First Direct Logistics Ltd INFO!!

[Windywoo]

A bit of information for all you CAGers who have had a card from this organisation:

 

I got one through the post about a week ago, saying " Sorry, we missed you! We're looking after your packet!" Please call 0800 072 0723. I thought, strange, I wasn't expecting a packet. Anyway, Googled this company, and realised who they are!!

 

OK, there're not getting away with this! I filled in the online form with Consumer Direct, and today, got a reply from my local TS.

 

"Thank you for providing information on First Direct Logistics Ltd/Concillian Group/Capquest.

 

Details of the companies activities were forwarded to me from Consumer Direct.

 

With your permission I will refer the details of your complaint to both Hampshire Trading Standards and the OFT. Both organisation are investigating the practices of this particular trader" !!!

 

Everybody COMPLAIN!!!!

[nick1965]

BE VERY WAREY OF THIS COMAPNY - LINKED TO HFO SERVICES.

I to have had dealings with this company.

I to had exactly the same card stating they had tried to deliver a packet and failed.

When phoned they stated that they tried to deliver a packet which I was not expecting but thought it may be from my ex-wife solicitors re my divorse. Therefore I confirmed the address and gave them my telehone contact numbers.

The packet was actually delivered by the Royal Mail not First Direct Logistics.

The packet contained an A4 broucher and letter from HFO SERVICES.

I then also started recieving several phone calls a day from HFO services, including on a Sunday. I have never given HFO by details therefore can only conclude that First Direct Logistics gave them the details they got from me under false reasons.

[Sev]

i've just recieved a postcard from these people today. Thanks very much for the info.

 

I'll be filing a complaint to the OFT straight away!

[patrickq1]

HFO SERVICES LIMITED[/font]

 

Although they operate under the name of HFO Services Limited

they are in fact collecting on behalf of HFO Capital Limited

which are not even registered with Companies House.

This is indeed a subsidery of The Concillian Group

who are registered in the Caymen Islands.

The Directors of the Company are also Directors of many other shady operations and live in

very large multi million pound homes in Chelsea, Kensington and Surrey.[/font]

Turnbull is also linked to all the addresses and in fact the 'state of the art offices'

see their web site) is also Turnbulls address. The information I have uncovered about their operations is too lenghthy to go into but if you are willing to spend a couple of quid

log onto Companies House.

]It makes very good reading and will be their downfall. Look at their filed accounts for Roxburghe Limited, Express Delivery Limited, HFO UK Limited,[/ Ontrack Investigations Limited, First Direct Logistics Limited, HFO Services Limited and HFO UK Holdings Limited You will not be surprised to see who the Directors are and how they are all inexplicably linked to each other.The Directors of HFO are Kevin Harper and Badri Nathan

These people are in breach of every financial service and regulatory body, including Consumer Credit Act 1974, OFT debt collection guidance Services and Markets Act 2000 Financial Services Act 1986, Data Protection Act, Companies Act 2006 and Insolvency Act 2000

[patrickq1]

i informed trading standards six weeks ago about this company,so it sounds like they are at last investigating

[patrickq1]

i informed trading standards six weeks ago about this company,so it sounds like they are at last investigating

this is recent answer conceerning my complaint

 

 

Thank you for your email to the Office of Fair Trading.

This is an automatic acknowledgement.

We will respond to standard enquiries within 10 working days. For requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act, we will respond to you within the statutory limit of 20 working days.

We cannot give advice to consumers about individual disputes with traders. If you need advice about your consumer rights, please contact Consumer Direct or Citizens Advice. Consumer Direct is a phone and online advice and information service for consumers in Great Britain. Contact Consumer Direct at 08454 04 05 06 or www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.

 

 

Please Note:

The OFT is in the process of implementing a new Consumer Credit Licensing IT system and there are currently delays with the processing of licence applications. A consequence of these delays is that we are receiving a large increase in the volume of telephone and e-mail enquiries to our Licensing Enquiries Team. Whilst every effort is being made to respond to these enquiries as soon as possible, we regret that some delays are likely to occur. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

[renegotiation]

The O.F.T. are well underway with this. What struck me about my experience was that Capquest Group knew my dad's address, as he is on their files for another debt. He has written to them as well. Could it be that they went to the trouble of the post card just to get his phone number? Anyone else get carded for a debt where they specifically didn't have your phone number, but very well knew who and where you were? Just a thought.

[patrickq1]

just not enough people complaining about hfo as this letter i got today explains

 

Consumer Credit Act 1974 ('The Act')

Complaint Against: HFO Services Limited

Licence No: 555914

 

Thank you for your email received on 17 December 2007, regarding the problems you have been experiencing with the above trader.

 

We are always interested to receive complaints such as yours as they are a vital source of information in helping us to investigate the behaviour of traders that hold consumer credit licences. The trader you have complained about does hold a consumer credit licence.

 

If a business wishes to be involved in activities relating to consumer credit or hire, including debt collection, they must have a consumer credit licence. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has a duty to monitor the fitness of all traders that hold a consumer credit licence. In considering fitness, we take into account whether a business has engaged in unfair business practices. This includes any evidence that traders have not complied with any guidance issued by the OFT. The OFT has, for example, issued guidance to consumer credit licence holders engaged in the debt collection industry. The guidance sets out minimum standards that we expect of debt collection traders, consistent with fitness to hold a consumer credit licence. The guidance is intended to ensure that debt collectors treat debtors fairly. Non-compliance with this guidance will call into question the fitness of licence holders and applicants.

 

We investigate all complaints received about consumer credit licence holders and, where we have the necessary evidence, we do take appropriate action. In our initial investigation of all complaints we consider how many complaints we have received overall and how strong the evidence is to support any action. It is unlikely that a licence would be revoked on the strength of one complaint. Where we have strong evidence that unfair business practices have occurred, we may take steps to revoke or refuse the licence of the business in question. However, if we are to do this we need to take account of factors such as the number of complaints received how recent they are and how well evidenced. In cases where evidence is less strong we may issue a warning letter to the business putting it on notice that its behaviour, if repeated, will call their fitness to hold a licence into question. Any action we do take has to be proportionate. If an approach from the OFT makes a trader change its behaviour and treat consumers fairly in future, this is preferable to putting a trader out of business.

 

If we do take any licensing action against this trader it is likely that we would need to disclose your identity to this trader along with details of your complaint. I should therefore be grateful if you would provide me with written authorisation to disclose these details to the trader. I have enclosed a disclosure consent form for you to sign and return to me.

 

We have noted the details of your complaint, to consider alongside any other complaints we have received with a view to any licensing action we may decide to take. We may therefore contact you again if we require further information. Meanwhile, given that the sanction of licence refusal or revocation is such a significant one there are constraints built into the process for taking such action. For example, because of restrictions in Part 9 of the Enterprise Act 2002 relating to disclosure of information, we cannot disclose specific details about any action we may take, nor comment on any adverse information we hold on individual licence holders.

 

Unfortunately the OFT has no power to intervene in individual disputes, and therefore we are unable to assist you directly in this matter. However, you will be able to obtain practical advice by contacting Consumer Direct either by telephone (08454 04 05 06) or online at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.

 

Consumer Direct is the first point of call for consumers, providing first tier advice on a range of consumer matters, including advice on shopping, information on consumer rights and practical guidance on individual problems and how to gain redress. Where further help is needed, such as specialist advice, face-to-face assistance, or intervention, Consumer Direct refers consumers to another agency, such as Trading Standards Service, that is best placed to assist.

 

Furthermore, the Financial Ombudsman Service ('FoS') can help with most complaints about consumer-credit products and services if the consumer has failed to satisfactorily resolve the matter directly with the financial institution itself. The FoS can be contacted at:-

 

The Financial Ombudsman Service

South Quay Plaza

183 Marsh Wall

London E14 9SR

Tel: - 0845 080 1800

 

www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

 

I have also enclosed details of organisations which may be able to assist you. Thank you again for writing to us and bringing this matter to our attention.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Miss Jo Kwok

Enquiries and Preliminary Investigations Centre

Markets and Projects

Permission To Disclose Complaint

 

Consumer Credit Act 1974 ('the Act')

Complaint Against: HFO Services Limited

Licence No: 555914

 

Reference: Epic/Enq/E/22497

 

*Please delete as appropriate

 

I give/do not give* my consent for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to disclose details of my complaint concerning the above trader, including my name and address details, in any further action that it may take under the Act or under any other legislation administered by the OFT.

 

I also confirm that I have no objections/object* to the OFT using the information provided by me in the performance of any of its functions and disclosing that information to others where legally permissible. By way of example, the OFT may disclose such information in connection with enforcement or regulatory action under its own powers or may refer the information to another government department or enforcement authority.

 

Signed: ………………………………………………………………… ……………………

 

Print name: ………………………………………………………………… ……………..

 

Address (Please print): ………………………………………………………………… …

………………………………………………………………… ………………….

………………………………………………………………… ………………….

………………………………………………………………… ………………….

………………………………………………………………… ………………….

Date: ………………………………………………………………… ……………..

 

Please note the OFT can only use your details in any action we may take against the above trader if you give your written permission for us to do so.

 

 

 

 

Additional contact details

 

In the event of the OFT needing to contact you for further information, it would be helpful if you could provide the following contact details. Please note these further details will not be disclosed to the trader.

 

Telephone number: (Home)……………………………(Mobile) ……………………….

 

Preferred time of contact by telephone: ……………………………………………….

 

E-mail address: ………………………………………………………………… …………..

[Sev]

Hi everyone,

 

after recieving my postcard, and a tip from a member of this board I lodged a complaint to the OFT at the following address:

 

They replied and sent me some documents to sign asking me if i was happy for them to initiate proceedings against these people.

 

They have been signed and sent off.

 

Miss Lucy Walker

Office of Fair Trading

2-6 Salisbury Square

London

EC4B 4AH.

 

0207-2118997.

Fax - 0207-2118429.

 

Alternatively email lucy.walker@oft.gsi.gov.u k

 

I hope they get everything they deserve.

[boo63]

Has there been any updates on this yet? Are OFT still investigating?

[barney2]

I hope so, i recieved one of their missed you cards. Not sure when it was sent as all post being forwarded from old address is taking an age. Think ill be putting in a complaint myself.

[jandroo]

ust to add...my father has just received a postcard - 16th June 08. It was addressed to Mr Donnelly, and he assumed it was for me, but when I called it turned out to be for my mother in law so still up to their usual tricks. Will complain to OFT.

The girls who answered the phone were really rude and insisted they were a courier company and wouldn't confirm the name of the campany they were trying to deliver on behalf of, only to say it was a packet

[Windywoo]

I just received another card from them this morning. Another complaint coming up!

[helpneeded1]

Hi

 

Have just received a First Direct Logistics card this morning, and was wondering what i need to do now, do i contact them.

 

Thx

[sillygirl1]

DO NOT CONTACT THEM - they will harrass you on the phone and tell you a load of porkies - ignore the card and follow the advice above and complain to the OFT

 

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES contact them - they are the worst debt collecting company going to deal with on the phone. They have an Indian based call centre and these guys are ignorant of UK law and will phone .

every hour - sometimes even more - all day and night and at weekends.

 

Follow the advice above and you shouldn't be hassled.

[helpneeded1]

Many thanks for the advice, still a bit unsure about what to do next. I have emailed the oft, will the company actually send bailiffs to my home address or will they start hounding me by post at this stage.

[sillygirl1]

They CANNOT send a bailiff around without a court order - they may threaten to send a field agent but they have no powers and can be given a letter to tell them to disappear.

 

If you do nothing you might get another card with a slightly different company name, ignore them and complain to the OFT.... unless you acknowledge them they can only send letters/cards.

[Windywoo]

An update, and advice what to do next!

 

Received a phone call yesterday, number came up as "Unavailable", asking for me in person, not thinking, I confirmed my name and asked who was calling, First Direct!! The indian person on the end of the phone asked me to confirm my address, which of course I didn't. I asked them how they got my phone number, "It's on the packet". I said I would not be accepting any packages, and put the phone down.

 

This morning, at about 9.15, the phone rang again, Mrs Windywoo, I said who's calling, First Direct, I put the phone down again. Any ideas what to do? Obviously this is going to be HFO services/Capquest chasing a debt I know they will not have the correct paperwork for, trouble is I can't barr the phone number as they are ringing from an extension!!

[vexlitigant]

Got my first card from First Direct this morning. Scratched my head for all of about 5 seconds before twigging that this is a frail attempt to get me to call them and relinquish a contact telephone number to them.

 

I was wise to this as in the first instance i have an ongoing spat with a 'creditor' who is pursuing me, AND, more precisely, i have in the past read with some interest similar posts on this site that refer to another load of dog butt debt collectors - Ruthbridge.

 

So, i dialled 141 followed by their number and waited for one of the drones to answer.

 

The answer was "Hi'.

I answered "Hi" and waited.

The drone then said "Yes"

So i said "Yes"

Feeling rather deflated by the silence, i decided to ease her in to my game. I said "i've received a postcard"

She said "did you say youi have a postcode"

I said "no. I have received a postcard, but i can give you my postcode if that's what you want"

The drone said "yes please"

So i gave it to her "TW1 3ST"

She said she couldn't find it

I said "perhaps if i gave you my telephone number, you might have some more joy?"

Drone said "yes please"

I said "0208 734 3500"

Drone said, "can't find that"

I said "That is because those are the contact details for another company very similar to your outfit that employ similar techniques in attempting to harass 'debtors' into payment

Drone said "you are a sad person taking the time to ring us"

I said that she was equally sad to be doing such a job, and asked her how much of her education she was flexing to fulfill her role

 

Phone went dead

 

Now i am really frustrated. I thought i was onto something. Thought that i might at the very least build a relationship with the poor soul, and even begin to council her with respect to her wayward choice of employment.

 

I may put some more on this thread tomorrow in lieu of my phone call this evening, in hope that i get a different operator working a different shift. I will probably respond to their "Hi' with my offer to take them through some security questions:lol:

 

 

If you have enough mischief about you, then this can be a very entertaining little diversion from the hum drum of every day life - after all, their number is 0800. Be careful that it doesn't consume you though, especially if you work from home.

 

:!:DO NOT phone these guttersnipes if you think that the call may ease your debt burden. IT WILL MOST PROBABLY LEAD YOU INTO A WHOLE STRING OF ADDITIONAL HARASSMENT MAIL AND UNSOLICITED TELEPHONE CALLS AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY & NIGHT. In my experience (not to be taken as absolute guidance) this section of the debt collection market wallows around with debts that have been cast off by creditors, and where no one else will touch them.

Edited September 17, 2008 by vexlitigant

[Windywoo]

Still having calls from the Indian call centre, usually about 5 a week at different times of the day They don't take no for an answer. I specifically told them I will not be confirming my name and address, and I am not expecting any sort of package, and to take my number off their data base. I have privacy at home on my BT line, any ideas how to stop these calls?

[vexlitigant]

I don't think you'll stop them in the short term. Your telephone number will continue to go around their auto dial system for a while.

 

To draw a small amount of satisfaction from the calls, don't acknowledge your name when they ask for you, ask them to hold on, take the phone next to the tv and turn it up. After a minute or so, ask them if they are still there, and again ask them to hold on.

 

I have heard of people putting very high pitched noises down the phone, but I personally wouldn't advocate that as this can hurt the ear(s) of the caller

 

Repeat until the calls stop

 

Hope that helps

[leedsangel]

Windywoo, change your phone number!! If this outfit calls you again, just put some music on and play it loudly down the phone. Alternatively, phone HFO up and just leave your phone off the hook!!

[renegotiation]

This in relation to their post cards posing as delivery companies. I had some correspondence with the OFT over this ongoing case. They couldn't tell me anything specific, 'but' I got the strong hint that this is progressing nicely. I was told that the name seemed very 'familiar' by the woman I spoke to :lol: and she told me to encourage others to keep complaining. I think I actually like the OFT. They 'seem' to do their job well from what I can make out. KEEP ON GETTING THE COMNPLAINTS IN.

[MARTIN3030]

Thread moved here.

Thanks Renogotiation for request.

[Windywoo]

Recieved 5 phone calls from this outfit yesterday, OH is getting really cheesed off with this, he actually got to speak to one of the "operatives" last night. He asked them where they were calling from, the reply was Surrey, which is a downright lie, 'cause the calls are coming from India. What was it about - a package waiting for delivery in London, they want to confirm my address. After demanding to speak to the phone jockeys' supervisor, which was refused, OH got very abusive and told the muppet where to stick his package, and told him he was invading our privacy, I switched the phone off, to cut off the call, as it was getting out of hand. Unfortunately the jockey didn't take no for an answer, the phone rang again after that.

 

Any advice on how to deal with this, obviously it will be HFO, should I change my number or ignore the calls - we have caller display!