Hillside Messengers - who are they?

[harrassed senior]

Have had both a telephone message and 'card' from these people. Firstly, am not sure how they have obtained my telephone number - have a suspicion - but would like confirmation of who they are. Have 'googled' them and it seems they are an and 'old friends' network? Have always preferred to stay away from such sites. They want me to call asap and quote a message number to obtain a message that is only valid for 7 days?

 

Maybe I have a very suspicious nature, but am always wary of such contacts. Any help would be most appreciated.

[Huff&Puff]

They definitely appear to be a tracing company working on behalf of DCAs

[Bazooka Boo]

Yes I found this also :Hillside Messengers

 

Sounds very ominous?? Just out the blue like that, don't let curiosity get the better of you.

 

There is also a tracing agency with a very similar name, and I believe that their real address is Welcome to Trace + Connect

[Huff&Puff]

Read post #7 here:

 

Debt Help UK Forum - Hillside services ltd

[harrassed senior]

Thanks for the swift replies, I too have just found the above post, makes interesting reading to say the least.

 

Curious one this as to my knowledge there should be no-one 'looking' for me as all have been or are being dealt with!

 

Will certainly NOT be calling them!

[Bazooka Boo]

And on Looking on their site, and reading between the lines, this is there approved method for contacting gone away's, definitely need reporting to the OFT.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Hillside Services Ltd's entry on the OFT Consumer Credit Licence database:

 

 

Licence Number:0480408

Licence Status:Current

Current Applicant / Licensee:

Business Name: Hillside Services Limited Company Registration Number: 3872713

Categories:

Consumer credit

Consumer hire

Credit brokerage

Credit reference agency

Debt adjusting/counselling

Debt collecting

 

Right To Canvass Off Trade Premises:No

 

Trading Name(s) (Current):

Hillside Information Services

Hillside Messengers

 

Issued Date: 08-Jan-2000

Expiry Date: 12-Jan-2010

 

Legal Formation:

Body Corporate (incorporated inside UK)

 

Current Individuals that run the organisation:

Name Position

Christopher Thompson OFFICER

Mr David John Williams OFFICER

 

Historic Individuals that run the organisation:

Name Position

Angela Susan Williams OFFICER

 

Nature of Business:

Debt Collection

 

Current Address(es):

Address Type Address

Principal Place Of Business Clifton House, Clifton Mills, Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 4JJ

Registered Office Clifton House, Clifton Mills, Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 4JJ

Historic Address(es):

Address Type Address

Principal Place Of Business Birkby House, Birkby Lane, Brighouse, W Yorks, HD6 4EN

Principal Place Of Business Birkby House, Birkby Lane, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 4EN

Principal Place Of Business Clifton House, Clifton Mills, Baliff Bridge , Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 4JJ

Principal Place Of Business Hillside House, Church Lane, Brighouse, W Yorks, HD6 1AT

Registered Office 57-61, Market Place, Cannock, Staffs, WS11 1BP

 

The whole Hillside Messengers website appears to be no more than an attempt to deceive and mislead. The Hillside Messengers name was only added in Oct 2009.

 

Note that the licence runs out in Jan 2010 - and there does not appear to be a renewal application.

[Rooster-UK]

Well found, SP.

[angry cat]

Good Grief...talk about covert tactics!!!

Hillside Messengers

 

Disgraceful:(

[Bazooka Boo]

Good Grief...talk about covert tactics!!!

Hillside Messengers

 

Disgraceful:(

 

Talk about total disregard for the OFT.

2 UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES

Communication

2.1 It is unfair to communicate, in whatever form, with consumers in an unclear,

inaccurate or misleading manner.

2.2 Examples of unfair practices are as follows:

a. use of official looking documents intended or likely to mislead

debtors as to their status, for example, documents made to resemble court

claims.

b. leaving out or presenting information in such a way that it

creates a false or misleading impression or exploits debtors'

lack of knowledge

c. those contacting debtors not making clear who they are, who

they work for, what their role is, what the purpose of the

contact is

Not to mention the Fraud Act 2006:

 

2 Fraud by false representation

 

(1) A person is in breach of this section if he—

(a) dishonestly makes a false representation, and

(b) intends, by making the representation—

(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or

(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.

(2) A representation is false if—

(a) it is untrue or misleading, and

(b) the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading.

(3) “Representation” means any representation as to fact or law, including a representation as to the state of mind of—

(a) the person making the representation, or

(b) any other person.

(4) A representation may be express or implied.

(5) For the purposes of this section a representation may be regarded as made if it (or anything implying it) is submitted in any form to any system or device designed to receive, convey or respond to communications (with or without human intervention).

3 Fraud by failing to disclose information

 

A person is in breach of this section if he—

(a) dishonestly fails to disclose to another person information which he is under a legal duty to disclose, and

(b) intends, by failing to disclose the information—

(i) to make a gain for himself or another, or

(ii) to cause loss to another or to expose another to a risk of loss.

Not that anyone will take a blind bit of notice, therefore allowing them to continue ignoring the Law..

[palomino]

This is from the Companies House website -

 

Name & Registered Office:

HILLSIDE SERVICES LIMITED

CLIFTON HOUSE

CLIFTON MILLS BAILIFF BRIDGE

BRIGHOUSE

WEST YORKSHIRE

HD6 4JJ

Company No. 03872713

 

 

Status: Active

Date of Incorporation: 08/11/1999

 

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Company Type: Private Limited Company

Nature of Business (SIC(03)):

7487 - Other business activities

Accounting Reference Date: 31/03

Last Accounts Made Up To: 31/03/2009 (TOTAL EXEMPTION SMALL)

Next Accounts Due: 31/12/2010

Last Return Made Up To: 08/11/2008

Next Return Due: 06/12/2009 OVERDUE

[palomino]

Interesting that the Registered Office address shown on their website is not the same as one shown on the Companies House record.

 

Anyone like to complain to Companies House?

[harrassed senior]

Seeing as how started this I will make some of the first 'usual' approaches. As previously mentioned I have an inkling who this might be, and if I am correct, this could lead to a very interesting case. Will add further details if and as this continues.

[lilly white]

just looking in

 

lilly :-)white

[Bazooka Boo]

Seeing as how started this I will make some of the first 'usual' approaches. As previously mentioned I have an inkling who this might be, and if I am correct, this could lead to a very interesting case. Will add further details if and as this continues.

 

I am intrigued and await with baited (& somewhat Garlicy breath!)

[malg]

Hi

There are a few companies involved here with seperate websites

hillside messengers, hillside services and trace and connect. They are all connected and David John Williams runs them. No matter what they say they are, their main line of business is tracing for debt collecting. I have checked the website registrations and if you look at the single pathetic page at www.hillsidemessenger.co.uk the email address given is on the domain hillsideservices.co.uk. and the registered office is the same cannock address. It is my opinion that this site is to mislead people into thinking that it is a messenger service. Yes they will pass on a message but how many debtors class their creditors as friends or family. The other site owned by this group www.traceandconnect.com or .co.uk comes straight to the debt collecting point. The registrant for trace and connect is you guessed it David Williams trading as hillside services limited. The final proof is their registration details on the CSA website

 

Hillside Services Ltd

Services: Consumer Debt Collection, Card Recovery, Bailiff & Process Serving, Consultancy, Advice, Training, Tracing

Contact: Mr D Williams

Email: [email protected]

Website:

Telephone: 01484 722995

Address: Clifton House, Clifton Mills, Brighouse, HD6 4JJ

 

So there you have it. I am fortunate to have no outstanding debts but I am investigating this company because they sent one of their in my opinion misleading and pathetic message slips to my address for a previous occupant. I consider companies like this as taking advantage and making money out of people who may be unfortunate in falling into debt. I also blame the banks for hiring them to do their dirty work. I did ring this organisation and asked to speak to david williams. They said he was out. I asked for his email address and his home address. They would not give it. I then asked them as a tracing company would they do one for me as I want to trace david williams and offered to pay. They said to write in but they only usually did business with large organistaions.

So they can give it out but they cant take. Pathetic.

all the best

malg

[Pinky69]

They sound like the Hillside Stranglers - and they were locked up for life long ago!

[harrassed senior]

Never did hear anymore, will probably never know what that was all about, I know I am getting forgetful in my old age so will keep their info in case I loose myself:D

[Tartan Barty]

Just there names sounds like we should be waving flags at them!

 

How about sending them this:

 

 

 

 

 

I'll give you a clue, the second word is 'off'

[harrassed senior]

Indeed, long time ago, but didn't even need the hint!!

[GoldenLion]

Just spoken to HAZEL from Hillside Messengers, very rude and also let slip they are a subsiduary of Halifax Plc. Theyre the bank using covert tactics to try and get you to give them details.

[leggyred]

Hi, have just been reading your thread regarding Hillside Messengers. I to received a letter from them today the only problem was they had addressed it to my very young cuz who has never even lived with me.

I thought that i would look them up before calling the number and boy am i glad i did as i was directed to your site. Does anyone know where i can take this letter from Hillside and make a complaint? As my cuz is only 9 years old and to my knowledge has no debts. Many thanks.

[Bazooka Boo]

Ha ha ha, a NINE year old with debts!!! That is absolutely classic :pound:you just couldn't make it up!

Oh boy oh boy are they getting desperate, you should NOT correspond with them directly, as all they will do is change your cousins name to yours or something equally as daft, although nothing is as daft as sending a 9 year old a debt threatogramme!

What you MUST do is lodge a formal complaint about them to the OFT&TS via http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/contact and let them deal with it, yoy might also like to inform your local MP of this too..http://www.writetothem.com/

 

I'm just trying to think who else could do with a ruddy good belly laugh? Apart from the fact that they use deception as part of their tactic to entrap people into giving personal and private details to them enabling them to trace alleged debtors, something which is completely against the OFT debt collection guidelines, using the guise that they are

Hillside Messengers are one of the leading companies reuniting you with your old friends, ex-colleagues or relatives

Then giving you a number to call where they use entrapment.

I can't find if they belong to any organisation such as the CSA, but it isn't really a surprise when they use such tactics.. I'd love them to send me a card or give me a ring...muppets

[Tingy]

How about a FOI request asking how many thank you letters they have had in the past 12 months relating specifically to them reuniting friends, colleagues or relatives or the actual number of non business related contacts they have reunited in the past 12 months. I bet it's not a very big number.

[harrassed senior]

Gosh, just re-reading this, I had forgotten all about them, never did hear anything more from anyone that I was not already dealing with, intriguing!