I will be travelling to France next week,and am looking for a sim card for use in France to call and text back to the U.K. I have looked at several deals but none are suitable.Ideally,I am looking for around 1,000 international minutes and around 200 text messages.I hav elooked at 02,vodaphone,3,I.D(who I currently have a contract with), but none give a good deal for the prices they are charging.Lyca mobile have some amazing offers,but after reading some reviews,I am not so sure.........Is there anyone on here who has been to Europe, and used a sim for contacting the U.K.?.If so, who was the best provider please?

Hi Guys, I'm a returning international student with about £3,000 in credit card debts, phone loans and overdraft that I blasted about a year ago. Now that I have a postgraduate offer to study in the UK again, I was wondering what can I do to stay out of trouble. Obviously, I was young and immature to have been doing such acts back then. I was hoping to pay continue paying said debts above upon my first return home but the job market is tough and I was not able to even make enough back home to cover (especially when earning below average salary and local currency is worth 0.20 to a quid. Fast forward, I am definitely sure I would need to open a bank account to survive as Britain is a cashless society, and need an account to receive student allowances. What are my options at this point?

Hi there, apologies if ive posted in the wrong place, as im new to the site. Im only 21 and quit my job just before Christmas, for about the last 2 and a half months i have been disconnected from Vodafone service due to me having no income. This is my own fault and the monthly payments have stacked up meaning i owe £120 in total. Two days ago i paid off £100 of the debt and plan to pay the last £20 today, this morning i received a text message from Fredrickson International instructing me to sign up on fredpay or contact them immediately on a number. I have read a few threads on here i'm not entirely sure as to what my next move should be. I phoned vodafone without mentioning the text from Fredrickson and they said my remaining debt on the account was £20, making it seem like i dont owe any extra fee's and what not. I live with my dad mostly but i am registered at my mums old house, so whether or not they have been sending letters i cant confirm, i will go and check tonight. But as far as im aware this is the first contact between me and them. Reading how far some of these threads go im somewhat concerned somehow theyre going to turn up at my house or something, as im a fairly anxious person. My main hope is that once the vodafone debt of £20 is cleared i will hear no more from them, but im not entirely sure. Can anyone shed some light on the situation? Thanks in advance, Laurie

What would the purpose of this name change be I wonder... ? http://www.theipc.info/home The IPC Ltd is now actually UNITED TRADE AND INDUSTRY LIMITED https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08248531

Women are beautiful, powerful, intelligent and deserve recognition. They are equals. Pulled me out of the mire many times and have so much strength,stamina. Where do they get it from. God bless them all.Any tales to tell,just wondering. How has a women helped you through a difficult time. http://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme

Hello, I'm new to the forums, but if this is in the wrong place then could you let me know and I will re-create the thread. I was living in Australia for 16 years(I was born in the UK and moved to Aus when I was 6). I had a rough time and didn't have a job until I was 20. I never had credit before. I opened a bank account in Australia and got offered a credit card, which I accepted. I then applied for a online course, which was a monthly payment of 60 AUD. Once signed up I had realised this course that this company heavily advertised was a [problem]. It was the same course a student in a free study College could do in his spare time on the internet. I had disputed with them about leaving, however they said that I would have to pay the outstanding amount of 4695.00 AUD. From that point I had stopped communication with them. My father passed away in February last 2014 and my mother and I moved back to the UK. I had left an outstanding balance of 500(Maxed out) credit card from the bank and I also did not pay the company who was chasing me for 4695.00 AUD. I've received plenty of emails from this company recently, I had no communication or emails from them since July 2014 and in the last two weeks I've had 24 emails and unfortunately a phone call. They tracked me down. Apparently this company AusDebt has been in contact with me(They have not). I first received an email 2 weeks ago stating that "As per the request of Open Colleges we have come to a conclusion and you are now only required to pay 1408.63". I then received the same email 2 times a day for a week, I will attach this with the post. It states that "As per my request" they are willing to settle with the amount mentioned above, which I think is being used as their tactics? because I haven't been in contact with them at all I assume as I've read online after 5 years the debt gets statue barred? I received a phone call yesterday asking for me, I said no I don't know anyone by that name that lives here and the lady said "That's funny since we've checked records and it seems only yesterday you applied for a loan and we also know who you bank with and that you drive a ford focus". How are they getting this info? She then went on to say "We will be getting that money back off you very soon, my associates look forward to seeing you in person have a nice day" and hung up. Does this mean that they have transferred the debt to a UK company? can they actually do that ? Any advice on this? More facts about the account, I had only logged into the online portal twice, and not even attempted the work because I had found out I could of just went to a local free college and got the course for free. Yet when trying to cancel they blocked access to the online portal and demanded payment off me.. s there any way I can fight this? Thanks P.s I am living in the UK now.

My OH has recently been contacted by these clowns regarding a water rates debt from 2003. There is nothing on her credit file relating to this and it is quite obviously over 6 years old. No contact has been made before now and no acknowledgement or payment has been made. Question is, will a standard statute barred letter be sufficient for this or not? Of course, being SSW they will have taken the matter to court back then and obtained a judgement but can they claim that it isn't statute barred because of an old CCJ? Any advice appreciated as these type of things really do stress her out.

Almost forgot to respond to PCN issued 24/10/14 by VCS from 'breach' at Liverpool International Business Park - see attached PDF's. i realise I've left this late and I may only have a few days to get a response to them. Any help would be gratefully appreciated. I stopped to make a call between appointments at local clients. The 'Road' I stopped on was a cut-in pretending to be a side road but it actually stopped at a fence then a field just behind the car in the picture. The majority of roads on the park has double yellow lines, but the cut-in the car was stopped on does not have double yellow lines; they stop as the kerb begins to turn.

Hi guys. I am a beginner writer, just about starting my second book and obviously, these days you need to work everything out to the smallest detail, else people will say it's all a BS. The main character is a contract killer and is only taking contracts from the internet. Main character cares a lot about his identity to remain completely confidential, and so his customers do as well. Customers can obviously use internet cafes to place an 'order' for his services. That covers them, to a certain degree. Now the money part, how can one send money directly to someone's bank account without money or transaction being traceable? I was thinking about bank account on Cayman Islands, would it be possible for my contract killer to set up nameless bank account? And perhaps customer can transfer money like few times via Western Union in cash? I really need help guys Thanks in advance!

Here we go again. Extra info on who Mircom is; HERE

I am a resident of UK. I came to UK from India 2 years ago in April 2012 on work Visa. I work for a car manufacturing company in UK. On 14th Dec 2014 I was driving my company car and caught speeding by a speed camera for exceeding 40MPH speed limit(Recorded Speed:51MPH). The police contacted my company to get the driver details as the car was registered on my company and they got my address from my company and sent me the “Notice of Intended Prosecution” I have my Indian Driving License; I got the International Driving Permit during my last visit to India in March 2014 which is Valid for a year from March 2014 to March 2015. I have a UK provisional license issued on 11th Nov 2014. Hence during the offence I have the UK provisional license and the international driving permit. I read from DVLA website that the Indian Driving license or the International Driving Permit is valid only for 1 year from the initial entry into UK. I have crossed 2 years as a resident in UK so I don’t know whether my International Driving Permit which I have validity till March 2015 is valid to drive in UK after I crossed my 1 year of stay. I drove the car without learners “L” plate (I believe the speed camera would have caught the picture of my car which is an evidence of not having “L” during driving) which I feel as another offense, also I came to know that the UK provisional license will overrule my International Driving Permit or Indian Driving License. In the NIP I was asked to provide my UK driving license details such as driver number and current number of points. I have given to choose from below options Part 1. If eligible I wish to be considered for a driver awareness course at a cost of £110 Part 1a. I wish to be considered for the fixed penalty procedure OR Part 1b. I would like the matter to be dealt with by way of a court hearing. Now I wanted to know the below queries please in filling and sending back the NIP, 1. Whether I can provide my International Driving Permit only and opt for a course if eligible or fixed penalty. I don’t want to give my UK provisional because they will raise another question whether I drove the car with an L plate on it which will be another offense. 2. If I am not giving the UK provisional then, a. I need to know whether they will enquire and find out my date of first entry in UK. b. I need to know whether there are chances that they may find out I have a UK provisional 3. If I give the UK provisional license along with the International Driving Permit (though it is overruled by UK provisional) and claim guilty then are there chances to punish me for speeding offense as well as driving without “L” plate offense. 4. On top of all the above, If I give the UK provisional then I need to know whether the police will contact my company and inform them that I was driving the company car with a provisional license which is an offense and got a speed fine as well. This may affect my job as my company may take action against me since I did something against law. I am bit nervous and worried as I am confused to take a right decision. I kindly request your opinions and suggestions on my above queries please which will be really helpful for me to take a decision and respond to the NIP. Thanks in advance.

My OH received a 'Confirmed Resident' letter from FPC before christmas in respect of an outstanding debt but no details, asking for payment ? I told her to ignore it, in which she did now she is continuously receiving further letters, this time with a balance outstanding on a debt with Capital One, that she vaguely remembers but not sure how long ago. Does she just ignore them or should she now send the standard DCA letter not acknowledging the debt and requesting the original CCA agreement / Notice of assignment details etc ? even if she sends a letter not acknowledging the debt, will this still be deemed as acknowledging it, if it is possibly statute barred ?

Hi im in the same situation CCA jc international and received a reply from monument they sent me a copy of a relpy card, oneside only saying following a land mark case at the high court in manchester (carey v hsbc bank) on the 23 december 2009 a creditor may use a reconstituted copy of agreement which includes name and address of borrower. , we consider our credit agreement with you to be fully enforceable and that there is no dispute. can a reply card be an agreement with no financial data attached etc

Hello Hope someone can please give me some advice on my situation. As a mature student I enrolled on an online degree course. At the time of enrollment when I asked about hours of commitment I was advised verbally that 15 hours per week was enough commitment to follow through with the degree course. Eager to start I enrolled and had 14 days from the date of the course date to change my mind. After a while it became clear to me and other students, that the hours we had been advised at the date of enrolment, did not coincide with the course reading lists and activities, as the hours recommended on each exceeded the 15 hours of commitment we had been advised during the enrolment process. A couple of other students and myself voiced our concerns on their online student forum a few weeks into the first semester, to which a student support officer replied, however I did not keep a record of this. The forum is no longer in existence. After the 1st semester it was clear I was not going to be able to maintain the schedule of works as I run my own business and needs must, and therefore dropped out, and was unable to login to to the course content and forum from this point on. I had paid approx half of the years course fee at this stage. The Uni then started to write to me about outstanding debt, to which I pointed out my dis-satisfaction with their enrolment process, and argued I felt 14 days was not enough of a cooling off period for a mature student to re accustom themselves with higher education and a degree course. They advised me of their complaints procedure. I stated before I can undertake their complaints procedure I would like copies of my forum posts and their student officers reply to that so I could include this to their Vice Chancellor in my complaint, I also asked for a copy of the syllabus and schedule of recommended reading and activities, again so I make my case. They refused to give me any information and still hold me accountable for the full years fee despite me not receiving either the full years course content and modules, or a full year of teaching. Each time they wrote to me I wrote back and contested the debt and asked for the information. I made the point again how can they advise someone 15 hours is enough per week to achieve the highest grade on a degree course without any prior knowledge of that individuals academic capability in the course he/she has enrolled for. I argued if I visited a physical university would I be told 15 hours a week was enough to achieve a first place on a degree course. On Feb 25 they wrote to me again advising of their complaints procedure. I wrote to them on the 27th again requesting the information and heard nothing back. In December I received a letter from STA international and have done some research on this forum and believe as the debt is with the Uni I have not taken an agreement out with them and therefore they have no right to chase me for the debt. I emailed the Uni accounts department and they confirmed receipt of my letter but advised me they had told me how to go about their complaints procedure. I told them I had requested information from them and they had no right to pass my debt to an agency. I have an email now form STA international stating: We are a debt collecting agency working on behalf of our client the ****** We have been instructed to collect the above outstanding amount and we have sent you a letter to this effect. To avoid any further costs or legal action you must contact us immediately on 0044 (0) 844 324 0607 quoting your pre-legal reference 1331195. Alternatively you can respond to this email. We await your urgent correspondence. So I wanted to ask: 1.) Should I have done a SARS on the Uni would that have provided me with the forum posts I wish to argue my case with their Vice Principle? 2.) As STA are working on behalf of the Uni does it mean they have a right to enforce the debt? 3.) How should I reply to STA? Or should I ignore? 4.) Is their any claim for mis-advice/information because of the enrolment process? 5.) As I was not able and have not received the full years course content/module and they have provided no service to me can they really enforce the debt? I understand they run a business but the way the lady reeled off the answer of 15 hours when I asked the question, in hindsight I know it was a common question and she knew she was not being entirely honest about the process. I also have a suspicion seeing the number of students who graduate each year on this course compared with the number who start is small, and I suspect their aim for first years is to get everyone on board signed up and then those that falter like me they can sell their debt on. Anyway any answers to my questions would be greatly received. Thanks for your time and assistance.

Has anyone else experienced a problem with international transfer security questions? it looks to me as if the call centre in India is making up they own questions without reference to the actual customer. The information is not coming from the customer - it appears to be gleaned from credit databases I would question the legality of the this. It also makes it nigh-on impossible to get the security questions right - especially as the information they have is INCORRECT.

Hi, would love some advice please, A couple of weeks ago I had a letter from them for HMRC tax credit overpayment, it amounts to over 4k. I contacted HMRC to late and they had already passed to Fredicksons and HMRC refused to help me. I phoned FI and I went through an income/outgoings thing ( I am now on income support and unable to spare anything really) The guy was fairly helpful and he said it will be put on hold, and I think he said they will possibly pass back to HMRC. a few days later I had another call from then and they were really rude to me and claimed nobody had put it on hold and there was no record of doing ingoings/outgoings. I said again I have no money to pay this. THey have now called a 3rd time AND sent a letter today received saying I have never contacted them and they want to speak to me etc. I am really stressed out by this now, I had no idea that I even had so much debt with HMRC, some payments are from back in 2008! The past year I even had a rebate that they had underpaid me, so Im really confused. HMRC are being really unhelpful and passing me round and refusing to help. Im currently now a single mother, and Ive just recently been diagnosed with a chronic disease, while bringing up a little toddler, and this stress is making me feel physically sick. In the first call I also asked for everything to be put in writing not phone calls, thats been clearly ignored to. Im now scared to answer my phone, they have been ringing me of mobile numbers. I have nothing to my name in the bank, my rented house is fully furninshed and Im scared someone will turn up at my door. The way they have spoken to me on the phone is the absolute pits, who do they think they are? If it makes any difference to what I need to do I moved from England to the scottish isles over a year ago. Please could someone advise me what to do now? Thankyou in advance x

Hi, I'm a little concerned. I moved into a property mid March. I rent, and when I moved in the letting agent transferred our energy supply from Npower to Spark Energy. I didn't want this, so as soon as the transfer was complete, I arranged to move to British Gas. I had a final bill from Npower (though it took some time) for the first 4 weeks, taking us onto Mid-April. British Gas then took over from Spark at the end of May. Till then, I'd not had a bill from Spark, I logged into my account and made a payment of £100 anyway, which was a rough figure I reckon I'd have used. Roll forward a month, and I've still not had anything from Spark - no bill, no email, no contact at all - but given it took some time for Npower to send a final bill, I was not surprised by this. today I realise I have a voicemail (from a couple of weeks ago - I was out of the country at the time, but not sure why it's only today my phone decided to let me know). It was from a company called Allied International regarding my Spark Energy account. A quick google shows these to be a DCA, which comes as a shock, as as far as I was concerned, no bill had been given to me. Log into my account, and lo & behold, there is a bill for £138 - less the £100 I'd already paid = a £38 outstanding balance. And I gather this has been passed to the DCA. The date on the bill is 1/6/14 - but there is no way on earth that bill was produced on the 1st. I logged in several times after making the payment on the 21/5, and there was no bill there. Further, BG only took over the account on the 27/5. Really, really hacked off at how I've been treated. Not spoken to Allied (called, but no answer, and now I know the nature of their outfit, have no plan to do so). Trying to get hold of spark to see what they have to say for themselves. Are they likely to have put this on my CRA profile?

Hi All, For once Im going to give Praise to a company, i have heard of all the terrible stories in relation to this company but for once today it was nice to speak to a friendly person from Frederickson in relation to an old Capital One Debt. Out of the blue i got a letter for it i knew it was my debt i just totally forgot but this was a final demand letter which i found odd and my work confirmed they had been calling me for about 6 weeks at work, and only just told me. I was quite angry so phoned their 0845 number to vent this! However i Spoke to Darryl, and he was fantastic completely understood my anger didn't get angry back and simply said ok what would you like to pay as a repayment, so made my offer and he said sure no problem we can do that for you and i'm personally sorry for any calls you received. I had never had this from a DCA ever so i am surprised and hats off to them in this case, So this is one account settled and closed thank's to his excellent telephone manner and willingness to help!

Hi there, I came across this form by googling my situation and found some people who had similar (but not identical) issues. I was wondering if the community would be kind enough to give me some specific advice on my current situation. Last month I received a letter from Fredrickson International Ltd. stating "information has been received confirming that your address details have changed to this address" and asking me to call them immediately for more information. I had never heard of the company before so put it down as a fishing [problem] and ignored it. Later that month I received a second letter from Fredrickson International Ltd. stating that I owed the company 'Marisota' over £200. Again I had never even heard of Marisota until this letter (they appear to be a womens clothing company) and am not even sure how someone was able to purchase from their store on my behalf without using a credit card? This is still a mystery to me. Anyway, they said they were considering legal action and that I should immediately pay them the money. Yesterday I sent them the 'prove it' letter that I believe is hosted on this helpful website. Today (obviously before they have received my prove it letter) I received a letter from Bryan Carter Solicitors LLP saying I must contact Fredrickson within the next 14 days to organise repayment, failing which they will issue proceedings against me. They further insist that I call Fredricksons on an 0845 number. From reading this forum I understand that calling any of these companies is dangerous and all discourse should be made in writing to avoid being screwed over. What is my next action? Should I ignore this? Am I 100% safe knowing that I never spent this money (not being a woman and rarely buying clothes I am definitely not forgetting something here). Is this all scare tactics from a shark to get me to pay money I do not owe? Is it possible that someone has fraudulently used perhaps a bank statement delivered to an old address? If so will I have to pay this money? Any information would be fantastic, especially as I appear to have a 14 day counter on my head for this. Thanks Nathan

First time poster.. I recieved a letter from fredrickson international limited informing me that they would like confirmation of my new address and asking me to contact them? It doesn't tell what the debt is and who it is with. But I'm sure it's an vodafone unpaid bill. I left my job to care for my ill partner and my little one and was up to date with my payments, but then monies became tight. I asked to downgrade several time which they refused, then I asked to cancel my bill and start making small payments. again vodafone refused saying that I could only cancel if I paid the full amount which I was unable to do so. At the moment I'm being helped by step change, due to debts with me and my partners banks, I have never owe monies before and never missed a payment and was 100% truthful about the job and my partners illness. as soon as I told all parties, they all seems to get nasty . No loyalty it seems. Sorry to go on. In a nutshell I'm at a lost what to do. All the spare monies I have goes to my other debts goes to my step change account. So what do I say to fredrickson international ??

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

Sir, I am trying to get some sensible feedback about how to deal with Fredrickson International who seems to have been engaged by Capital One to collect a Credit Card debt that dates back to early 2011. From April 2011 for some 6 months, I had sent some 17 letters to Capital One, who then engaged a company called Cougar November 2011 and from that date, I have heard nothing until 13 December 2013 when this company Fredrickson International appeared on the scene. Fredrickson are threatening and very presumptuous, and have not responded to (in fact totally ignored) my letter sent to them on the 14 December 2013. I should mention that in early 2011 I had successfully negotiated and Settled in full and finale payment with 9 (NINE) other Creditors - Capital ONE being the ONLY Creditor to refuse to enter into any negotiation. Whereas then I had funds to make a settlement with Capital One, now I do not. Fredrickson International seem to almost delight in sending their automated letters at a time of year when obviously finances are at their most critical and the stress of debt management is greatest. The debt owed is not in dispute - The manner in which Capital One conduct their business is .. . Had they agreed a settlement in line with all the other 9 (nine) Creditors, which I feel have set an obviously prescient, this situation would not exist. Having not heard from them for over 2 years and then for them to engage a somewhat dubious firm like Fredrickson International full of their threats and additional charges seems also unreasonable, when I HAVE been trying to negotiate a Settlement while Capital One refuse. I have no funds, I myself am owed significant money for unpaid Contracts, and we are living on Benefits. I feel like taking them to Court, so I can explain my position to the Judge, agreeing to make a £1.00 a month payment and then filing for Bankruptcy - To be honest after the last 6 years I have suffered, it would be a relief !!! Any suggestions please ?? - My regards...

Hello, I'm looking for some help with a Barclaycard debt. The card was a Morgan Stanley which got sold to Barclaycard, the account was opened in Dec 06 and defaulted in Sep 10 with a balance of £4K. I received a welcome letter from Fredrickson International taking over from Lowell in August and replied with a prove it letter. Today I received a reply from Fredrickson which included what looks like a digital application for the card, the application is populated with my home/work details so must be a copy of the actual application. The application does not have my signature but page 2 of what they sent acknowledges a digital signature for me. I've uploaded what they sent me although I'm not sure if it viewable (any suggestions on how to upload it correctly appreciated). Today I sent off a CCA request as I never actually made one in the first place, only a prove it letter was sent by me. I was wondering; Is what they sent any use to them for enforcement purpose? Would the document satisfy my CCA request if they reply with the same document? Where do I stand with this? I've have a faint understanding that they need my actual signature on the agreement to make it enforceable as the agreement is pre April 2007, I think I'm on the right track but need some human advice. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

After receiving(and ignoring) several threatening letters from FI I have decided to respond to them by letter. I do not want to phone them and go through what would undoubtedly be listening to their bully tactics over the phone which would result in me telling them to 'foff'! My current debt with them is £1200 from the ridiculous HMRC late filing penalties of self assessment forms etc which has now been filed, although I seem to still be accumulating interest on the debt?! As I was laid off in November my only source of Income at the moment is Job Seekers Allowance which gives me £280 per month, and £200 of this goes to the parents for rent(forced to move back home ). Due to my lack of income Ive decided to offer them a repayment plan of £50 per month and this is the letter I have written: Fredrickson International Limited PO Box 260 Weybridge Surrey KT13 0YH 20/05/2013 Ref: Account No: **************** Dear Fredrickson International, I have been receiving letters regarding my HMRC debt of £1200, I fully intend to repay this debt but at the moment I am unemployed. My only source of income Is Job Seekers Allowance at £280 per month, 200 of which goes to my parents for rent. I do not currently have a bank account and my JSA is paid into a post office account, therefore I would like to request a payment card where i could pay £50 per month towards this debt until I find full-time employment where I would then increase my repayments. Also I do not currently have a contact number as my mobile phone contract has ended and I cannot afford to set up a new one, so further correspondence would have to be by e-mail or via letter. I hope this is all satisfactory as it is the best I can do due to my current circumstances. Yours Faithfully, *********** I'd appreciate some advice on whether or not this letter is correct in what i should be sending etc, thank you!

Allied Int phoned today regards an alleged AMEX CC account in dispute. CCA compliant with Sec 61(1) of CCA1974 requested on 1oth Sept. In reply came recon agreement no signatures and a load of T&Cs. Failed to supply letter sent 27th December. Early Jan letter saqying account being sourced to outside agents for recovery. Meanwhile charges and interest still being added to account. Refused to answer Allied questions just stated account in dispute until such time as requested CCA is received.