Arrow/Orange

[eightcat]

Hello all, I was wondering if anyone could help.

 

I received a letter about a week ago from Debt Mangers LTD stating they had been looking for a person with my name and to contact them, the usual phishing trip, which I ignored. Today I have received a letter headed Doorstep Visit with a threat to have someone call at my address unless I call them immediately. They claim I owe £728 to Arrow/Orange. I did have an Orange phone account, but not since October of 2007, and I cannot recall owing them anything. My main concern is that I live on a property that shares grounds with my landlord, and do not want debt collectors turning up, especially since no details of any money owing have been given.

 

Any advice on how to proceed?

 

Many thanks

[unclebulgaria67]

Don't react in any way. Just check your credit record to see if this debt is on there.

 

The doorstep collectors are just s/employed people who they send lists out to and if they manage to gain payment or an arrangement, they earn a commission. They often don't visit and if they do, it will be a quick visit at any time. According to reports some will do the trick of having a parcel for Mr X and does he live here. They then say what the visit is really about.

 

I suspect that if you respond, you are more likely to be visited.

[eightcat]

Thank you for your reply.

 

I have checked my credit record, and nothing is showing. What concerns me is the fact that if they do come they will speak to my landlord, as we share the same grounds. Also, if the alleged debt is not showing on my credit report does that mean it is not existant? My credit report is in good standing right now and would like it to remain that way.

 

Many thanks

[unclebulgaria67]

Thank you for your reply.

 

I have checked my credit record, and nothing is showing. What concerns me is the fact that if they do come they will speak to my landlord, as we share the same grounds. Also, if the alleged debt is not showing on my credit report does that mean it is not existant? My credit report is in good standing right now and would like it to remain that way.

 

Many thanks

 

Sometimes debts are not entered on credit records in error. Perhaps the debt is older than 6 years, as debts drop off credit records after 6 years ?

 

If you are concerned about the landlord, you could just mention this in passing, by saying that you have had a letter from a debt collection agency about a debt that is not yours and you have checked your credit record which shows nothing. You think they have the wrong person, but wanted to let the landlord know, just in case they hear anything and you are not around to deal with it.

[i hate bailiffs]

Its nice to see they have changed there fetish of collecting doorsteps to visiting them now:wink:

 

If you do get a doorstep visitor remember they are not bailiffs,never will be and can be told to do one!!

 

you do not need to talk to them just shut the door

[Bazooka Boo]

Lodge a formal complaint to the OFT&TS about yet another childish clown outfit failing to trace debtors correctly.

[eightcat]

Lodge a formal complaint to the OFT&TS about yet another childish clown outfit failing to trace debtors correctly.

 

I am considering it actually. I can't see how they can send a phishing letter asking to confirm my identity, then just decide it for themselves and send another letter with potentially sensitive information - breach of DPA?

 

Should I write to them telling them to prove it and cease all contact until they can?

[Quality Bird]

Hi Eightcat

I received exactly the same letters as you, from the samecompanies that you have mentioned, both of the letters arrived over a monthago.

Now this isn’t meant as advice but I did nothing with theletters and up until now, I have not received a “Visit” or any further lettersfrom these companies. I must admitthough, this hasn’t stopped me being paranoid every time a different car parksoutside my house and in a sort of weird way, I now get disappointed every timethe postie delivers the usual junk!

I have already posted my own thread on my situation. I have printed the Doorstep Visit letter fromthis site to hand to the Gorilla that may or (I think most likely) may notvisit. I also sent a SAR to the originalcreditor when this all kicked off and that should be back in the next couple ofweeks, hopefully that arrives before the Gorilla and I’ll then know if it is SB’dor not (Knowledge is power)!!!

Anyhow, I cannot guarantee that they won’t come knocking, Ijust thought that I’d just try and give you an insight.

I believe that by responding to they’re letters, that we’dbe playing into their hands, by not responding, I believe they are just movingonto they’re next victim.

I hope this reassures you, sorry for rambling.

QB

[Quality Bird]

Sorry about the words being joined up and no paragraphs, I typed this out in Word and pasted it, it looked ok before posting

 

QB

[eightcat]

Thank you QB, any reassurance is certainly welcome! I shall watch your thread for any further developments

[Quality Bird]

I'll defo be posting any developments!

 

I think it's a good idea to mention it to your Landlord (in passing)

 

Good luck

[Bazooka Boo]

Should I write to them telling them to prove it and cease all contact until they can?

 

No, just ignore them, if you respond in any way they will think they have the right person and simply start to con you out of money you don't owe.

 

Just lodge the formal complaints, let them deal with it.

[eightcat]

Hello all.

 

I posted here toward the end of November for advice on a letter I had received from Debt Managers LTD regarding an orange debt they are collecting on behalf of Arrow.

 

The advice was to basically ignore, which I did and heard nothing until

 

I received another letter today from a company called Call Serve,

in very blunt terms stating that 'unless I have good reason not to, payment is required within 7 days.

 

Is ignoring still the best option?

 

I am quite happy to, I just don't want them trying to obtain a CCJ by default.

 

I have checked my credit ref, and nothing appears there,

and I have not been with Orange since Sept of 2007,

 

I don't remember any debt but was having personal problems at that time and cannot be sure.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[unclebulgaria67]

Hello all.

 

I posted here toward the end of November for advice on a letter I had received from Debt Managers LTD regarding an orange debt they are collecting on behalf of Arrow. The advice was to basically ignore, which I did and heard nothing until I received another letter today from a company called Call Serve, in very blunt terms stating that 'unless I have good reason not to, payment is required within 7 days. Is ignoring still the best option? I am quite happy to, I just don't want them trying to obtain a CCJ by default. I have checked my credit ref, and nothing appears there, and I have not been with Orange since Sept of 2007, I don't remember any debt but was having personal problems at that time and cannot be sure. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

If you phoned Orange customer services I suspect that they can provide the details on their systems. You should not need a reference number. They can probably find your details using your name and address at the time.

 

The debt not appearing on your credit record does not mean it is statute barred, as they may just not have noted the default. Anyway contact Orange to find out why there was any debt, if there was one.

[Bazooka Boo]

From previous advice, IMO I would still ignore, forget any notion of getting a CCJ, this will have been done within months of defaulting, or as soon as their efforts to collect had been exhausted.

 

Keep an eye on your credit file, and remember they have ZERO legal rights, knowledge or power to do anything, they are not bailiffs.

[dx100uk]

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