I got a, 'This is Fredrickson International Limited calling on behalf of Orange'....worried :(

[vinokirk]

Hello everyone,

Last Wednesday I was at work when the phone rang, my collegue answered and they asked if 'Mr John Smith' works here, he said yes just a minute I'll put him on, so I took the phone and they asked if I was 'John Smith', I answered yes whose this, they said they needed some security information from me before they continued. I refused and asked them who they were and why were they calling. They tole me they were Fredrickson International calling on behalf of Arrow Global and Orange, I advised them I'm not giving out personal info over the phone and she said, I'm terminating the call and hung up.

I was extremely puzzled by this call, but couldnt for the life remember the name of the company she told me when i got back home. Anyway, I got a letter from them today :

We are attempting to contact the above name person....etc etc....If you are the abvove named person please contact us on 0845xxxxx....If however you are not the person named above, please accept our apologies for this contact. If you are able to supply us with info....etc etc... please tell us.

I quickly searched and found out they are a debt collection agency.

I did have an Orange phone account in 2008 but I cant remember ever owing them any money!

Ive read some stories about them on here. The thing I'm most worried about is how they got my work number, and now they have confirmed I work there on that number, they will ring all the time. I work on security so the number is constantly in use with people ringing and is also used in site emergencys (on a power station the emergencys could possibly be very large scale). I do not want them ringing asking for me all the time, the company who owns the plant will not like that at all.

I've read on here that I should not speak to them by phone at all and any letter I send to them I should not sign. Is this sound advice in my situation?

If anyone could give any help, it would be much appreciated.

Regards

vinokirk

[PGH7447]

OK couple of things here

 

send them, a dont call this number again, also report them to the OFT for:

 

A. using a works number

B. Asking you if you are you and if you are not you asking for info about someone else.

C. ignore the idiots

[victoria_siempre]

Hi vinokink

 

I send this the OC

 

" You have telephoned me at work in a manner that appears to breach Office of Fair Trading and other regulatory bodies’ guidelines. I have verbally requested that you cease this breach; I reiterate that now. Your telephone calls have the effect of psychological harassment and act in a way that is likely to be publically embarrassing to me. Your telephone calls may jeopardise my continued employment and result in significant financial loss.

 

Should you choose to continue to breach regulatory guidelines and UK and EU law by telephoning me at work I will report your activities to the Office of Fair Trading and the Financial Ombudsmen Service and other relevant agencies.

 

I have made an initial report today to Consumer Direct regarding your activities (Ref no: WMxxx) who have advised me to request a reply from you within fourteen working days prior to contacting them again to escalate this complaint.

 

Meanwhile I should be grateful if you would send me a copy of your complaints procedure.

You have telephoned me at work in a manner that appears to breach Office of Fair Trading and other regulatory bodies’ guidelines. I have verbally requested that you cease this breach; I reiterate that now. Your telephone calls have the effect of psychological harassment and act in a way that is likely to be publically embarrassing to me. Your telephone calls may jeopardise my continued employment and result in significant financial loss.

 

Should you choose to continue to breach regulatory guidelines and UK and EU law by telephoning me at work I will report your activities to the Office of Fair Trading and the Financial Ombudsmen Service and other relevant agencies.

 

I have made an initial report today to Consumer Direct regarding your activities (Ref no: WMxxx) who have advised me to request a reply from you within fourteen working days prior to contacting them again to escalate this complaint.

 

Meanwhile I should be grateful if you would send me a copy of your complaints procedure."

 

 

love vic

Edited November 27, 2010 by victoria_siempre
repetitive strain injury

[eveninthequietestmoments]

Just a warning to all Caggers, but they have used a pretty obviously searchable username ... which not only takes you to a Youtube Rebel Sim card website (it's listed as being a [problem] on many websites as it involves unlocking contract phones) and then there's this ...

 

Welcome to the Security Exchange Information Security Forum...... Ask Computer Questions -> you receive FAST & PROFESSIONAL help! Cannot post the link, but you will find it. It's a new website, with very few members, possibly harvesting IPs if you visit it or go to look at the page. Either way, I think you should all treat it with caution. Up to you but you search the name online this is what you will find connected to it. Along with a lot of other pastebin stuff which looks an awful lot like hacker code, when read.

 

A hackers forum. As they haven't replied to any posts thus far, and appears to be another one time poster ... I would really, seriously be careful about responding to them. Google, you will find out what I mean. Unless it's some kind of elaborate 'spam' advertising their services.

 

I'd really be very careful considering where and what this username is connected to.

[vinokirk]

I have often thought about this. Ive used the same username for well over a decade.

[PGH7447]

Just a warning to all Caggers, but they have used a pretty obviously searchable username ... which not only takes you to a Youtube Rebel Sim card website (it's listed as being a [problem] on many websites as it involves unlocking contract phones) and then there's this ...

 

Welcome to the Security Exchange Information Security Forum...... Ask Computer Questions -> you receive FAST & PROFESSIONAL help! Cannot post the link, but you will find it. It's a new website, with very few members, possibly harvesting IPs if you visit it or go to look at the page. Either way, I think you should all treat it with caution. Up to you but you search the name online this is what you will find connected to it. Along with a lot of other pastebin stuff which looks an awful lot like hacker code, when read.

 

A hackers forum. As they haven't replied to any posts thus far, and appears to be another one time poster ... I would really, seriously be careful about responding to them. Google, you will find out what I mean. Unless it's some kind of elaborate 'spam' advertising their services.

 

I'd really be very careful considering where and what this username is connected to.

 

Sorry to sound DIM, but what the heck are you talking about

[vinokirk]

Sorry to sound DIM, but what the heck are you talking about

PGH7447, it does sound a little strange that eveninthequietestmoments is talking about me in the third person. They are refering to searching my username 'vinokirk' in Google.

Perhaps eveninthequietestmoments thinks I'm a spammer:

As they haven't replied to any posts thus far, and appears to be another one time poster ... I would really, seriously be careful about responding to them. Google, you will find out what I mean. Unless it's some kind of elaborate 'spam' advertising their services.

What spam could I possibly be advertising given on what I've said in my original post?

If I'm wrong eveninthequietestmoment then please accept my sincere apologies.

As I have said I've used this username for well over a decade. You have chosen two forums I'm on that deal with 'hacking', but you'll also find me on the Lexus Owners club forum, Modaco.com, xda-developers.com and more than likely about 50 more forums I've been on in my 12 years of using the username 'vinokirk'.

I assure you I'm not a spammer and my query given in the original post is true and valid. I could even do you a video on my youtube page showing the letter and my face to prove just how sincere I am.

I have never had to do this when joining a forum before but if I need to I will.

Meanwhile on the other side of the table....

Many thanks to victoria_siempre and PGH7447 for your advice. I will wait too see if I hear anything more from them (which unboubtdly I wil ), and then I'll start to put everything I've learnt on here into action

If anyone has any more advice I would be most grateful

[Tingy]

Telephone harassment is a very serious issue and can have big implications for the culprit should you pursue it. I would write as per VS. If I were you I'd also make yourself a drink, then read the thread on here "Turning The Tables on DCA's"

[PGH7447]

sounds a bit sad googling a users forum name:-(

 

wow just googled mine and I have several pages, maybe I'm a spammer too:madgrin:

[Bazooka Boo]

Just googled mine aswell! Seems I ma quite prolific on the 'whocallsme' website, aswell as CAG for some reason??

Anyway

[victoria_siempre]

Hi vinokirk

 

Back to topic indeed: I always assume 'in vino veritas'; and I can't afford Spam, it's simple luncheon meat or polony for me.

 

Telephone harassment: I complain to the OC about the harassment activity of their 'agents' as per above post and then complain, as per previous post, to FOS and OFT by dissecting their reply.

 

They won't ever stop them harassing; this is their collection and enforcement business model: but I can harass back. their harassment model is profit driven. Once you don't produce profit, they'll move on. Collectively, we need to fight all this to close this down permanently.

 

Onwards and upwards.

 

Love

 

vic

[Tingy]

Vic,

I know it's slightly off subject again, but have you read the thread I mentioned. I know it's quite old, in fact pm'd the OP last night to see whether it's still working for him, but I found it interesting and potentially useful fight back information.

[vinokirk]

OK, recived another letter today asking for £148.74 on behalf of their client 'Arrow Global Guernsey Limited'.

They say:

'You have failed to pay the balance of £148.74 which remains outstanding despite previous repeated requests for payment.'

I have no idea who these people are, and I have never had any requests for payment from anyone!

Did I see a letter somewhere on this site to send them, asking for proof of debt?

 

When sending them a letter do I put on it, with regards to: address, name, signiture?

Edited December 4, 2010 by vinokirk

[spamheed]

Maybe I'm a spammer, or maybe it's a double bluff, the clues are out there

[vinokirk]

Maybe I'm a spammer, or maybe it's a double bluff, the clues are out there

I'm no good at riddles

[Bazooka Boo]

This is the letter, if you want to start a game of letter tennis;

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/content.php?428-General-debt-letter-if-you-know-nothing-of-the-debt

 

It's a miserly amount and personally I would ignore it, forget about it, and file it away, What do they think they are going to be able to do for that pocket money amount?

[vinokirk]

Ok, I've now got a 'Letter before action' letter.

They're adding £65 court and solicitor fees if proceedings are issued.

Does it usually get this far and then they drop it?

A mate of mine said he saw a program where a lady owed Orange £30 and she didnt pay and now she cant get credit or a morgatge anywhere. He said its something about the fine print of a mobile phone contract.

This business is the first time ive heard about this debt to Arrow Global Duernsey Ltd. They havent showed me any proof of debt. Could it be a [problem]?

[maroondevo52]

Can't you phone Orange and ask them if your due them anything, then get them to send you proof.

[Tingy]

Can anyone on here post details of Frederick International Ltd having the license to collect debts? (NOW not in the past)

[vinokirk]

Ok, I have since recived two more letters since the last one that said 'We will take action within the next 7 days'. One with a payment card asking me to pay. The next one was from a different firm - Brian Carter Solicitors.

Should I still ignore them?

If i send them a letter asking them to prove the debt ive read that i shouldnt sign it and should send it by recorded delivery. Do i put my address and name on it? Or just the ref no?

[Tingy]

Be very wary with BC. He will take legal action easily (but normally back down fairly easily when challenged), and gets a lot of judgments by default. Whether you should ignore it depends on what exactly the letter says. If it is clear he is intending to take legal action, he will. If it's a we may/could/might if you don't x,,y or z then ignore it. Perhaps the best thing would be to post it up deleting all personal details and reference numbers.

[vinokirk]

Here is the letter

-------------------------------

Dear Mr Smith

We write with regard to this outstanding debt.

Payment must be made in full within 14 days, failing which we will reccomend to our client that proceedings be issued without further notice.

Should proceedings be issued, additional charges will be added to the existing balance as shown below:

[/i]

Before the account is refered to us to litigate you still have an oppurtunity to contact fredrickson intl with your payment proposals. Call them on 0845.....

This is a serious matter and you may wish to seek independant legal advice.

---------------------------------

 

The original debt is for £150, and with these additional charges it comes to £215

[Tingy]

vinokirk,

 

Apologies haven't read all this thread. Could you very briefly tell me what you've done so far and when? -eg- Prove It letter sent to AGGlLdd/mm/yyyy, NOA requested......, SAR sent.... etc..... I have to say it reads more like a threat to me, but I'd be happier knowing a fuller picture. Sorry to be a pain!

Tingy

[vinokirk]

I have not contacted them in anyway. The only time i have spoken to them is when they very first called me at work and i didnt recognise their name so i didnt speak to them and they hung up on me

[Tingy]

That's good - you can at least buy yourself some time hopefully. I would now write to Fredericksons with the letter below. I have intentionally given them a long time in which to reply as you do not want them treating things urgently, and by giving 28 days, it takes it beyond their 14 day deadline followed by court action and gives you the control back. If they do take any action, you have put in a perfectly reasonable request asking them to prove you owe the money, so you just point that out and they should back down.

 

Hope thhis helps,

 

Tingy

 

Dear Sir/Madam.

 

Your ref: xyz123

 

You have contacted me/us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself/ourselves.

 

I/we would point out that I/we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to Frederickson International Ltd. Indeed up until the recent correspondence I had never even heard of you, hence my ignoring your letters. I assumed some sort of mistake had been made.

 

I am/we are familiar with the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPUTR 2008) and the Office of Fair Trading's Guidance on debt collection, which states that it unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

 

I/we would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. AND in not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

 

Furthermore ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment. I would also remind you, that I/we are aware of the 'MALG' Guidance/Code that you should comply with.

 

I/we would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above account unless you can provide evidence as to my/our liability for the debt in question.

 

I/we await your written confirmation within 28 days of the date of this letter that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to Trading Standards and also inform the Office Of Fair Trading of your actions.

 

I/we look forward to your reply.

 

Yours faithfully