way always better to KISS]

 

I would expect from their data that they should be able to geographically

look at where the phone was used etc etc

and be able to confirm it was stolen

 

just remember, they will probably have alerts to it anyhow

most stolen phones quickly get used for high rate calls etc etc

 

dx

 

Thank you, how would I contact him?