Jump to content


C.A.R.S. anon text msg over Vonage Limited IP phone debt


style="text-align: center;">  

Thread Locked

because no one has posted on it for the last 4123 days.

If you need to add something to this thread then

 

Please click the "Report " link

 

at the bottom of one of the posts.

 

If you want to post a new story then

Please

Start your own new thread

That way you will attract more attention to your story and get more visitors and more help 

 

Thanks

Recommended Posts

The message said:

 

'Could (my name) please contact (their name) URGENTLY on (number) Quoting Ref No (number)'

 

I googled C.A.R.S. and i'm still not certain who they are but I did find a website relating to debt collection.

 

Is this standard procedure nowadays, for Debt Collection agencies to text you on your mobile asking you to call them?

 

Anyway, I found it a bit strange and wondering if anyone may have experienced anything similar?

 

From what I can think of, I have 3 debts.

 

Credit Card Debt

Student Loan Debt

and I owe £500 to a company I bought a study course from (this is, unofficially, in dispute, and I haven't heard from them in months since responding to a letter they sent.)

 

Needless to say, I haven't responded to the text message.

 

Can anyone offer me any advice for what I can do?

 

The thought of a debt collection agency on my back makes me want to cry. lol

:D

CAG Newbie

Link to post
Share on other sites

Continue to ignore them, until they send something which has more substance, and even then I would still ignore them.

 

How old is the student loan?

 

And the Credit card?

 

Cars are Creditlink Account Recovery Services, and one of the more inept Debt Collectors.

 

They are best ignored, and certainly don't phone them, you'll end up with one of their unqualified, untrained threat monkeys spouting nonsense.

'Rude' debt collector called off - Sunday Sun

Who ever heard of someone getting a job at the Jobcentre? The unemployed are sent there as penance for their sins, not to help them find work!

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Credit Card is ongoing, i have a monthly DD to make payments.

 

And Student Loan is about 5 years old.

 

I just read somewhere online someone else had a similar issue and it was related to a non/late payment to vonage, the IP phone provider.

 

Text messages from debt collection - HEXUS.community discussion forums

 

I have a vonage phone and have noticed they haven't taken payment out this month (usually every 5th) so perhaps this is similar and I will get on the phone with Vonage first thing to find out more, and settle payment if need be.

 

The only reason I can think of as to why payment never came out of my account is because A&L have recently completed transferring my account to the Santander group, and it looks like I now have a new Sort Code.

 

Wouldn't A&L make arrangements to transfer all DD's correctly?

 

I'm still not going to contact c.a.r.s. but will instead wait for something more official from them. In the meantime I will contact Vonage.

:D

CAG Newbie

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Cartaphilus
The thought of a debt collection agency on my back makes me want to cry.
On the contrary, it's they who will be crying now you've found your way here and how to beat them. :D
Link to post
Share on other sites

Credit Card is ongoing, i have a monthly DD to make payments.

:-o:-oNot advisable, set up a Standing order for the same amount...

 

And Student Loan is about 5 years old.

Just wanted to see if it was pre98. But might be of some info to you;How and when you repay your student loan (courses starting from 1998) : Directgov - Education and learning

 

I just read somewhere online someone else had a similar issue and it was related to a non/late payment to vonage, the IP phone provider.

 

Text messages from debt collection - HEXUS.community discussion forums

 

I have a vonage phone and have noticed they haven't taken payment out this month (usually every 5th) so perhaps this is similar and I will get on the phone with Vonage first thing to find out more, and settle payment if need be.

 

The only reason I can think of as to why payment never came out of my account is because A&L have recently completed transferring my account to the Santander group, and it looks like I now have a new Sort Code.

 

Wouldn't A&L make arrangements to transfer all DD's correctly?

You would like to think so! Probably best to give them a ring and double check, then if your charged anything by Vonage for late payment, the bank can pick up the tab.

 

I'm still not going to contact c.a.r.s. but will instead wait for something more official from them. In the meantime I will contact Vonage.

 

DCA's are hilarious to deal with, they will tell you the Moon is blue and made of wensleydale, and they even believe it themselves, you have nothing to worry about where they are concerned, in fact you will be amazed at the incompetence and unprofessionalism they show.

 

Who is the CC with and have you thought about requesting your CCA from them? Have they stopped interest being added?

Who ever heard of someone getting a job at the Jobcentre? The unemployed are sent there as penance for their sins, not to help them find work!

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

On the contrary, it's they who will be crying now you've found your way here and how to beat them. :D

 

:D I am very pleased I find this forum. It's great!

 

Consumers needs as much support as they can get nowadays. (sometimes its our own fault though. ie. not reading the small print)

:D

CAG Newbie

Link to post
Share on other sites

DCA's are hilarious to deal with, they will tell you the Moon is blue and made of wensleydale, and they even believe it themselves, you have nothing to worry about where they are concerned, in fact you will be amazed at the incompetence and unprofessionalism they show.

 

Who is the CC with and have you thought about requesting your CCA from them? Have they stopped interest being added?

 

Barclaycard, who are pretty damn awful and have just raised my interest rate. What's CCA?

 

...

 

So, good news: Vonyage support were still available tonight

 

Bad news: it took me close to an hour to sort out!

 

In the end, i'm none the wiser whether vonyage is related to the message I recieved but I found out more about why payment wasnt being taken out.

 

Vonyage made a mess of something and were actually going to charge me a £23 disconnection fee even though I never requested my line be disconnected, and with me still being in possession of the vonyage adapter - claimed I had sent it back which is why my line was 'auto-disconnected' and thus was being charged a fee.

 

To cut a long story short, i eventually managed to sort it out and have my account balance zeroed, so therefore have nothing in dispute with Vonyage and I have no active account with them anymore.

 

Still, the people I spoke to couldn't confirm if there was a relationship between C.A.R.S and vonyage. Although I still suspect it is so, I will have to find out more or maybe even wait it out and see if C.A.R.S come back to.

 

I can't believe trying to solve one thing I uncover more personal financial disaster waiting to happen, but hey, at least one's out the way now!

 

Thanks for your advice so far. You seem like an expert on consumer advice.

:D

CAG Newbie

Link to post
Share on other sites

As normal DCA's never make it clear as to who they are why they are contacting you and who you owe? One of the most simple things to do would be to be honest and up front from the word go, but they fail miserabaly.

 

They will have to much better than a text message asking for you to call them in order to get a response I'm afraid.

 

So your Barclaycard debt you are paying a reduced amount, but they are still adding interest? You may aswell pay them £5 a week then spend £40 a month on the card, as your never going to reduce the debt.

 

A CCA is the consumer credit agreement which you will have signed in order for you to be issued with the card and be accepted for a certain amount of credit, depending on when you took the card out (Was it pre 2007?) then you can request your CCA to see if it is enforceable and it will put you in a much stronger position to offer them a Full & Final (F&F) offer of payment to clear the account.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/resources/templates-library/86-debt-collectors/581-cca-request-letter

Who ever heard of someone getting a job at the Jobcentre? The unemployed are sent there as penance for their sins, not to help them find work!

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Cartaphilus
(sometimes its our own fault though. ie. not reading the small print)

 

Oh, well. But the thing is ... DCAs must also read the 'small print' ie guidelines when dealing with a debtor and how to do so properly, which is what people need protecting from, not themselves. Like sending texts to people and not telling them what they want, or even explaining how they came by your mobile number. It's the equivalent of knocking on someone's door, asking them for money and then expecting them to cough up without giving them any proof they are entitled to do so but then telling you they can do so without any comeback.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Complain to the OFT/TS via Consumer Direct - Contact us for failing to make it clear who they are and what they are contacting you about.

 

Ofcom | Unsolicited text messages

Who ever heard of someone getting a job at the Jobcentre? The unemployed are sent there as penance for their sins, not to help them find work!

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

FFS!

 

So...A little on the angry side this morning/afternoon.

 

I've received two formal letters from C.A.R.S. regarding an outstanding balance (which doesn't exist) with Vonage Limited (so it was them!), signed by Tony Murphy, C.A.R.S.'s 'Recovery Specialist'. (pathetic!)

 

The first letter they back dated all the way to 8th July even though the first comm I had with them was via a Text Message sent 13th July. Idiots. (If I remember correctly, the letter arrived the week beginning 19th July)

 

I ignored it, as I knew I had settled everything with Vonage on the 13th the day I got the text message.

 

I received a 2nd letter indicating how 'extremely disappointed that we have neither received payment nor a satisfactory response to our previous letter... BLAH BLAH BLAH!' Well, boohoo! This arrived yesterday but was dated 21st July.

 

Basically, the letter threatens to commence 'a formal debt recovery process which could involve a claim being lodged against you in your local county court'.

 

It later says that this could lead to additional legal costs and entry of my name on to a 'judgement register' ??? which could, apparently, make it difficult for me to obtain credit in the future. (This would obviously suck as I don't want my credit rating affected in any way)

 

And then there's more debt recovery speil about 'seizure of assets', 'charge against property', and 'direct deductions'. Idiots.

 

Anyway. I called them and spoke to, i imagine, a receptionist who was moderately polite but less than helpful. (she couldn't wait to put the phone down.)

 

I explained there is a misunderstanding and they need to contact vonage as I have no outstanding balance. She said they'd look into it but gave no indication of how long it would take and when I'd be informed.

 

...

 

I then contacted vonage again as I am now beyond furious at receiving yet more threatening letters, and that after the first time i called them they told me they knew nothing of c.a.r.s.

 

The person i spoke to still doesn't know and she put me on hold for over 5 minutes to see if anyone else did - still no.

 

but after another long conversation, she said she would call the number c.a.r.s. provided and try a come to a resolution.

 

*sigh*

 

I tried so hard to be put in touch with someone from vonage who does know about their association to c.a.r.s. but apparently, NO ONE DOES!!!! wth?

 

Anyway, I really hope this gets resolved and I can get formal confimation I owe nothing to either party, but frankly, I'm just as annoyed at the way vonage do business as I am about a 'chancers' debt recovery agency being on my back.

 

What approach should I take to make formal complaints (to be honest - mainly about vonage) because I really do think the way this has all worked out has been completely pathetic?!

 

What authorities deal with issues similar to this?

 

Thanks for reading...it was good to rant about all this, but for now...rant over! =)

:D

CAG Newbie

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Cartaphilus

Firstly, I'd simply not bother phoning them. It's a wasted exercise.

 

I explained there is a misunderstanding and they need to contact vonage as I have no outstanding balance. She said they'd look into it but gave no indication of how long it would take and when I'd be informed.
In other words - never. Also, just think of how much you are spending on your phone bill calling them to get them to sort out a debt you don't owe them. It also increases their profits BTW doing this each time you call.

I've received two formal letters from C.A.R.S. regarding an outstanding balance (which doesn't exist) with Vonage Limited (so it was them!), signed by Tony Murphy, C.A.R.S.'s 'Recovery Specialist'. (pathetic!)

Secondly, it's not for you to go chasing their mistakes by claiming you owe a debt which you say you don't.

 

Thirdly, have you sent them the 'prove it letter' which merely states quite clearly that if you don't have any proof I/you owe this debt then sod off! The letters are just the normal, standard idiotic threats. I can well imagine or picture what would happen if they took someone to court, had no proof the debt belonged to you ... If I ran up to you in the middle of the street, demanded money off you and you'd never seen me before ... Same thing.

 

Finally, I would do what Bazooka Boo suggested. I'd waste no more time on these people nor money contacting them for a debt you don't owe.

 

The more you phone them the more they will contact you.

 

Also, you seem to have several different issues with several different creditors going on here which is just confusing things and the best way to proceed. In which case it might be best to separate them into separate threads if possible.

 

OFCOM may (or may not be) come in handy BTW for whom to complain to about Vonage. I have just quickly read plenty of others in your same position. If you google you'll see what I mean. Just wondering if you post this over in the Telecoms section?

Edited by Cartaphilus
Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Cartaphilus
Vonyage made a mess of something and were actually going to charge me a £23 disconnection fee even though I never requested my line be disconnected, and with me still being in possession of the vonyage adapter - claimed I had sent it back which is why my line was 'auto-disconnected' and thus was being charged a fee.
Right, well ignore what I said above ... Product of getting mind frazzled by DCAs today. ;)

 

I would get onto OFCOM about the above as they have erroneously disconnected you from what you say eg their error and cannot expect you, the customer to be sorting this out and also not incurring debt collection fess as a consequence of their blunder. Also, maybe Trading Standards as well for unfairly disconnecting you, then not owning up by merely the fact they have now set Rotweillers on you eg CARS. Their mistake, they sort it out is what I am saying. If it's £23 ... I really don't see it going near a court. The rest of the threats, if you look at the OFT guidelines you will see they are not allowed to threaten you directly with court, seizure of anything. The usual stuff, then, from these companies.

 

Yes, it's Vonages error ... But we know they won't be owning up to it anytime soon. Hence why I suggested the Telecoms forum if you post on there as well you may get more help with that aspect of dealing with it.

 

I also found rather a lot on Google about Vonage and pretty similar cases to yours when disconnected. However, for the disconnection thing if you have been disconnected due to their error then OFCOM are the ones to complain to.

 

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/

 

As I don't know the actual circumstances surrounding how your disconnection error came about I can only give you any advice based on that eg OFCOM being one. But for the others Bazooka Boo already gave you the links for whom to complain to. But as it appears to be a debt incurred by a disconnection error suggested OFCOM as well, the ones who regulate this industry.

 

I used them BTW for a billing problem with BT I had once, the debt was wiped out with a few phone calls after speaking with an OFCOM representative and being put in touch with the right people to speak with/to. Suffice to say had I not gone to OFCOM, done that I wouldn't have got the debt wiped out. Also, it was due to another companies error like yours is. But it hadn't gone as far as any DCAs.

 

I really wouldn't bother contacting Vonage anymore; you will wait for hell to freeze over as they are right you are wrong until their errors are pointed out and made obvious to them by a higher authority. Vonage, by their own error making has set the dogs on you, now you set the bigger dogs on them eg OFCOM by complaining to them. I know it's a DCA matter but I would still complain to them because of how it's come about, see how things go.

 

When all said and done it really shouldn't have to come to all this malarkey to get them to admit they have made an error which has subsequently led to distress to you and harassment from a debt collection agency. Unfortunately, it does these days.

Edited by Cartaphilus
Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for the advice Cartaphilus.

 

To make matters slightly more complex, cars seem to believe I owe £33.99, and not the £23 vonage advised me of when I originally spoke to them.

 

I will launch the necessary complaints regarding both parties.

:D

CAG Newbie

Link to post
Share on other sites

Guest Cartaphilus

That'll be the fees that most telecoms providers appear to charge when they pass it to a DCA; in so doing pass the cost of the collection fees onto the debtor. What CARS will be doing then, in this instance, is acting on behalf of Vonage they won't own this debt. You don't owe £23 anyway. So let's see what complaints to those authorities does.

Edited by Cartaphilus
Link to post
Share on other sites

Hammer their customer service department, their open till midnight.

Vonage UK Customer Care | Contact us

 

And when they fail to sort your complaint out correctly, you need to give CISAS a nudge..

CISAS

Who ever heard of someone getting a job at the Jobcentre? The unemployed are sent there as penance for their sins, not to help them find work!

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't launched a complaint with ofcom or consumer direct as of yet.

 

But I have sent a very direct email to their customer services department.

 

I got a call back from their 'executive response team' about 6 hours later. It's someone based in the US. Timing wasn't good so I wasn't able to pick up.

 

I've sent them another email telling them to call me again becuase i'm not prepared to absorb the cost of calling a US number.

 

I'm going to also call ofcom and see what they advise.

:D

CAG Newbie

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...

My mum is getting harassed by C.A.R.S.

 

This is on behalf of XLS phone company who she had her ex business phone number with.

 

She was made bankrupt and the handlers sold the business on and settled the debt. It turns out that they allowed the new business owners to continue using that phone under mums name!

 

Now also, they have a sligthly different variation on mums surname and are using this to refuse to take this bill into the bankrupcy.

 

I am not sure what she should do here because one way or another, the debt is not hers but is being harassed for it. We could put it on the lap of the receivers but they are being the most evil lot imaginable.... stressful times made worse by debt agencies with bad practice. Surely the receivers are the failures here by taking control and allowing more debt to be incurred.

Link to post
Share on other sites

If they are claiming that it can not be included in the bankruptcy because it is a different person (with different spelling). Ask them why they are harassing your mum if they believe it to be a different person.

 

it is either the correct person and is therefore covered by the bankruptcy or it is a different person so stop chasing your mum!!!! end of...............

 

and report them to oft

HTH (Hope This Helps) RDM2006

 

THE FORCE (OF CAG) IS WITH YOU

;)

 

We've Helped You To Claim - Now Help Us Remain

A live Site - Make a Donation

 

All advice and opinions given by people on this site are personal, and are not endorsed by Consumer Action Group or Bank Action Group. Your decisions and actions are your own, and should you be in any doubt, please seek qualified professional legal Help.

 

However, if you have found any advice you have been given helpful.

Why not show your gratitude And

Click the * on the post you found helpful.

Link to post
Share on other sites

If they are claiming that it can not be included in the bankruptcy because it is a different person (with different spelling). Ask them why they are harassing your mum if they believe it to be a different person.

 

it is either the correct person and is therefore covered by the bankruptcy or it is a different person so stop chasing your mum!!!! end of...............

 

and report them to oft

 

Very well said, thanks for that :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 Caggers

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Have we helped you ...?


×
×
  • Create New...