Answered an automated message call - from Northampton Country Court - No Letter?

[tobyb123]

I just had a call come in to my mobile and answered it to find an automated voice saying something like 'if you ignore this message it will be taken as...' But my phone had flagged it up as 'Possible Spam' and the recorded message was part way through, so I hung up. It's only when I searched for the number, then called it back, I find this was a message from Northampton County Court. I'm now position 35 in a queue to talk to someone! But their system apparently isn't able to search without me supplying a case number, which I don't have. I've never received a court letter (I would have remembered!!)

How do I find out why a court is in contact with me without any paperwork or a letter being received?

[R0b]

Likely to be a scam and the number probably spoofed to suggest it was coming from the court.

The court will never send you an automated call to say you will be taken to court if you ignore the message. The court is impartial and does not act on behalf of the claimant or the defendant other than to comply with legal procedures and orders/decisions from the judge.

The court will send correspondence normally by first class post but they may call you, for example to verify your contact number if you are having a telephone hearing. If wouldn't worry too much about it, but you may want to check your credit file in case there has been any judgments recorded against you - if there's none, I would treat it as a scam call unless you are aware of potential proceedings against you in relation to a dispute in which case call that person/company to confirm.

[echat11]

Hi TOBYB123

You could email them giving them your details. They do take sometime to respond- ccbc@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk

[ostell]

I would say it was spam and someone spoofed the number

[echat11]

https://www.justice.gov.uk/help/fraud

[tobyb123]

Thanks all for the replies! I did eventually make it all the way down the call queue and speak to the adviser - who straight away wanted a case number. I told her I'd had a call... and she said they'd never call so it's definitely a scam.
I didn't realise they could spoof number like that! Damn, the panic that sets in when you think you've got some unknown court action building against you, they know this of course!
I'll make sure to not panic about these scamming b#stards

[echat11]

Thanks all for the replies! I did eventually make it all the way down the call queue and speak to the adviser - who straight away wanted a case number. I told her I'd had a call... and she said they'd never call so it's definitely a scam.
I didn't realise they could spoof number like that! Damn, the panic that sets in when you think you've got some unknown court action building against you, they know this of course!
I'll make sure to not panic about these scamming b#stards

Report it via Action Fraud - https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/