Odd Text Message - 0844 number?

[Dan_1981]

The GF keeps getting the following text message sent to her:

"your fine is still outstanding. Pay now to avoid minimum £50 fee for bailiff attendance. Contact Phillips on 0844*******, Ref: ******* ID: ***"

Now i'm pretty certain it must be a scam message of some sort?

How much do 0844 numbers cost to ring?

But also I can't find any info from googling the number or the body of the text message?

[Jakdaw]

Suspect it's genuine... 0844 is like 0845.

[Lurking Lawyer]

I seem to remember that the cost of calling 0844 numbers is currently capped at 5p per minute, although in practice can be between 1p and 5p per minute.

It certainly isn't a premium rate number.

I'd suggest that your girlfriend returns the call, even if it's just to tell them it's a case of mistaken identity.

[911motorsport]

Unfortunately it's likely to be these: http://www.philipscollectionservices.org.uk/contac...

Local authority debts/fine.

Though how they got your OH's mobile number is a bit worrying!

[Dan_1981]

911motorsport said:

Unfortunately it's likely to be these: http://www.philipscollectionservices.org.uk/contac...

Local authority debts/fine.

Though how they got your OH's mobile number is a bit worrying!

The number doesn't match but i phoned the number in the text and it is those guys.

The fine in question was a £381 magistrate fine!

And someone had given my GF's number as a contact number???

Very odd but they say they have now removed the number and she shouldn't get any more contact from them.

[911motorsport]

Dan_1981 said:

911motorsport said:

Unfortunately it's likely to be these: http://www.philipscollectionservices.org.uk/contac...

Local authority debts/fine.

Though how they got your OH's mobile number is a bit worrying!

The number doesn't match but i phoned the number in the text and it is those guys.

The fine in question was a £381 magistrate fine!

And someone had given my GF's number as a contact number???

Very odd but they say they have now removed the number and she shouldn't get any more contact from them.

Curiouser and curiouser. I prey you never gave them any address details???

[Dan_1981]

911motorsport said:

Dan_1981 said:

911motorsport said:

Unfortunately it's likely to be these: http://www.philipscollectionservices.org.uk/contac...

Local authority debts/fine.

Though how they got your OH's mobile number is a bit worrying!

The number doesn't match but i phoned the number in the text and it is those guys.

The fine in question was a £381 magistrate fine!

And someone had given my GF's number as a contact number???

Very odd but they say they have now removed the number and she shouldn't get any more contact from them.

Curiouser and curiouser. I prey you never gave them any address details???

No. She asked me to confirm house number but nothing more - they were most helpful to be honest, told me the name of the guy who had been fined though.

[308mate]

I had a text recently (from a mobile style number) that simply said "Call this number, ask for Craig and quote ref# ********"

I called the number that sent the actual text and it diverted to a "Response Management" company. They were very coy and would only ask me questions so I hung up. After some googling, it seems to be linked to "text mining" and the response management company were people who provide this text mining service. After reading through a couple of pages, it sounds like a marketing angle that involves sending a st-load of texts out that give little away as to the reasoning, and then getting people to call in out of sheer curiosity, rather than cold-calling out.

Either way, Im not calling the number.

[911motorsport]

Dan_1981 said:

911motorsport said:

Dan_1981 said:

911motorsport said:

Unfortunately it's likely to be these: http://www.philipscollectionservices.org.uk/contac...

Local authority debts/fine.

Though how they got your OH's mobile number is a bit worrying!

The number doesn't match but i phoned the number in the text and it is those guys.

The fine in question was a £381 magistrate fine!

And someone had given my GF's number as a contact number???

Very odd but they say they have now removed the number and she shouldn't get any more contact from them.

Curiouser and curiouser. I prey you never gave them any address details???

No. She asked me to confirm house number but nothing more - they were most helpful to be honest, told me the name of the guy who had been fined though.

An ex?

[beefcake42]

I had one too this morning.. wrong name on the text, they just asked the house number and said it was a mistake... I also gave them just the house number.

Question is what bad stuff could they get up to with just my mobile number and my house number?

[condor]

If they have your post code and you give them your house number...they have your address.

[Oakey]

Dan_1981 said:

911motorsport said:

Dan_1981 said:

911motorsport said:

Unfortunately it's likely to be these: http://www.philipscollectionservices.org.uk/contac...

Local authority debts/fine.

Though how they got your OH's mobile number is a bit worrying!

The number doesn't match but i phoned the number in the text and it is those guys.

The fine in question was a £381 magistrate fine!

And someone had given my GF's number as a contact number???

Very odd but they say they have now removed the number and she shouldn't get any more contact from them.

Curiouser and curiouser. I prey you never gave them any address details???

No. She asked me to confirm house number but nothing more - they were most helpful to be honest, told me the name of the guy who had been fined though.

So not only have they given you the name of the person that owes money, but also the amount he owes? I'm pretty sure they can't give out that information and doing so makes the debt null and void. At least that's according to someone I know who worked as a debt collector.