Letter from Past Due Credit Solutions

OldComputerGuy7 · 18 Dec 2009 at 15:45

My dad has been getting these letters from a company called Past Due Credit Solutions, which state he owes money but does not really tell you who he owes it too and generally its very vague and seems very much like a scam to me.

First letter said hardly anything except call us because of an urgent matter on a 0844 number, then the next letter has a amount that you owe but still does not tell you much of anything and wishes you to call them.

The letter is also cheaply done and not sent out recorded/signed for, which is usually the case for real important letters.

But I wondered if anyone else had been getting these, i looked up on google and a few people had similar letters and some people saying its a scam but was not 100% sure and wanted to put my dads mind at rest.

PhillyDee · 18 Dec 2009 at 15:46

Take it to the CAB if in doubt. If its legitimate then it meeds a reply asap. If its fake, smear a cheque with excrement and send it in apologising for the time it took.

Luke · 18 Dec 2009 at 15:55

There is some info on PDCS here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1591639

Goberpiles316 · 18 Dec 2009 at 23:32

I have had one its mine was because I owed some money to British Gas.

Bennie-Mac · 18 Dec 2009 at 23:34

OldComputerGuy7 said:
My dad has been getting these letters from a company called Past Due Credit Solutions, which state he owes money but does not really tell you who he owes it too and generally its very vague and seems very much like a scam to me.

First letter said hardly anything except call us because of an urgent matter on a 0844 number, then the next letter has a amount that you owe but still does not tell you much of anything and wishes you to call them.

The letter is also cheaply done and not sent out recorded/signed for, which is usually the case for real important letters.

But I wondered if anyone else had been getting these, i looked up on google and a few people had similar letters and some people saying its a scam but was not 100% sure and wanted to put my dads mind at rest.

Give it a call anyway, i got a text through from a debt collection agency (no letter) warning me that i owed them money and to contact mr x. Gave them a bell as i thought it was a scam and it turned out i owed barclays partner finance money from 2 years previous.

Moredhel · 18 Dec 2009 at 23:39

These are generally debt recovery companies fishing around trying to catch someone, if your dad honestly doesn't believe he has any debts in the last 6 years, then it's probably just someone else with the same name they're after. This was on watchdog about a year ago.

They're very vague hoping that people feeling guilty will phone back.

Alas if they become more sure it's you, the letters will get more and more strong until they start threatening court action. It's usually best to call and nip it in the bud.

Often if you Google for the company names you'll find info on them on places like money saving experts etc.

The 6 year thing really is important, if your Dad does have a debt but has had no contact at all with the creditor regarding the debt in the last 6 years, he is under no obligation to pay it back. Consumer direct and similar sites will be able to provide template letters telling the recovery companies to bugger off under those circumstances.

OldComputerGuy7 · 19 Dec 2009 at 05:46

Thanks for the advice i will take a look at that.

big_white_dog84 · 19 Dec 2009 at 10:35

I used to work for one of these companies and we employed exactly the same tactics:

1. Unspecific letter saying 'I have been trying to contact you, please phone David Smith on 01412213535'.
2. Letter with a bit more detail about amount owed and company it is owed to.
3. Letter threatening 'further' action. I was there for about a year and we NEVER took anyone to court. ALL debts were chased for ~18 months, then written off. We also wrote-off any debt under £10, so if you owe money just get the debt down to £9.99 and they'll give up on it.

Our response on the phone was:

Call 1: Demand immediate payment in full to prevent further action. Give 48 hours to call back with money.
Call 2: Advise that we have spoken to client (rubbish) who will accept 50% up front followed by installments.
Call 3: Advise that we have spoken to client again (again, rubbish) who is now willing to accept installments based on income and expenditure.

Whole thing was a joke. If you do owe money, start paying whatever you can directly to the company you owe money to - NOT to the debt collection agency. Ignore the debt collectors when they say they want proof of payment.

These companies only make money because the general public are ignorant of how the system works.

whitecrook · 19 Dec 2009 at 10:55

Don't do anything over the phone with them. Don't send anything with your signature on it either.

MrMoonX · 19 Dec 2009 at 11:04

they buy debts for like 20-40p in the £ and try to collect the whole amount, they also try and fish anyone with similar names, never ever talk to them on the phone, write to them telling them to prove the debt or do one, they rarely take people to court, even then they still have to prove it, nine times out of ten they cant prove it

Kyo · 27 Oct 2011 at 18:29

Sorry dredge up old threads got one these today and was wondering if anyone else has had any recent experience from "past due" . They want £33 with little or no details on what it was about or for.

They claimed that i owed money from BT. Little do they know i work for BT and i have also double checked (just to be sure) that i dont have any money outstanding. Clearly either mistake or most likely a scam. Got one further today that their going to take me to court.

Anyone know where i can take this further and report them for harassment, called the police but they didnt take much notice.

MrMoonX · 27 Oct 2011 at 20:10

Kyo said:
Sorry dredge up old threads got one these today and was wondering if anyone else has had any recent experience from "past due" . They want £33 with little or no details on what it was about or for.

They claimed that i owed money from BT. Little do they know i work for BT and i have also double checked (just to be sure) that i dont have any money outstanding. Clearly either mistake or most likely a scam. Got one further today that their going to take me to court.

Anyone know where i can take this further and report them for harassment, called the police but they didnt take much notice.

just ignore them, they won't take you to court for £33, or return to sender attached to a brick

SeatIbiza · 27 Oct 2011 at 21:03

Kyo said:
Sorry dredge up old threads got one these today and was wondering if anyone else has had any recent experience from "past due" . They want £33 with little or no details on what it was about or for.

They claimed that i owed money from BT. Little do they know i work for BT and i have also double checked (just to be sure) that i dont have any money outstanding. Clearly either mistake or most likely a scam. Got one further today that their going to take me to court.

Anyone know where i can take this further and report them for harassment, called the police but they didnt take much notice.

Time for a good trolling then?

Kyo · 27 Oct 2011 at 23:13

SeatIbiza said:
Time for a good trolling then?

What do you mean?

garyfl · 28 Oct 2011 at 03:00

id tell bt lol

mattyg · 28 Oct 2011 at 09:43

I've been ignoring McKenzie hall for 4 years they reckon I owe money from TSB. Not had a TSB account for over 10 years. I'm just waiting for a man to turn up so I can tell him Its statute barred.

They phoned the other day asking me to confirm my details I said ok I can confirm them. Nooo she wanted me to tell them my details. I said no you tell me them and I'll confirm them. I'm not telling a stranger any of my details. Muppets they really are.

Anyway back to the OP.

DO NOT acknowledge the debt. You can ask for details BUT at NO point acknowledge that the debt is yours/fathers. The 6 yr clock tick from the last time the debt was acknowledge by you/father.