Can an 0800 number be used in a scam?

Ex-RoNiN · 29 Jun 2006 at 19:12

Just got a dodgy letter through the letter box, from a debt collection agency ( :confused:

) to call an 0800 number, and was given a reference too :confused:

Neither me nor my flatmate have any financial problems, and its strange that a refutable company would need to resort to an 0800 number - is this one of those scams where you get charged £1.5 per second :confused:

Enfield · 29 Jun 2006 at 19:13

Isn't 0800 free phone?

Anyway, it's probably for the previous person who lived at your address...

Rotty · 29 Jun 2006 at 19:14

I don't think so , think 0800 are always free

Unromantic__Me · 29 Jun 2006 at 19:33

It would make more sense for a debt collection agency to use a free toll number....at the end of the day, they want your money to consolidate the debt, not get you in even more debt with a huge phone bill

danza · 29 Jun 2006 at 19:36

It would make more sense for a debt collection agency to use a free toll number....at the end of the day, they want your money to consolidate the debt, not get you in even more debt with a huge phone bill

So what you're saying infact is the bailiffs will be paying a visit soon....

Dolph · 29 Jun 2006 at 19:36

Ex-RoNiN said:
Just got a dodgy letter through the letter box, from a debt collection agency ( ) to call an 0800 number, and was given a reference too Neither me nor my flatmate have any financial problems, and its strange that a refutable company would need to resort to an 0800 number - is this one of those scams where you get charged £1.5 per second

It could be them looking for information (for example a forwarding address) for previous occupants of the house. We had a couple of these come through which had an 0800 number on them.

Ex-RoNiN · 29 Jun 2006 at 19:47

Fantastic, thanks very much, that's put my mind at rest, will give em a ring tomorrow to see what's happening

Unromantic__Me · 29 Jun 2006 at 19:53

Yeah I wouldnt worry about about it at all, happens all the time at rented addresses that change over fairly often, just out of interest though...who was the letter addressed to?

Bar · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:00

Could also be someone who has used your identity to get credit. But thats a worst case scenario. Did the letter refer to by name or did it say Occupier?

Ex-RoNiN · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:21

"The Occupier"

We have send back letters by the DVLA, DWP, different banks and credit cards and other government agencies, maybe some of them were unpaid fines/bills/etc, probably related to that.

I'll just refer them to the estate agency that we rented through as they should have details of who used to live here before and where they might live now.

Unromantic__Me · 29 Jun 2006 at 20:24

If its the occupier then there is nothing to worry about at all...as you say, just give them a ring, refer them to the estate agency, and hopefully that should prevent anymore post from them being sent to your address