Written by John Kruse, one of the leading experts on Bailiff Law, this consumer friendly guide is essential reading for anyone who comes into contact with a bailiff.
The book is easy to understand and clearly explains the rights
a bailiff has, and also what they cannot do when collecting debts and repossessing goods etc.
Two private investigators have today pleaded guilty to obtaining and selling personal information after illegally ‘blagging’ the personal details of a customer from BT, following a successful prosecution by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Christopher Hackett, trading as Swift Investigations, and Darren Whalley of Managed Credit Services Ltd (MCS Ltd) were convicted of unlawfully obtaining and selling personal information at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court and fined £400 and £500 respectively. Both were also ordered to pay £400 towards prosecution costs.
Hackett contacted BT to ‘blag’ the personal information of a woman in an attempt to trace her partner, who owed money to Blackhorse Finance Ltd. Blackhorse had instructed a private investigator to track the man, believing that any information would be gathered legally. However, the private investigator contracted Darren Whalley to carry out the work and he passed the job on to Christopher Hackett.
The ICO was contacted by BT folllowing a suspicious telephone call to their call centre made by a man claiming to be a BT employee. The caller deceived the true member of staff into disclosing personal information about the debtor’s partner. By illegally ‘blagging’ information from BT, Hackett was able to obtain her address, which led to Blackhorse Finance Ltd visiting her home.
BH instructed a PI & assumed the info would be obtained legally! Yeah right
Everyone & his dog, including those in the debt collection industry knows that once you have exausted all available data bases to find someone then the only alternative left is this use of illegal means
Ah what a shame
to their call centre made by a man claiming to be a BT employee. The caller deceived the true member of staff into disclosing personal information about the debtor’s partner. By illegally ‘blagging’ information from BT, Hackett was able to obtain her address, which led to Blackhorse Finance Ltd visiting her home.
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