Is This A Scam?

[ToraToraTora]

I have a letter asking me to pay an outstanding debt from "buymobiles.net", from Burlington group, client name "A1 comms Limited". First I've ever heard of them. Until recently I had a company phone and in the last 4 weeks I have moved to a presonal account with Vodafone. I am mystified. Anyone else had a letter like this? It has an 0330 number, I don't think that's a premium rate number. They have not explained any details at all, why don't they explain how the debt arises? I am religious in not getting into debt and find this sort of thing very distressing. thanks.

[AlwaysConfused]

pop in the phone number and check it out here
http://whocallsme.com/

[ToraToraTora]

no one called me!

[AlwaysConfused]

but can you not type in the number to see if it comes up with even a little hint? i believe they are a debt collection agency. If it were genuine, it would be for an outstanding debt somewhere along the line. If you are certain you owe nothing to any company, then ignore and report If there is a niggle in your mind, phone them, as you may be harming your credit rating if you don't.

[-Talbot-]

Pop in the number on the letter

[yogi-bear]

http://www.area-codes.org.uk/0330-numbers.php

They are charged at normal standard rates.

As long as you dont owe vodaphone on the personal account, nothing to worry about it, TTT
If you can supply whole number 0330 i'll look it up, but as you never heard of the companies,I would initially guess a scam and suggest you bin it in your miscellaneous file....and forget it

[Peter Pedant]

bit uva shock 3T
I am sorry to hear it and it has obviously stressed you

I think you wait and see

type - http://buymobiles.com/

and you get amongst other - this site may be for sale

sounz as tho they are going out of business

[ToraToraTora]

the number belongs to burlington group, I have called it, thats not the mystery. the number is 0330 900 4000.

I just get terrified when I don't understand why I am being asked for money. I have always paid everything I owe my credit rating is A1. I just don't understand how these people can ruin my evening like this.

I just don't want it to escalate. I only ever deal with Vodafone and O2 I don't touch the rest with a bargepole so how has this happenned?

[ToraToraTora]

I'd rather have my head kicked in than this, it does stress me out. I have OCD when it comes to debt.

[Buenchico]

I spy identity theft!

Your post reads as if someone has used your name and address, perhaps with some fake ID, to obtain a (doubtlessly expensive) mobile phone. That would explain why you're being chased for the debt.

Write to the company, explaining that you have never entered into any transaction with buymobile.net or A1communications Ltd and that you have no knowledge of the debt. State you believe that you might be a victim of identity theft and invite the company to send you a copy of contract in order that you can pass it on to your local police force. (It's up to you as to whether you bother involving the police but the suggestion that you intend to do so might help to convince the company that you're a victim, rather than a fraudster).

[ToraToraTora]

PP it's buymobiles.net

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.buymobiles.net/?adnetwork=goog&gclid=CLHhvq6808UCFQTlwgodkzgASQ

They are real enough as are Burlington Group.

Chris's advice is good.

[Psybbo]

This has happened to me once. We held work mobile phones which I signed off the bills for payment. Another department missed a payment and much later was passed to the debt collection agency and the only name they could find was mine so they started harassing me. I had to get our legal department to sort it out as they were threatening my credit rating.

[-Talbot-]

Found this... https://www.burlingtongroup.co.uk/paya1/

[ToraToraTora]

I thought that Chris but the amount is less than £200. An ID thief would go for something more, surely. Also I am extremely careful about shredding everything.

[ToraToraTora]

yeah thanks talbot that tells me how to pay it, it's in the letter too. If you are taking the *** go away.

[furrypusscat]

I agree wholeheartedly with Buenchico re writing to the company and always keep copies of anything you send particularly if it becomes a legal matter.

[yogi-bear]

Chris's advice is the way to go, TTT, and it will put your mind at rest. If you dont want to involve the police, you may wish to go through the CAB first.....try not to worry about it....it's just an inconvenience that's all....nothing more.

[-Talbot-]

How the hell did you deduce I am taking the ***?

[yogi-bear]

Personally, as you have absolutely nothing to hide, I would involve the police, no question.

[Buenchico]

An ID thief would most likely buy whatever phone he thinks wouldn't set any alarm bells ringing in the minds of the shop staff (i.e. avoiding £500+ models) and which he thinks he can sell on easily on eBay or Gumtree. Remember that he might have obtained ID information for thousands of people and know that lots of small transactions can slip through the net, whereas a few really big ones might look suspicious.

Either way though, it's clear you name and address has incorrectly ended up on a list of debtors held by a perfectly reputable company. It's either a data entry error on their part (e.g. typing in an incorrect postcode, together with a house number, and not noticing that the resident's name doesn't match up with that of the debtor) or, still far more likely in my opinion, ID theft.

As it stands, a debt collection agency genuinely believes that you owe their client money, so you can't blame them if they keep on chasing you for it. That could (and almost certainly would) end up in court action if you simply kept ignoring their letters, so I still urge you to write to them in the way that I've suggested above.