08700778668

no idea who this is...

Its Vodafone billing

Hi I got a text message asking me to call this number saying

"From Vodafone To keep you informed your account status is overdue; please call 08700778668 to avoid any future restriction to your service"

I called Vodafone this is definitely nothing to do with them.  Don't call it.

It`s Vodafone debt recovery and they are rude to say the least!!!!!!

It is definitely the Number for Vodafone Credit and Collections.

It is Vodafone!!

‘Vodafone passed on unexplained arrears to two debt collectors’

High street companies are increasingly quick to employ aggressive agencies to collect payment for disputed bills

James Charles

Consumers are having to battle with aggressive debt collectors over disputed bills because high street companies are handing over their files to third parties at the earliest opportunity.

Debt collectors can be called in as soon as 90 days after a bill goes unpaid. Consumer groups fear that companies are increasingly keen to wash their hands of customers who contest bills.

Incorrect billing is a common problem for UK households. A recent poll by uSwitch, the price comparison website, found that one in three customers has been billed inaccurately by an energy supplier. However, those who do not make a payment for legitimate reasons could find that their account is transferred to debt collectors without warning.

Ashley McAllister (pictured above), from London, has been battling with Vodafone since the beginning of the year over a debt that he did not realise he owed.

In April last year the 24-year-old wrote to the UK’s second-largest mobile phone operator and spoke to staff on the phone to confirm that he was switching to another company. Nine months after Mr McAllister left Vodafone he began receiving phone calls, text messages and letters from a debt-collection company called Fredrickson International Limited demanding payment for an old debt.

He says: “I had no idea what it was for because Vodafone hadn’t warned me that I had any outstanding debts. I sent two letters by recorded delivery to Fredrickson asking for an explanation, but I could not get any information. I didn’t want to pay off a debt until I had proof that it was mine.”

Despite Mr McAllister’s efforts, neither Fredrickson nor Vodafone provided him with information about the debt. When he then received a letter from Fredrickson saying that his case was closed and that no further action would be taken, he thought that the matter had been settled.

However, a fortnight later he received a letter from a new company, SRJ Debt Recoveries, requesting payment for a bill of £247. “I could not believe it when I received a letter from a new company. I just wanted it to end, but instead I was having to go over it all again,” Mr McAllister says. He immediately wrote another letter to the company to ask for an explanation.

It was only after the intervention of Times Money this week that he was told that the debt was legitimate and that he had owed Vodafone three months of missed payments. The problem had arisen after he had put his direct debit on hold when Vodafone incorrectly billed him towards the end of his contract.

Although Mr McAllister’s debt proved genuine, many other customers find themselves being chased for debts that have been wrongly attributed to them.

Alex MacDermott, a creditor liaison policy officer for Citizens Advice, says: “Companies should be making sure that customers receive a full statement of account before they leave. Instead of sending a file straight to a debt-collection company, service providers should try to contact a customer first.”

Under the 2003 guidance on debt collection released by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), customers have a right to receive appropriate details about the debts that they owe. Stephen McGlade, a solicitor for Which? Legal Services, says: “There are vulnerable individuals who receive these types of threatening letters and simply pay up because they are terrified of what might happen. However, failure to investigate or provide appropriate details of the debt is a breach of the OFT guidance on debt collection.”

A Vodafone spokesman said: “Mr McAllister changed address several times during the period, so there is a possibility that some of the letters may not have reached him. We are looking at the process for updating customer details on occasions such as this. Mr McAllister acknowledged the debt and on occasions made arrangements to make payments, which didn’t transpire. Following a conversation with Mr McAllister this week, arrangements are in place for the money to be paid and the matter closed amicably.”

Fredrickson denies that any action it has taken is in breach of OFT guidelines or could in any way be construed as amounting to harassment.

However, in another case involving Vodafone, the mobile phone company was again quick to call in the debt collectors. Olivia Shrimpton, 23, also from London, cancelled an upgrade with Vodafone after she was disappointed by the customer service she received from staff at one of its high street branches. However, three months later a debt collector sent a bill for £810 to her mother’s house.

“My mum was really worried and called me straight away. I contacted the debt collectors and Vodafone, which spotted the mistake immediately and cancelled the bill.

“Vodafone has my home phone number, address and e-mail, so why didn’t it just contact me rather than calling in the debt collectors?”

A Vodafone spokeswoman says: “The upgraded phone was ordered in January and returned but we couldn’t trace it. We sent letters to Ms Shrimpton at her billing address about this in February and again in early March. We now know these letters were not received by Ms Shrimpton, who lives at a different address from the billing address.”

The spokeswoman says that customers should inform Vodafone if they change their address.

Complaints against debt-collection companies are rising as more high street names employ their services. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which handles cases relating to banks and other financial services providers, says that complaints about unfair harassment by debt collectors have doubled in the first three months of this year. It expects to receive more than 1,200 complaints about debt collectors this year, double the number it received last year. However, the organisation believes that these are only a fraction of the number of problem cases in the industry.

Emma Parker, of the FOS, says: “Cases in which individuals claim that they are being harassed by debt collectors is one of the main types of complaint we receive. We have even heard of cases where people have been contacted while in hospital.

“We are also seeing more cases where people have had their debt passed on from one collector to another, in some cases up to three times, after each company has, in turn, failed to secure repayment.”

If you receive a letter from a debt-collection company about a debt that it has no record of or that you have paid off already, get in contact with the debt-collection company and the original company involved. You should request details in writing.

Mr McGlade says: “If you are being chased for a debt that you do not think is yours, reply in a letter stating that unless the debt collector can provide evidence of the debt then continued contact will amount to harassment and that you will notify the OFT.”

Moira Haynes, of Citizens Advice, says: “If the debt collector still chases you, make a complaint. If they do not resolve the matter and the debt was for borrowing regulated by the Consumer Credit Act, such as a credit card, you can ask the financial ombudsman to look at the case.”

If your complaint is with a telecoms provider, you can contact Otelo, the telecommunications ombudsman service (0330 4401614). Ensure that the company you are complaining about is part of the scheme. Likewise, if your complaint is with an energy company, you should contact the Energy Ombudsman (0330 4401624).

About 95 per cent of debt collectors are also part of the Credit Services Association (CSA), a trade body. If you have a complaint about the actions of a debt-collection company, you can contact the CSA on 0191-2865656.

Also be aware that debtors are not liable to pay debts continuing beyond six years.

Keep your credit record clean

If you are chased for a missed payment by a debt-collection company, it is likely that a default mark has also been added to your credit history. There are steps you can take to prevent this from hindering your chances of securing a mortgage or loan in the future.

• If the dispute is resolved and you were not to blame, ask the company to remove the default notice from your file.

• If the dispute is unresolved, ask a credit reference agency to add a notice to your file explaining the default.

• It is possible to order a copy of your credit report for £2 from one of the three credit reference agencies, Experian, Equifax or Callcredit.

"Fredrickson International Limited trading as FPC"

Chasing a Vodaphone debt which no longer exists as it was credited by Vodaphone following intervention by the Communications Ombudsman (very helpful and know all about Vodaphones scams. They are on 0330 440 1614).

FPC scam artist debt collector's details:

Trading Name FPC
Correspondence Address
PO Box 260
Brooklands Industrial Park
Weybridge
Surrey
KT13 0YH

Registered Address
Fifth Floor
7-10 Chandos Street
London
W1G 9DQ

Reg Company Number 02679522
Parent Company: Fredrickson International Ltd
Consumer Credit Licence 0340617
Website: www.fredricksoninternational.co.uk

Company Directors & Rating:
http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/company/uk/02679522
http://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/02679522
http://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/02679522/filings

Hi I paid this fpc for a Vodafone debt a year ago 407 now there chasing me again saying I ow them for an early temanation fee on the same Vodafone account has been sent to myself when I was led to believe it was all under the 407 I paid last year there now demanding another 405 and tere having none ov it I don't think i should pay it can anyone offer me any advice?

Hi I paid this fpc for a Vodafone debt a year ago 407 now there chasing me again saying I ow them for an early temanation fee on the same Vodafone account has been sent to myself when I was led to believe it was all under the 407 I paid last year there now demanding another 405 and tere having none ov it I don't think i should pay it can anyone offer me any advice?

Had a message "From Vodafone To keep you informed your account status is overdue; please call 08700778668 to avoid any future restriction to your service"

I called 191 to check, the advisor told me that Vodafone are aware of this scam and not t call or reply to it, and as I thought no outstanding balance on my account as I pay by DD.

I too received a text informing me of my account status being overdue and to call this number to avoid any future restrictions. I pay by Direct Debit and the money has left my account. Obviously a scam because when I did ring it, I was on hold for over 11 minutes.

This is Vodafone debt collections phone number, call it and they will keep you on the line for a long time and then you will get charges for it, I Called it and got charged £4.00 for the call email them its cheaper or wait till they call you  SMECollections@help.vodafone.co.uk or move to anothe phone company