Are poundaccess still operating?

[jlc001]

I have received the following response from OFT :

 

 

 

Consumer Credit Act 1974

Complaint Against: Via Sms Uk Limited trading as Poundaccess.Co.Uk

 

Licence No: 0644831

Thank you for your email, complaint form and permission to disclose slip received on 16 April 2013. I am very sorry to hear about the difficulties you have been experiencing.

 

I can confirm that Via Sms Uk Limited trading as Poundaccess.Co.Uk holds a consumer credit licence. All consumer credit licence holders must satisfy the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that they are fit to engage in those activities for which a licence is required and are subject to ongoing monitoring during the lifetime of the licence.

 

I'm afraid that due to disclosure issues we are unable to reveal whether we are investigating a trader. A full list of our formal enforcement action is available on our website http://www.oft.gov.uk and is also recorded on the Public Register (CCR) which can be accessed on our website.

 

The Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the Act) regulates the way in which licensees carry on business. In addition to the Act, we produce guidance for licensed businesses which outline overarching principles relating to consumer protection and fair business practices. As you may know, we have recently undertaken a review of the payday lending sector’s compliance with the Act and our Irresponsible Lending Guidance. On 6 March 2013 we published our final report highlighting our findings, see following press notice: http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/credit/payday-lenders-compliance-review.

 

Please note that the OFT has no authority to become involved in individual disputes. A list of organisations which provide free help and guidance can be found at: http://www.gov.uk/options-for-paying-off-your-debts/overview. Also, the Financial Ombudsman Service can help with most complaints about consumer credit products and/ or services if the trader fails to satisfactorily resolve the matter. FOS can be contacted at: Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SR; tel : 0845 080 1800, or http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.

 

We are grateful for the information you have provided as consumer complaints are vital to our role of assessing traders’ fitness to hold a credit licence. I therefore would be grateful if you would take a few minutes to complete and return the attached complaint form and permission to disclose slip. The information you provide will be used to inform the OFT’s further consideration of the payday lending industry.

 

Thank you again for contacting us.

[citizenB]

I am a little concerned that a PDL company is providing a "Mobile" number for customers to make contact on.

 

There should be a Land line number - Email and Head office Addresses.

 

Do we know the details of the company who is dealing with the administration of the Company that has gone bust ? Perhaps they will know who has taken over the accounts.

[citizenB]

I wonder if it might be worth contacting your Local Trading Standards office or perhaps National Debtline might know something about the demise of Pound Access ! and who might be taking over the accounts !

[currymonster]

I've just had a call from Engage Solutions (number was 07720637829) offering me a discount of £150 if I paid off a £400 outstanding payday loan that was taken out with Poundaccess. I can't pay it straight away but am tempted at the end of the month but everything seems very very vague with them. Who's to say another company won't phone up after I pay them claiming that they are working on behalf of Poundaccess as well?? Strange way to operate.

[renegadeimp]

Discount means somethings wrong with the debt. Don't fall for it.

[dx100uk]

yep never pay a debt where a discount is offered

 

always smells bad.

 

dx

[currymonster]

Should add that Engage Solutions were able to bring up my secret question and answer which was unique to poundaccess so they do have access to their old database.

[jlc001]

Surely, written evidence must be provided that Poundaccess has been taken over by an alternate organisation - mobile numbers, constant changing email addresses and an informal email stating that this is so just doesn't instill me with confidence. It also doesn't help that OFT are saying that Poundaccess still have an active trading licence.

Edited May 3, 2013 by Conniff
typo correction

[renegadeimp]

Yep. If anyone is chasing the debt, they must do so in writing and under full instruction of the OC. This means the OC should provide proof and not a random DCA saying "give me money now".

[jlc001]

I have now received the following emails from John Milburn of Engaged-Solutions:

Ihope by now that you have received the information from PoundAccess, Can youplease confirm if you have received them or not?

Regards

PS My company details are as per my signature stripand our ConsumerCredit License: 0651832 & DPARegistration: Z3199378sorry for the delay is sending this information

I was informed that an email was sent to you yesterday fromPoundAccess/viasms.co.uk regarding notification of my company’s takeover of theaccounts. If you wish I could contact them directly and request it to besent again?

Regards

John Milburn-Collections Manager

Engaged Solutions Limited

 

Thisemail and any file attachments are confidential and intended solely for the useof the individual or entity

to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error pleasenotify the originator as soon as possible.

If you are not the intended recipient, you are not authorised to, and must notuse, disclose, copy, distribute, retain or rely

on this email or any part of it. Any views expressed in this message are thoseof the individual sender, except where

the sender specifies and with authority states them to be the views of EngagedSolutions or any of its agents,

representatives or associated companies

EngagedSolutions Ltd is a limited company registered in England and Wales. Registerednumber: 08047869.

Registered Office: Meteor House, First Avenue, Finningley, Doncaster, SouthYorkshire DN9 3GA

John Milburn-Collections Manager

Engaged Solutions Limited

 

 

I have replied saying that I have received nothing, either by email or post and that I am still waiting. Is this the right thing to do, or should I now communicate with this person? Any advice would be welcome.

Edited May 3, 2013 by ims21

[shamone21]

I am now in the same situation, I have been in contact with John and Engaged solutions who offered the option to repay just the original loan amount over a period. Obviously there is a link as they too had details of my poundaccess account including security questions/answers and address details etc..

 

I have not heard anything from poundaccess or any other 3rd party.

 

I am obviously tempted to just clear this debt, preferably just the loan amount, however who's responsibility is it to layout the proper route for repayment? I have not heard from any liquidators.

[dx100uk]

until this new company fwd you the SIGNED copy of the agreement you took out [even if digitally signed online]

 

IMHO I would NOT be paying them ANYTHING.

 

dx

[sillygirl1]

Just make sure you update the OFT with this development, remind them they have closed the main company down but you are getting contacted by subsidiaries.......

[jlc001]

As an updated - this is the email I received, supposedly from PoundAccess confirming that my account had been handed over to engaged-solutions - funny that the email has come from engaged-solutions.

Via SMS

Your agreement has beentransferred to Engaged Solutions who will be in touch shortly with up to datepayment arrangements. All your terms and conditions have been transferredtogether with any balances outstanding.

You can contact EngagedSolutions to make payments and arrangements on 0800 949 9110 where the teamwill be happy to help and listen to your current circumstances.

Kind Regards

Admin Team

For and on behalf ofPound Access

I will reply voicing my concerns in this regard and let you know what happens.

[dx100uk]

VERY suspect.

 

dx

[citizenB]

If there has been an assignment, then I think I am correct in saying that either one of the companies should be contacting you in writing. The letter should almost certainly be on company headed paper identifying their head /registered office and any registration and licence numbers.

 

An email and a mobile telephone number, IMHO is not the way to be advising someone that their account has been assigned, transferred.. etc. In fact it appears very unprofessional at the moment.

[jlc001]

I am of the same mind. I have replied to the latest email, supposedly from ViaSMS and requested that a copy of the original agreement and a copy of the assignment me to send to me hard copy in the post. I replied to the email from Viasms@engaged-solutions etc and I will await to see what, if any, response I receive. If I hear further from John Milburn of engaged-solutions, I will send him a copy of my emailed request. OFT still confirm that PoundAccess have their trading licence etc, so I am more than a little concerned that I deal correctly with the right person.

[matt14321]

Please visit the pound access website..... (I can't post links yet)

 

That would seem to conclude that Engage Solutions have obtained Poundaccess accounts, but the phone number went straight to voicemail when I tried to call.

 

Just because of what I say above, please everyone do not do something rash!

 

Matt

[renegadeimp]

Thats a weird post matt :/

[matt14321]

Hi.

 

Sorry yeah reading it back its a pretty awful post.

 

I've read through the thread and it would the changes to the poundaccess website have not been discussed, hence why I brought that up. I put in the last paragraph to backup what people had said about being cautious.

 

I owe some money to poundaccess and am talking to payplan about the fact that poundaccess are now defunct and have ceased trading. I will update this thread if I hear anything else from payplan.

[renegadeimp]

I would tell payplan to hold the funds for now, and once a company proves beyond doubt that they have the assignment for the loan, THEN and only then allow the funds to be released.

 

So far we've had a few companies claiming they own the debt, but there hasnt been one notice of assignment to prove it yet.