1st Line Services

[LuggerBugs]

Just been cold called by the lovely Anita Hicks, who very kindly informed me that I was missold PPI on my Alliance and Leicester mortgae way back in the dim and distant past.

Apparently she knows this, because the banks and building societies have been fined millions of pounds and, wait for it... HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE COURTS TO RELEASE THE NAMES OF ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE BEEN MISSOLD PPI TO COMPANIES SUCH AS HERS.

I thought that would make you chuckle,

Now. All I have to do to get the ball rolling and the claims forms sent out to me is to give them £99 over the phone. Hmm. So. Somebody I have never heard of before calls me up and expects me to hand over my credit card details. Of course I will. Just as soon as I go and cut as slice of green cheese out of the moon, and make sandwiches for the fairies down at the bottom of my garden.

Seriously though, I managed to string her along for a good 20 minutes, and got a promise of an email off her, even though I will no doubt be getting spam for the next thousand years as a result. Unfortunately, the first email I got sent was blank, so I asked her to resend. But at least it gave me a web site...

http://www.1stlineservices.com/

Oh, look. An 0871 number to call... how nice. That will be free then. I also can't find anything on the site about their being regulated by the MoJ either. Even though the nice Ms Hicks assured me that they were. Look, she's given me their number and everything... CRM14628. I think I'll look it up. I'll get back to you in a mo.

[LuggerBugs]

Re: 1st Line Services

Well, I've got a number for their Managing Director. Or rather, the number he was silly enough to leave on the MSE forum a while back, so it may be incorrect by now...

07970 747017

The thread is http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=1255573

Mr Anthony Winchester sounds a tad upset that folks is dis'ing his company.

Just called the number, and got through to Anthony's mailbox. So it's still live then.

Anyway, I digress. It appears that they are indeed regulated by the MoJ...

http://www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/details.aspx/14628/First_Line_Services_(UK)_Ltd/2

However, I have a number of issues with this. Firstly, why are they cold calling me when I have signed up with the TPS?

Secondly, why would they expect me to hand over card details to someone who calls and withholds their number?

Thirdly, how have they got details of my mortgages and loans???

I could go on, but you get the picture.

OOPS. Silly me. I actually thought that their email might have the content plainly in view. How stupid I was not to realise that I needed to scroll right down. And scroll. And scroll....

Oh, here we go....

Representative: Anita Hicks

1st Line Services Website

www.flsltd.net
















Dear Mr. Luggerbugs,

Thank you for your inquiry relating to the possible recovery of compensation in relation to the mis-selling of a Payment Protection Policy attached to your loan/mortgage or credit agreement. We are working alongside Payment Protection Refunds, a claims management company authorised by the Ministry of Justice to represent members of the public making such claims.Payment Protection Refunds will represent you and will be working alongside a panel of solicitors who have specialist knowledge of this type of claim.

We do work on a "no win, no fee basis", however we charge an administration fee of £99.99. That admin charge will cover as many borrowings as you like. We will let you know who you can and cant claim from, and we will reclaim the mis-sold PPI. On average £1,500 would go towards PPI on a £5,000 loan.

Where possible you need to provide copies of your loan agreement and/or the PPI Policy itself with the completed “Questionnaire”. Providing a copy of the loan agreement will enable our specialist team to make a fast assessment of your claim and the likelihood of success. We find that most people keep the paperwork associated with their loan. If you haven’t then we recommend that you telephone your loan provider and ask them to post you a copy of your loan agreement and the terms and conditions of the loan. Loan companies usually post those documents to you within a few days. If the copies don’t arrive or you are unable to contact your loan company – don’t worry you can still send the completed Questionnaire in to us and we will liaise direct with the loan company to obtain the necessary copies; although this may delay your claim by a couple of weeks. If in any case your claim is unsuccessful, all admin charges are refunded.

.


Yours faithfully

Lynda Trafford

Administration Manager
1st Line Services (UK) Ltd


1st Line Services (UK) Ltd. Registered Office: 33 Heathfield, Swansea SA1 6HD. Company Registration Number: 6064645

1st Line Services (UK) Ltd. Admin Centre – 1st Floor, Unit 9, Cambrian Ind. Est. Coed Cae Lane, Pontyclun, CF72 9EW Sales Support Hotline: 0871 716811
email: sales@1stlineservices.com web : www.flsltd.net

Except. I WASN'T making an enquiry. I was Cold Called. By someone with a dodgy headset, that kept cutting out.

It's been fun, but when the nice Ms Hicks calls back at 4:30 this afternoon for my deposit, I think I'll just tell her that I'll be reporting them to the MoJ. And that I've been recording her calls. :tinysmile_twink_t2:

kerobo claims

[LuggerBugs]

Re: 1st Line Services

OK, phoned the MoJ to report their activities. One thing they mentioned was, they are not allowed to cold call if they are phoning in order to refer cases to a solicitor. That's something I didn't know. So I will ask the lovely Anita when she calls back if she would indeed be referring my case to a solicitor.

Apparently that would put the solicitor in breach of rule 7 of the Solicitor's Code of Conduct. Naughty, naughty.

And they are not allowed to tell outright porkies either. Something which I'm quite sure my new chum Anita is certainly guilty of.

[LuggerBugs]

Re: 1st Line Services

The not-so-happy Anita is so desperate to part me from my cash that she decided to call back early. Aww, bless. In response to a call from their solicitors apparently. Who now appear to be in breach of rule 7 as a result, I think. I dunno. I'm just a lowly technician, so what I know about these matters, you could write on the back of a stamp. :tinysmile_twink_t2:

So, she tried to clarify where she obtained my data from. Here's her version...

The banks, having been found guilty of misselling PPI, have been ordered by the courts to hand over the details of millions of their customers to the courts.

1st Line Services are then legally entitled to obtain those details from the courts. Presumably to be able to cold call folks, although she put it more like, so companies like 1st Line know who to call to help them claim.

They just want to be all warm and fuzzy then. They really just have our best interests at heart.

So, whilst she appears to sympathise with my concerns about my data being passed willy nilly to all and sundry, she wondered how else 1st Line could possibly "help" their customers.

She seemed quite happy about me passing those concerns on to the ICO though, so she really can't complain when I go ahead and do it.

I wonder if she'd like me to email her a link to this thread? It would be the gentlemanly thing for me to do, I feel. :tinysmile_kiss_t4:
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------
They can't say they weren't warned...

I’ll offer my apologies in advance, as I think this is likely to upset Anthony again…

http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/showthread.php?t=18484

Just for the record, I do NOT like being cold called, and certainly not by vultures such as 1st Line Services. Otherwise I would not be signed up with the Telephone Preference Service.

Now, we can do this the nice way, or the hard way. I’d like you to send me ALL the data that you hold about me, including the sources of that data. You can do it out of the goodness of your heart, or I can request it officially by way of a Statutory Access Request.

If your calls to me were recorded, I need transcripts of those calls also.

That data should include in precise detail exactly what information you hold, pertaining to each individual account that I have ever held with any financial institution.

I WILL be taking my concerns up with the Information Commissioner’s Office, but just how vehemently I do so depends a great deal on how cooperative your company is.

You have 7 days to send me your first response.

Regards,

Luggerbugs

[Sapphire]

Re: 1st Line Services

Rofl I take it you're playing nicely then.

[TUTTSI]

Re: 1st Line Services

Hi lugger

I might use that for Cento - who also do not play nicely or by the book.

Well done.

Tuttsi

[Tools]

Re: 1st Line Services

OK, phoned the MoJ to report their activities. One thing they mentioned was, they are not allowed to cold call if they are phoning in order to refer cases to a solicitor. That's something I didn't know. So I will ask the lovely Anita when she calls back if she would indeed be referring my case to a solicitor.

Apparently that would put the solicitor in breach of rule 7 of the Solicitor's Code of Conduct. Naughty, naughty.

And they are not allowed to tell outright porkies either. Something which I'm quite sure my new chum Anita is certainly guilty of.

Cheers Lugger, I didn't know that either, that will certainly come in handy

[michael]

Re: 1st Line Services

Rule 7.03 Solicitors Code of Conduct

7.03 Unsolicited visits or telephone calls
(1) You must not publicise your practice by making unsolicited visits or
telephone calls to a member of the public.
(2) “Member of the public” does not include:
(a) a current or former client;
(b) another lawyer;
(c) an existing or potential professional or business connection; or
(d) a commercial organisation or public body.

[TUTTSI]

Hi Lugger

According to many posts on MSE the full name of the company First Line Services (UK) Ltd
I also cannot see that they have a MOJ authorisation - but may be wrong. It may be worth checking out.

I also believe they should have a licence from the OFT, see my Cento thread.

Tuttsi

ps The MD's private mobile number is 07970 747017 Mr anthony Winchester - he actually posted it on the MSE site.

[LuggerBugs]

Re: 1st Line Services

Hi Lugger

According to many posts on MSE the full name of the company First Line Services (UK) Ltd
I also cannot see that they have a MOJ authorisation - but may be wrong. It may be worth checking out.

I also believe they should have a licence from the OFT, see my Cento thread.

Tuttsi

ps The MD's private mobile number is 07970 747017 Mr anthony Winchester - he actually posted it on the MSE site.

The number is still live, although I only got through to his voicemail.

Yes, they have MoJ authorisation. There's a link further up.

[LuggerBugs]

Re: 1st Line Services

Well, 1st Line now seem to be ignoring my emails. Not very professional. I'm quite hurt actually, after all the attention they showered me with yesterday.

So. A formal complaint by email is in order methinks, to be backed up in writing. Who to compain to though. Hmmm. Would they be covered by the FOS, maybe? Anyone any idea?

Don't think there's any point in a SAr to be honest. They'll no doubt delete everything and plead ignorance. So I'll just ask nicely by letter and give them 7 days to reply.

I think the ICO must be sick of me by now.

[LuggerBugs]

Re: 1st Line Services

Ach, I'm too impatient. I felt I had to report this as a scam through the Consumer Direct website. Might as well let as many folks as possible know about their sordid little operation.

I also went back to the email they sent me yesterday, and found this bit interesting...

We are working alongside Payment Protection Refunds, a claims management company authorised by the Ministry of Justice to represent members of the public making such claims.Payment Protection Refunds will represent you and will be working alongside a panel of solicitors who have specialist knowledge of this type of claim.

In other words, it would appear that they act as referrers for this Payment Protection Refunds shower, and that indeed they do cold call in order to refer to a solicitor. In which case, they are dropping said solicitor, or solicitors, in the poo,

The lovely Anita told me yesterday their solicitors are Kerobo Claims...

http://www.keroboclaims.co.uk/index.php

Much as I deplore anybody that operates in this sort of business, at least if you went direct to their website, you can download their pack without the bother of handing over hard earned readies.

I think I need to report them too, if for no other reason than 1st Line's practices are putting their solicitors in breach of Rule 7.

Not that I'm taking any of this personally, you understand. :tinysmile_twink_t2:

Oh, aye. Nearly forgot...

http://paymentprotectionrefunds.co.uk/

[TUTTSI]

Re: 1st Line Services

Gosh Lugger, you are taking this as personal as I am with Cento Client Review.

Breach and Misleading were two words used today by the MOJ complaints section that is dealing with my complaint.

Tuttsi

[LuggerBugs]

Re: 1st Line Services

I thought it best to email them and remind them that I am still awaiting a reply...

Still waiting for a reply. In the meantime, I am doing my best to spread the word about your apparent scam, and working my way through various regulatory bodies. Ministry of Justice and the OFT so far. ICO next.

Please don’t ignore me. As a result of information received, I am now concerned that you may have obtained my data fraudulently. This is a concern that I really must share with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Which reminds me… are you registered as data controllers at all? Do you also have a licence from the OFT?

So many questions to answer, and only my imagination to fill in the blanks. Unless you can clear up the confusion, of course.

Not that I am actually expecting a reply. But I do want to do my best to upset Mr Winchester.
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------

Gosh Lugger, you are taking this as personal as I am with Cento Client Review.

Breach and Misleading were two words used today by the MOJ complaints section that is dealing with my complaint.

Tuttsi

hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

[LuggerBugs]

Re: 1st Line Services

OOH. Somebody doesn't sound happy...

Dear Mr Lugger,

I am contacting you regarding 2 emails which have been received by our customer service team. Firstly please accept my apologies for firstly contacting yourself as you are part of the "Telephone Preference Service" and we as a company when purchasing data from third party/ data capture companies request that all data has been TPS'd. Also any data we have built up over the past 10 years as directors, we would try to ensure that no one on it is on the TPS. Your information now has been completly wiped off all databases we have.

With regard to the information we have on yourself all we have is as follows: -

Mrs Luggerxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx01/10/1993 00:00:00Alliance & Leicester Plc

We as a company are here to provide a service. A legal bill was passed in 2007 to enable companies like ourselves to help individuals claim back possible unlawful charges they may have occured via a PPI Policy attached to one or possibly a few borrowings, finance or even credit cards.
When you spoke with Anita, who is one of our Account Executives, she would have mentioned the Mortgage you had with the Alliance & Leicester. There would be nothing we could do for you as a company with regard to that Mortgage unless you had the original Credit Agreements. She may have asked you if you would possibly have re-mortgaged or taken any borrowings out against the property. Subsequently, she would also ask you if you had any other borrowings taken out over the past few years that you possibly would have had PPI on and possibly been mis sold the policy.

Not all of our initial calls are recorded, but over the next few months they will be. We do however record every Quality Control call.

I hope this answers your queries.

Regards


Mr. Anthony A. Winchester

First Line Services (UK) Ltd
Unit 8 & 9 Cambrian Ind. Est.
Coed Cae Lane
Pontyclun
CF72 9EW


Tel: 08717 167811 Fax: 0871 906 9922 Mobile: 07970 747017



For more information on First Line Services (UK) Ltd please visit our
website
on http://www.flsltd.net
This e-mail is intended only for the above addressee. It may contain
privileged information. If you are not the addressee you must not copy,
distribute, disclose or use any of the information in it. If you have
received it in error please delete it and immediately notify the sender.


DISCLAIMER
This material has been checked by us for computer viruses and, although
none has been found, we cannot guarantee that it is completely free from
such problems and we do not accept liability for loss or damage which
may be caused.

Well, if it was my WIFE they were after, WTF were they doing talking to me about it???? Breach of DPA right there.
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------
And my reply...

Actually Mr Winchester, it does NOT answer my query. I would be very pleased to know the source of your data. I note that you have now very conveniently erased all pertinent data. As I suspected you would, thus ensuring that any Subject Access Request I may have made would now be pointless. However, I must insist that you disclose your source, even if for no other reason than my wife can then write to tell them to stop sharing her data like confetti.

I am also interested to know whether you are registered as Data Controllers with the ICO, and whether you are licensed with the OFT. I imagine too, that you would require a licence as you are running a credit related business. That is something I must check out.

Regarding your statement that a legal bill was passed enabling companies such as yours to help individuals, I have a problem there. Anita actually told me that the courts had ordered the banks and financial institutions to hand over details of their customers, and that your company was then allowed access to that data in order to “help individuals.” A completely different scenario to the one you have attempted to paint. Now, you may not have a recording of the phone calls. I would like to assure you that my recording equipment is perfectly adequate.

I am also concerned that you are attempting to pin the blame for lack of diligence in regard to the TPS. I assure you that it is YOUR company that must make its own checks with the TPS. You cannot simply assume that your source is accurate in any regard. You obviously have very old details, as our relationship with Alliance and Leicester has long since passed. Why the hell am I telling you how to run your own business? Just get a grip, sort your staff out, and start behaving in a responsible manner. Better scripts for your “accounts executives” might be a good starting place.

I now have doubts about whether or not you actually have erased all data. I have, within the space of a few minutes, received calls where the caller ID was SECRET. However, on the second call, there were Welsh accents in the background. Coincidence? I really don’t believe in coincidences. So if it happens again, I WILL come and chase you and hold you responsible.

I have yet another concern that you might be able to help me with. Well, 2 concerns, but they are related. Firstly, your website makes no mention of your CRM number, and speaking of the MoJ, you say in the MSE website that you have been authorised by the MoJ to conduct this business since August 2008. How is it then, that one of your case studies is from a supposed customer dated JULY 2008. And the others are dated AUGUST 2008. Are we to believe that your service is so quick that you have been able to assist several people in the same month that you were allowed to operate? Or is the answer simply that you have been operating prior to that time, without the benefit of authorisation from the MoJ?

Oh, hell, I might as well throw this one into the mix as well. Rule 7 of the Solicitor’s Code of Conduct prohibits anyone from cold calling on their behalf. And yet, Lynda Trafford tells me…

a claims management company authorised by the Ministry of Justice to represent members of the public making such claims.Payment Protection Refunds will represent you and will be working alongside a panel of solicitors who have specialist knowledge of this type of claim.

You can perhaps begin to see why I am more than a little miffed with the way you earn a crust. Although “earn” is perhaps pushing things a little, don’t you think? It seems that you are little more than a call centre generating leads for the solicitors and this Payment Protection Refunds shower. But please do correct me if I am wrong.

Regards

Luggerbugs