Reporting Fraud

[Huff&Puff]

I've noticed that a number of DCAs have started to resort to what, in my humble opinion, is fraud these days. Making up phantom payments to try an con a victim into believing that n alleged debt is not Stat Barred, or phantom CCJs, for example.

 

Then yesterday, Radio 4's "You & Yours" programme had an item about a new centralised fraud reporting service. It starts 11 mins 30 secs in:

 

BBC iPlayer Console - You and Yours: 04/02/2010

 

It is also interesting to note that the police are pretty much openly admitting hat they don't normally investigate fraud, because it is not on our beloved government's "target" list Nevertheless, it might be another avenue that we could pursue, at the same time as reporting a DCA to Trading Standards and the OFT.

 

The new site is here:

 

Home | actionfraud

 

Any comments or thoughts, Caggers?

[Revenant]

Thanks for sharing that H&P

Another possible weapon and not far from me so I could walk round and say hello

R

[NailPost]

PC Plod will often say that the fraudulent activities of debt collectors are not criminal but civil matters and will try and put complainers off. This should not happen. A crime is a crime and the police are under a duty to investigate each and every one be it on their target list or not.

[alfwithhair]

Why not drop these chaps a line

 

Home | SFO - Serious Fraud Office

[Guest Cartaphilus]

Agree with Nailpost. I've been very concerned through my own experiences of debt collecting agencies for a while now, about the various tactics and one which I am experiencing right now. The DCA isn't making a record of payments received by standing order. So, surely, that is also a fraud because all details duplicated off the standing order details the DCA provided aren't incorret because the payment(s) would surely bounce back if incorrect? A trend I've worringly noticed, a failure to maintain basic book keeping of payments received. Surely that must be an offense? Being accountable to the various people end of the financial year for one. Yet I know they are receiving payments because I can see the balance reduction each letter.

 

As to the other things, definitely agree. If only having viewed programmes like Watchdog, Martin Lewis's own ITV programme.

 

It is good that it's being highlighted, albeit not maybe receiving the high level of media exposure it should be eg headline news so it's then a major issue that needs looking into.

Edited February 5, 2010 by Cartaphilus

[palomino]

If the DCA is a limited company then there is another tack to try. I would report the matter to Companies House with the suggestion that income isn't being properly recorded and the accounts might therefore be misstated.

 

Our friends at HMRC will naturally want to investigate any instances of tax evasion, so you might like to contact their helpline as well.

[NailPost]

The theft act has been used to acuse the four MPs of fraudulently claiming on their expenses. The charge sounds very much like what debt collectors do - perhaps we should be ganging up on plod and the cps etc to use this legislation to force the cretins to comply and behave or face the ultimate sanction.

[dcakiller]

I can just see it now threat monkeys geting draged out of there offices in handcuffs.