Frontline collections

[sparkle99]

I have a bit of a strange query. For the past year or so I have received occasional phonecalls from frontline collections and they have left voice mails asking for someone who is not me so I haven't paid much attention. However today I received another voicemail from someone I assume is a bailiff on their behalf again asking for this person in regards to a debt owed to my old landlord, however they are not using my name. There was some conflict when I left the property 5 years ago about rent owed that I disputed and never heard anything again. Now this bailiff is threatening to come to my home? Now I don't know if they have my address or not, however surely when I tell them that I am not the person that they have asked for then they should disappear.
Im very confused to be honest and not really sure what to do!?

[Wombats]

Re: Frontline collections

By law they have to give you 7 clear days notice in writing (excluding Sundays) in order that you can either pay the debt or negotiate a payment plan with the enforcement agent (new name for bailiff). If these are only phone calls you are best keeping quiet and admitting nothing for the time being, as they have to put an intent to visit in writing.

[wales01man]

Re: Frontline collections

If its not you they are after do you know the person they are asking for?
They cannot legally take anything of yours for someone elses debt

[sparkle99]

Re: Frontline collections

Ah well I have had nothing in writing that I know of, however I have been racking my brains to think if I have had any letters to my address for the name that they are asking for n there haven't been any as far as I know.....I'm moving in 2 weeks too! I just find it very strange that they have my phone number and have quoted that its for my old landlord but its not my name or anything close to my name!

[sparkle99]

Re: Frontline collections

Nope I have no idea who the named person is, that's why I've ignored it for so long.

[Wombats]

Re: Frontline collections

It is a common occurrence. You'll probably find they've sent out loads of letters to people who share the same name as well. It's known as a phishing excercise. Anyone who responds is likely to get even further attention.

[bizzybob]

Re: Frontline collections

They can get a phone number mixed up as well , or if you get a new SIM contract or PAYG with a recycled number which just happened to belong to some poor debtor and you will start getting calls from the whole food chain of bottom feeders, like MuckHall, Moorcarp. Snotcall and others. I had that with a work mobile, day i had it, got a call from Tossendales Collect after some previous holder of the number, sent them away with a flea in the ear, expecting Muck Hall for her next.

Same can happen with a landline, or even a call centre error where they mix up a digit, and call you instead of the intended victim, The incorrect number then is attached to the record and you then get the phone harrassment meant for another person. I have had the whole food chain for a guy who has never had my landline number nor been resident, one DCA inadvertently gave me the debtor's address I then told them that Oops it was three miles from my address and that I was reporting them for breach of DPA. heard nothing from them, but then two months later got a call from Muck Hall for ssame guy so obviously the other lot sold it on PDQ This has gone on for twelve years so the debt is likely Statute Barred anyway. but still it goes around and around.

About time these dogs were chained up or choked off. OP is not alone.

[Sir Vere Brayne d'Emmidge]

Re: Frontline collections

I have a bit of a strange query. For the past year or so I have received occasional phonecalls from frontline collections and they have left voice mails asking for someone who is not me so I haven't paid much attention. However today I received another voicemail from someone I assume is a bailiff on their behalf again asking for this person in regards to a debt owed to my old landlord, however they are not using my name. There was some conflict when I left the property 5 years ago about rent owed that I disputed and never heard anything again. Now this bailiff is threatening to come to my home? Now I don't know if they have my address or not, however surely when I tell them that I am not the person that they have asked for then they should disappear.
Im very confused to be honest and not really sure what to do!?

This is a serious breach of DPA! One does not leave a voicemail message stating that the reason for the call is to collect rent arrears, especially if it is not known who will receive the voicemail message, this is why, when sending a fax for the same purpose the specifics are not revealed.

Both voicemails and faxes have to say something in the region of an urgent matter that needs to be discussed..or similar

[Wombats]

Re: Frontline collections

It is a breach of the DPA, but they know the ICO won't do anything over a breach of this sort, but hope the call may cause sufficient worry to prompt someone into action. Sadly the unequal and opposite reaction is likely to be that that person is bombarded by calls.