Advantis Credit help

[BlueUrchin]

Hi everyone,

Hoping someone can give me a little advice/guidance regarding a letter I received today from Advantis Credit.


The letter reads;

Dear XXXXXX XXXXXX

Advantis provide professional services to a number of large organisations in the UK. This includes verifying the address of customers they've lost contact with but still need to speak to about a customer account.

You can find out more about the services we offer by visiting our website www.advantiscredit.co.uk or calling 01782 97 14 02. (Different number than on their website)

One of our clients have instructed us to verify your current address. We are writing to confirm if the above address we hold is the correct address for you.

We understand that there are a number of reasons people may lose contact, particularly at the moment due to coronavirus.
Please get in touch as soon as possible so we can share more information.

I've never had any dealings with them before.

A little background info, the past few weeks I have been dealing with a DCA over an unpaid parking fine. I moved house and forgot to inform the DVLA, so the parking ticket was issued to my old address. The DCA used tracking to find my current address to issue a recovery letter. Fortunately, this parking fine was wrongly issued as I was collecting for a charity who partially own the car park used for collections. Therefore, I was granted free parking for collections only and the fine shouldn't of been issued - the fine was revoked and the DCA confirmed the case was closed to them. All details have now been updated with the DVLA.

Fast forward 3 weeks and the above letter drops through my door. I 100% can confirm I owe no money, all payment plans, credit cards, loans etc are paid up to date with no defaults. But the letter isn't requesting debt recovery, it's requesting my info.

After reading up about Advantis and scams I'm unsure what to do. Any help is very much appreciated.

[MIKE770]

Phishing letter. See whatever next

[BlueUrchin]

Thank you - do I just not respond to the letter then?

[MIKE770]

Wait and see if anything???

[BlueUrchin]

Will do - thank you.

[MIKE770]

Advantis chase "bad debts" off finance companies and collect defaulted accounts on behalf of DVLA, Scottish Power, First Utility, NPower and others.

They also chase in debts on behalf of HMRC.
does any of this refer to you?

[MIKE770]

or could send prove it letter if they persist (they probably will) ??



Dear Sir/Madam

Account No: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

You have contacted me regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself.

I would point out that I have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to CREDITOR

I am familiar with the Consumer Credit sourcebook of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which states the following rules.

“A firm must not ignore or disregard a customer’s claim that a debt has been settled or is disputed and must not continue to make demands for payment without providing clear justification and/or evidence as to why the customer’s claim is not valid.” 7.5.3

“A firm must suspend any steps it takes or its agent takes in the recovery of a debt from a customer where the customer disputes the debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds.” 7.14.1

“Where a customer disputes a debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds, the firm must investigate the dispute and provide details of the debt to the customer in a timely manner.” 7.14.3

“Where there is a dispute as to the identity of the borrower or hirer or as to the amount of the debt, it is for the firm (and not the customer) to establish, as the case may be, that the customer is the correct person in relation to the debt or that the amount is the correct amount owed under the agreement.” 7.14.4

“A firm must provide a customer with information on the outcome of its investigations into a debt which the customer disputed on valid grounds.” 7.14.5

“Where a customer disputes a debt and the firm seeking to recover the debt is not the lender or the owner, the firm must:
(1) pass the information provided by the customer to the lender or the owner; or
(2) if the firm has authority from the lender or owner to investigate a dispute, it must notify the lender or owner of the outcome of the investigation.” 7.14.6

In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore, ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

I would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above accounts unless you can provide evidence as to my liability for the debt in question.

I await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the FCA of your actions.

If appropriate I will also take this matter forward as a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service and Information Commissioner’s Office.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully


(Type your name, DO NOT SIGN IT)


“we have traced the debt back to you”, with a deadline to respond by. You can disregard this, as they still need to provide proof of the debt, which should be the original credit agreement with your signature. This is why you shouldn’t sign the letter, as this would provide them with a copy of you signature and could be used to re-create the original credit agreement.

NOTE:- this has been copied from internet site!

[BlueUrchin]

Thank you for getting back to me. They aren't asking for any money or claiming they are chasing a debt of any sorts. They are just 'tracing' my current address. I have no debts outstanding, all finance options are paid via DD monthly and I have checked and all have been paid up to date. They aren't asking for money/payment and I have no debt issues I've been made aware of. All of my loan agreements/finance options are and have been paid monthly and on time.

[MIKE770]

then wait do not contact yet, as may be the usual phishing all names the same as yours hoping they get a reply from the right person.