Slimy debt collection tactics.
Discussion
This is pretty normal tactics for debt collection agencies. Remember that they buy the debt so unless the recover it then they don't get any dosh.
High Wycombe council debt collection contacted my old landlady to find out where I'd gone because they
ed up my council tax account which meant I owed them money and didn't know it.
And she shopped me to them, the bitch.
High Wycombe council debt collection contacted my old landlady to find out where I'd gone because they
ed up my council tax account which meant I owed them money and didn't know it. And she shopped me to them, the bitch.
andy mac said:
All they are after is her whereabouts... Why would that not hold up in court if a neighbour told them?
We have something called the Data Protection Act.
Which prohibts the free trade of personal information outside of partners (thats how the debt collectors get the record)
If any court case for recovery of distressed debt was found to be based upon an illegal gathering of information then I would have thought that it would have a small chance of success.
This was certaintly the case about 5 years ago when I worked in the debt business.
silversun said:
This is pretty normal tactics for debt collection agencies. Remember that they buy the debt so unless the recover it then they don't get any dosh.
High Wycombe council debt collection contacted my old landlady to find out where I'd gone because they
And she shopped me to them, the bitch.
Can't blame her really, as they would probably try and stitch her up if she didn't.
andy mac said:
Mrs X owes 3K to a third party... debt collection company asks neighbours where she is... Sounds pretty logical to me. Not intrusive at all.
I would ask for a share myself say 10%:
300 quid for my troubles in that case + witness protection program +different identity and a villa in Spain, to them 90% of 3K is better than 100% of nought . Jokin of course!
On the other hand grassing on your neighbour can't get any lower than that
unwritten rule really! >> Edited by allnighter on Friday 28th October 13:03
Have to say that if someone I knew had cleared off owing debts, unless it would be catastrophic for their mental health if they were caught I would help them find her if the agency were legit.
After all, she doesn't pay, some other poor sod wil have to (like you and I paying extra council tax, broadband, mobile calls, car loan rates, insurance etc etc). You don't get owt for nowt. If you used it..pay for it.
I guess they find it wasy to get the details of neighbours from the voters register or 192.com etc.
After all, she doesn't pay, some other poor sod wil have to (like you and I paying extra council tax, broadband, mobile calls, car loan rates, insurance etc etc). You don't get owt for nowt. If you used it..pay for it.
I guess they find it wasy to get the details of neighbours from the voters register or 192.com etc.
I fail to see the problem personally! If you object to their tactic, all you have to do is bin the letter....
I'm a litigation lawyer. It's not unusual for defendants to move around and leave debts c/o their last address. It's usual to write to the current occupier of the address to see whether a forwarding address was left. By extension, I really can't see the issue of soliciting information from neighbours who might know the current whereabouts of the individual. A letter is also certainly much cheaper than engaging an enquiry agent to go round and knock on doors!
(I'm not a DPA specialist by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm struggling to see how it applies here. AFAIK, it regulates the disclosure of information held in organised filing/computer systems, not information which an individual might have in their head or might be able to provide by reference to a forwarding address by the previous occupier. There seems to be an AWFUL lot of confusion and misunderstanding thesedays at all levels about what the DPA does and does not permit)
I'm a litigation lawyer. It's not unusual for defendants to move around and leave debts c/o their last address. It's usual to write to the current occupier of the address to see whether a forwarding address was left. By extension, I really can't see the issue of soliciting information from neighbours who might know the current whereabouts of the individual. A letter is also certainly much cheaper than engaging an enquiry agent to go round and knock on doors!
(I'm not a DPA specialist by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm struggling to see how it applies here. AFAIK, it regulates the disclosure of information held in organised filing/computer systems, not information which an individual might have in their head or might be able to provide by reference to a forwarding address by the previous occupier. There seems to be an AWFUL lot of confusion and misunderstanding thesedays at all levels about what the DPA does and does not permit)
If you don't like the letter - then bin it. But I would be far more alarmed if a debt collection agency came banging on the door to find out where my next door neighbour has moved to, than sending a simple letter.
I can't see how the DPA comes into this - AFAIK it is about accuracy of information stored, and allowing the owner access to check that it is accurate, nothing to do with how or where you can find out information.
Andy.
I can't see how the DPA comes into this - AFAIK it is about accuracy of information stored, and allowing the owner access to check that it is accurate, nothing to do with how or where you can find out information.
Andy.
Neil_H said:
silversun said:
High Wycombe council debt collection contacted my old landlady to find out where I'd gone because they
And she shopped me to them, the bitch.
Can't blame her really, as they would probably try and stitch her up if she didn't.
I wouldn't have minded but I was treated like a criminal by the council and it was them that screwed things up, told me I didn't owe any money and then sent debt collectors after me once they realised their mistake.
Edited add that the landlady was a psycho bitch anyway, not solely because she gave the council my forwarding address (for which I don't really blame her except for the fact I know she would have done it gleefully).
But that's a whole other story, one that may end up as a novel one day....
>> Edited by silversun on Friday 28th October 14:04
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