OFT WARNS CONSUMERS OVER THREATENING DEBT COLLECTING MAILING

OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING News Release (155/06) 
  issued by The Government News Network on 6 November 2006
Following a number of complaints to Consumer Direct, the OFT is warning
consumers not to respond to letters claiming to be from an international debt
collecting company.
The mailing from 'AstraDelph International Debt Collection', which is headed
'Notice of Issue of Litigation Proceedings', states that an outstanding debt is
owed to an electronics website and that the debt has been passed on to them for
recovery. The letter goes on to explain that failure to pay could result in
legal proceedings, a County Court Judgement or a visit from doorstep collectors,
unless the recipient contacts them immediately on one of the numbers provided.
The office address for AstraDelph is stated to be in the Czech Republic, and the
international telephone numbers, which are not being answered, appear to be in
Liechtenstein.
Consumer Direct has received a large number of calls from consumers who have
received these letters, particularly in the East Midlands area. Consumers have
complained that they have never placed orders with the electronics website in
question. The OFT is currently investigating.
Christine Wade, OFT Assistant Chief Executive, Consumer Advice and Trading
Standards said:
'Anyone who receives one of these threatening letters should ignore it and not
send money off or ring any of the numbers listed. If you are unsure what to do
contact Consumer Direct immediately.'
You can contact Consumer Direct for clear, practical advice on 08454 04 05 06
or visit http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk.
NOTES
1. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service funded by
government and managed by the Office of Fair Trading. It offers consumers clear,
practical and impartial advice and information.
2. All consumer credit debt collectors operating in the UK must hold a
Consumer Credit Licence and adhere to the guidelines set out by the OFT Debt
Collection Guidance 2003. The OFT consider it to be unfair business practice to
communicate, in whatever form, with consumers in an unclear, inaccurate or
misleading manner including asking or instructing debtors to make contact on
premium rate telephone numbers.
3. Only a court can decide whether a contract exists and whether a business is
liable to pay a debt. If a claim is issued against an individual, that
individual will have a fixed time period in which to respond by either disputing
or admitting all or part of the claim. A disputed debt can only be enforced by a
court. Only a court can instruct bailiffs. Debt collectors are not bailiffs and
cannot attempt to collect payment by taking direct action, such as seizing
goods.
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