Motor Mile finance calling employer

[specialagentbob]

This is not so much for me (the employer) but more for my employee.

We are currently getting almost daily automated phone calls from MMF saying that {the employees name} needs to call them back and now have had the automated "we will call at your home" message.

I know that the employee has had debt problems in the past but swears blind to me that she hadn't given out our business number as a contact number and she is currently on maternity leave and is not responding to any of our emails and phone calls.

Now of course if a MMF agent turns up at our business looking for her i'm not going to give them any of her personal details like home address (because we are signed up to the data protection act) but also I don't want to get her into anymore trouble that she may potentially be in.

We have had other calls from payday loan companies regarding the employee so I assume that MMF have bought the debt of them and with the other companies we have explained that the number they are calling is a business address and she is a employee and doesn't reside here but that seems to make no difference to them (to the point of them being very rude and saying "just go and get her will you" which we won't as we don't allow the business phone line to be used for personal calls)

So any advice on what I can do both to protect ourselves as well as the employee.

[simon D]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

I would be tempted to get MMF to write her a letter and put it in a sealed blank envelope, pass it to you and you write her home address on and post it to her.
If she doesn't respond to them, there is little else you can do but bat them off.

[PlanB]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

I would be tempted to get MMF to write her a letter and put it in a sealed blank envelope, pass it to you and you write her home address on and post it to her.
If she doesn't respond to them, there is little else you can do but bat them off.

What an odd suggestion :confused2:

At the moment MMF have only got a random phone number and are not sure she even works there. They clearly haven't got her home address or phone number or they wouldn't be looking for her at work, or they haven't had any success in approaching her the right way. I think it would be a moral (and possible DPA) disaster if the employer acknowledged that Mrs Employee worked there and then offered to collude with the debt collector to pursue and possibly harass Mrs Employee.

My advice is much more simple: hang up if they call again hone: The employer won't have done anything wrong by ignoring these calls and they'll soon stop. This is one occasion when the employer can literally mind his own business

[PlanB]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

We are currently getting almost daily automated phone calls from MMF saying that {the employees name} needs to call them back and now have had the automated "we will call at your home" message. . . .

. . . . Now of course if a MMF agent turns up at our business looking for her i'm not going to give them any of her personal details like home address (because we are signed up to the data protection act) but also I don't want to get her into anymore trouble that she may potentially be in.

^^^^ Cross that bridge when you get to it because no one has yet said they're coming to your business premises and do they even have your address? I doubt it. All you're getting is an automated digital voicemail message. Feel free to delete it unless you want to report MMF for harassment if you get too many of these calls. I would.

MMF are very aggressive and since your employee is on maternity leave next time you are in contact with her in a chatty way just casually drop the name of the excellent Mumsnet website because there are loads of new mothers on there who have been harassed by MMF when they've had no alternative but to take out a Pay Day Loan to make ends meet when maternity leave and/or reduced hours/money force them into debt. Here's one mother:

http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/h...ery-group.html

[CleverClogs]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

So any advice on what I can do both to protect ourselves as well as the employee.

Tell them that, as a general principle, you wish to have no further contact with them or any other loan sharks, whether by the electric telephone or otherwise. Add that you are not responsible in any way for any debt another person has allegedly incurred and that, in consequence, you will neither confirm nor deny to such usurers that any person is, has been or ever will be an employee.

Or just tell them to play with themselves until their bits drop off.

[specialagentbob]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

Thanks for the replies (very much appreciated) but just to clear some of it up

1. They already know that she works for us and is on maternity leave as initially we were getting voice calls (not automated) where we had said she was on maternity leave (as before they had identified themselves as MMF they would say "Can I speak to {employees name}" to which we naturally responded "No sorry she is on maternity leave"
2. We have had the automated message saying this is {insert MMF agents name} as we have had no response from you I will be turning up at your address without an appointment, to avoid this happening and any unnecessary embarrassment please press 1 to speak to etc.etc). It would pretty easy to find the business premises attached to the phone number just by googling the phone number (as we are a online business)
3. At the moment it's been impossible to contact the employee as they aren't replying to voice mails left on her mobile phone or emails that we've sent. We pay her wages straight into her bank account so she doesn't need to come into collect a cheque so in theory we might not even speak to her for a year (unless she contacts us about doing her KIT (keep in touch) days

Legally I know they can't do anything as the business has nothing to do with her apart from we employee her and as they already know this (as has been explained on the phone that she is an employee). I'm not sure what they think they can gain by the constant phone calls.
All i've told my staff at the moment is that no one is allowed through our door unless they are authorised to do so by me.

Once again thanks for the advice and hope that there will be more so it is a help to anyone else in the same situation.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

They already know that she works for us and is on maternity leave as initially we were getting voice calls (not automated) where we had said she was on maternity leave (as before they had identified themselves as MMF they would say "Can I speak to {employees name}" to which we naturally responded "No sorry she is on maternity leave"

That was a bit naughty of them and should be reported to Trading Standards, the Office of Flatulence and Twaddling and the Indolent Commissioner's Office. One of them might even think about asking Motor Mouth to behave themselves.

We have had the automated message saying this is {insert MMF agents name} as we have had no response from you I will be turning up at your address without an appointment, to avoid this happening and any unnecessary embarrassment please press 1 to speak to etc.etc). It would pretty easy to find the business premises attached to the phone number just by googling the phone number (as we are a online business)

So what would they hope to achieve if they did send some goon to your business address?

At the moment it's been impossible to contact the employee as they aren't replying to voice mails left on her mobile phone or emails that we've sent. We pay her wages straight into her bank account so she doesn't need to come into collect a cheque so in theory we might not even speak to her for a year (unless she contacts us about doing her KIT (keep in touch) days

Until and unless Motor Mouth obtains a CCJ in their favour and then seeks enforcement of it by an Attachment to Earnings Order, it really isn't your problem.

Legally I know they can't do anything as the business has nothing to do with her apart from we employee her and as they already know this (as has been explained on the phone that she is an employee). I'm not sure what they think they can gain by the constant phone calls.

Presumably, they are hoping to wear you down so that you'll tell them everything they want to know.

If they are using the same number or have withheld their number, I suggest you get their number blocked or get a 'phone blocker.

I really doubt that they would send anyone to visit you, as they're far too cheap to do that.

[enquirer]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

Given that MMF are a well known DCA, the fact that they have disclosed their identity in connection with the employee might itself be construed as a breach of the DPA.

You might even send them a letter stating that if they wish to continue occupying your time with matters unrelated to your business, you shall charge them for doing so. Further contact shall be deemed to be acceptance of those terms.

[ODC]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

Specialagentbob I am disappointed in you being worried about this scum.

Send them a Special Delivery letter ordering them not to contact your business ever again. Warn them that each phone call is recorded and that any further calls made to the premises will involve a Charge of £50. If they are foolish enough to continue then send them an invoice. They will get the message. Also make formal complaints about their behaviour. Stand up for your employee against these bully boy inbred ba$tards

[PlanB]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

Given that MMF are a well known DCA, the fact that they have disclosed their identity in connection with the employee might itself be construed as a breach of the DPA.

You might even send them a letter stating that if they wish to continue occupying your time with matters unrelated to your business, you shall charge them for doing so. Further contact shall be deemed to be acceptance of those terms.

That's more like it :whoo:

[PlanB]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

Specialagentbob I am disappointed in you being worried about this scum.

Send them a Special Delivery letter ordering them not to contact your business ever again. Warn them that each phone call is recorded and that any further calls made to the premises will involve a Charge of £50. If they are foolish enough to continue then send them an invoice. They will get the message. Also make formal complaints about their behaviour. Stand up for your employee against these bully boy inbred ba$tards

I couldn't agree more :high5:

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

This is not so much for me (the employer) but more for my employee.

We are currently getting almost daily automated phone calls from MMF saying that {the employees name} needs to call them back and now have had the automated "we will call at your home" message.

I know that the employee has had debt problems in the past but swears blind to me that she hadn't given out our business number as a contact number and she is currently on maternity leave and is not responding to any of our emails and phone calls.

Now of course if a MMF agent turns up at our business looking for her i'm not going to give them any of her personal details like home address (because we are signed up to the data protection act) but also I don't want to get her into anymore trouble that she may potentially be in.

We have had other calls from payday loan companies regarding the employee so I assume that MMF have bought the debt of them and with the other companies we have explained that the number they are calling is a business address and she is a employee and doesn't reside here but that seems to make no difference to them (to the point of them being very rude and saying "just go and get her will you" which we won't as we don't allow the business phone line to be used for personal calls)

So any advice on what I can do both to protect ourselves as well as the employee.

DCAs are increasingly using that technique, but they often get it wrong. At work, I've answered endless calls from DCAs asking for an individual who has never, ever worked there. They have called several dozen times and been told as many times that the person is not known at that number. Like talking to a wall. Some of them have been human, obviously with the automated ones, there's no point in talking back.

There have also been automated calls asking for someone who used to work there, but left in 2010. No-one has ever turned up!

I may be overstating the obvious, but if they are automated calls, why don't you just put the phone down? :confused2: I always do! :thumb:

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

I would be tempted to get MMF to write her a letter and put it in a sealed blank envelope, pass it to you and you write her home address on and post it to her.
If she doesn't respond to them, there is little else you can do but bat them off.

Why would you do that? :confused2: :confused2: :confused2:

Did you just join this forum today because you couldn't think of anything better to do? :ohwell:

[PlanB]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

Why would you do that? :confused2: :confused2: :confused2: Did you just join this forum today because you couldn't think of anything better to do? :ohwell:

Possibly msl:

[CleverClogs]

Re: Motor Mile finance calling employer

if they are automated calls, why don't you just put the phone down? :confused2:

The longer the Motor Mouth droid holds the line, the more the call costs Motor Mouth.