130-065-1525

Got text from a mobile asking me to call this number and quote reference.

They called me looking for my sister but I wouldn't give them the number....Who are they?????

Chartered Mercantile Agency

Debt Recovery Agents

you are getting calls from india. it's not a fake company. it is " charted merchantile agency" Australian BPO, Listed in AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE.. YOU have noy paid your outstanding credit cards / personal bills that's the reason you geting callls. so please stop fussing aroung about the attend the call and proceed with verification of date of birth and address. these questions are asked to make information is passed on to right person. off-course would like your family members, friends or people in your colony or at work to know about financial situation. COMPANY ADHERES to strict regulations laid down by UCCC, ASIC, DPA regulations. company has your personal and financial informations. it's in your interest to get the matter resolved as soon as possible or company might proceed with further collection activites.. U owe a money to a Australian financial company and now it's time to negotiate and settle down with a payment plan.

you are getting calls from india. it's not a fake company. it is " charted merchantile agency" Australian BPO, Listed in AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE.. YOU have noy paid your outstanding credit cards / personal bills that's the reason you geting callls. so please stop fussing aroung about the attend the call and proceed with verification of date of birth and address. these questions are asked to make information is passed on to right person. off-course would like your family members, friends or people in your colony or at work to know about financial situation. COMPANY ADHERES to strict regulations laid down by UCCC, ASIC, DPA regulations. company has your personal and financial informations. it's in your interest to get the matter resolved as soon as possible or company might proceed with further collection activites.. U owe a money to a Australian financial company and now it's time to negotiate and settle down with a payment plan.

Sounds like you are from a debt collection agency. Possibly the one in question.   Why are you so concerned about people paying their bills?

This post sounds exactly like the guy on the line when they call. "This is a serious call, and if you don't give me your information ra ra ra"
Its clearly a scam.
Mine told me they were calling on behalf of optus and gave me all sorts of reference numbers, but they had my old address and optus has my new one, and when i called optus, they had no notes about any outstanding debts.

I received a sms from 0419212142 saying to contact adam on 1300651525 saying to quote ref number:  Just to warn you this is a SCAM

Hi - I'm not from the agency but i found this blog when i googled the number. I had a call with Optus and they gave me their (Charter Merc) details. The company is real and they are calling on behalf of Optus. I wasnt able to catch the deadline (With Optus) in time so it when to them, Because I missed it my account had been cancelled :( If you take the call and work out a payment like I did it is legit. I am always weary of things like this but its true and I suggest to take it see what they say. heres the ABN 16 011 035 180. I think you should call Optus Accounts first just to clarify who they sell the debts too if you still feel suspect.  Good Luck!

I got an sms asking me to call back. I am overseas at the moment and do not want to waste me money calling a scam number..
What can I do?

Charter Mercantile is a Global Outsourcing Company specialising in debt management,commenced its operations in 1986.

We continue to deliver high performance and quality to our clients in the banking, finance, government, commercial, public utilities and telecommunication sectors.

Please feel free to return a call back to find out the reason or for more information,please logon to; http://chartermerc.com/

Hi,
I was just reading all this as I am away on holiday and I had the same problem. I called Optus from overseas which is really annoying as I have to pay the call charges.. Anyway Optus has made an error and so the system shows that we owe them money. On actually checking, they said that the error is on their path and now I owe them nothing and they will speak to Chartered Mercantile Agency. Debt Recovery Agents and sort it all out.
I advise you folks to speak to Optus directly and please ask for a Reference Number for your call and also ask them to put the whole episode on email so that you have proof...

Consumer terms - Optus Customer's has signed on

8.7 What happens if you do not pay your bill by the due date?
If you do not pay your bill by the date the payment is due, we may:
(a) charge you a late fee.  You should see the relevant standard pricing table for the service concerned to check the late fee that applies;
(b) suspend or cancel the service, in accordance with clause  or  as relevant or the relevant service description. If we suspend or cancel the service, we may charge you a suspension fee or cancellation fee.   If the service is cancelled and the service disconnected or deactivated, you may have to pay a reconnection or reactivation fee for the reconnection or reactivation of the service. You should see the relevant standard pricing table for the service concerned to check what fees apply, and if fees do apply, what that fee is;
(c) engage a mercantile agent to recover the money you owe us.  If we engage a mercantile agent, we may charge you a recovery fee;
(d) institute legal proceedings against you to recover the money you owe us.  If we institute legal proceedings, we may seek to recover our reasonable legal costs reasonable incurred; and
(e) on-sell any unpaid amounts to a third party.  If we do this, any outstanding amounts will be payable to that third party.

I have received 3 or 4 voicemail messages over the last week or two with an automated voice quoting this number to ring and a reference number.
It is pretty clear to me this is a scam.
Similarly, suggestions this is somehow related to Optus seems pretty far fetched. Besides, I have no services with Optus.
It would appear the scammers (or trolls) are posting here trying to convince people this is a legitimate number.
A quick google search on Chartered Mercantile Agency shows up a number of scam calls with different numbers to ring.