Connaught Collections - CC Licence

[FunkyFox]

Hi all,

 

I received a brace of letters recently from Connaught regarding a disputed debt with 1st Credit. All the usual bla bla bla stuff.

 

Anyway, as it was the first time I had had the pleasure of receiving communication from them I did a bit of digging and was supprised to note that their Consumer Credit Licence expired last Wednesday, the 18th March.

 

Now I assume that this is an oversight on someones behalf (either connaught or the OFT) OR perhaps in the current climate 1st Credit are doing away with Connaught.

 

Either way its quite interesting and for the time being at least, the threat-o-grams from Connaught really arn't worth the paper they are written on.

 

FF:)

[palomino]

Somehow they will fudge their way around this.

 

Perhaps their renewal is still being processed or somesuch ...

[UnitedFront]

My understanding is that operating any form of credit or credit recovery service without a valid cc lisence is actually a criminal offence!! "Operating without a Lisence!"

 

On this basis, surely the police should be informed?? Not that I expect they would be keen do much!!

[FunkyFox]

Interesting that the second letter I received was actually dated the 18th, so technically sent whilst they were unlicenced so to speak.

[cerberusalert]

The OFT take their time updating their online registry. Why not email them (OFT) and ask for the details?

[ScarletPimpernel]

The OFT's database shows that the licence as 'current', even though it also shows an expiry date of 18 Mar 2009. This is because Connaught submitted a renewal application on 16 Mar 2009, and I gather from previous cases that they are allowed to continue trading in these circumstances.

 

Where the database shows 'current' even though the expiry date has passed, click on the 'history' button, and any changes renewals are shown on the page that appears.

[FunkyFox]

That's very interesting thanks. As this thread is now 'factually inaccurate' it may as well be deleted.

 

Thanks again for the clarification.

 

FF

[sosumi]

The OFT's database shows that the licence as 'current', even though it also shows an expiry date of 18 Mar 2009. This is because Connaught submitted a renewal application on 16 Mar 2009, and I gather from previous cases that they are allowed to continue trading in these circumstances.

 

Where the database shows 'current' even though the expiry date has passed, click on the 'history' button, and any changes renewals are shown on the page that appears.

SP, I've just done that for Moorcroft Debt Recovery:

It says this:

Categories:

 

CategoryAction Consumer creditRemoved Consumer hireRemoved Credit brokerageRemoved Credit reference agencyRemoved Debt adjusting/counsellingRemoved Debt collectingRetained

Their Licence was due 16th January, shown as 'current' but Licensing Event details - 'Pending'... 2 months late. Any ideas what this means?

[ScarletPimpernel]

Pending usually means that it's being processed. On the OFT's main site they say that there are backlogs in processing CCLs, so I wouldn't take it to mean anything sinister - although I suspect that they are checking things more carefully these days.

 

WRT the various categories, as I understand it, it was usual in the past for companies to just tick all the boxes, and be licenced for various functions; now they have to be specific, which is why in many cases you'll see various removals and retentions.

[sosumi]

Okay thanks SP. All the letters/threatograms we've received from them were during the last 2 months. Their licence expired 2 months ago. Do you think they could be one of the OFT 13?

On the OFT website it says:

Unlicensed trading

Unlicensed trading is a criminal offence punishable by a fine, imprisonment or both. You must not trade before your licence has been issued, or carry out business activities under a category it does not cover.

If you have traded while unlicensed, you may apply to us for an order for any arrangements you have made to be treated in law as if you had been licensed - but you could still be prosecuted.

The Office of Fair Trading: Applying to be licensed

I know who I'll be updating tomorrow.

[Kraken1]

but if it says 'Debt collectingRetained' then what are they doing that they don't have a license for?

[sosumi]

but if it says 'Debt collectingRetained' then what are they doing that they don't have a license for?

That's one of the things I'll be asking the OFT.