I've just had a phone call from a 'John Williams' from City Credit Bureau asking about my debts. The conversation went like this:
JW: I need to speak to the owner of this phoneline. Is that you?
Me: Why?
JW: I need to speak to the owner of this phoneline. Is that you?
Me: What do you want to speak to them about?
JW: I need to speak to the owner of this phoneline. Is that you?
Me: Yes it is. What's this about?
JW: Our finanial analysts (I couldn't understand the company name) have advised us that you have debts, credit cards loans etc. Is that right?
Me: It might be, why do you want to know?
JW: How much do you owe?
Me: None of your business. I find it very intrusive that you are phoning and asking me about my personal debts.
JW: Do you owe 5 grand, 10 grand, 20 grand?
Me: I might do. What can you do to help me?
JW: We are offering you debt management. Have you heard of this?
Me: Yes I have, but what would it involve?
JW: We would negotiate with your creditors so that you would pay a lower amount than you are currently paying.
Me: What about the interest?
JW: You wouldn't have to pay interest, this would be stopped.
Me: And how much do you charge for this?
JW: Less that you are paying in interest.
Me: How much?
JW: Less than you are paying now.
Me: HOW MUCH???
JW: You must be paying £50, £60 a month in interest, you wouldn't pay that much.
Me: I might be. HOW_MUCH_DO_YOU_CHARGE?????
JW: Around £20 per month.
Me: Does your company deal with this, or will I be passed on to another company?
JW: We do.
Me: What is the name of your company.
JW: City Credit Bureau, CCB. If I can take your name and a few more details I'll pass you to one of our debt advisors.
Me: No need to. Thank you for your time and explaining to me how a DMP works, but I don't actually have any loans or credit cards. Goodbye!
I searched for City Credit Bureau, but I can't find any details about them - have any of the experts heard of them?
I thoroughly enjoyed winding him up, but it annoyed me as well. I would have taken it further, but I didn't want to give any details as they had my phone number! I'm a complete rottweiller when it comes to cold calls and I don't care if I'm rude, but there are a lot of people who aren't like that and these sort of calls shouldn't be allowed.
Hi
I wonder if this call comes from outside the UK ? As I understand it no company from within the UK are allowed to cold call and offer debt advice.
Regards
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Last edited by banjoplayer on Sat Aug 08, 2009 2:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
That's terrible Skip! Hopefully they won't bothering you again, but useful information for anyone posting who gets those sort of calls.
Touch wood, I can say that we have never had any calls like that at all.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Hopefully he's still in shock after speaking to me! I wish I'd thought on my feet and given a false name and taken it further - if it happens again I'm ready for them!!!
Oddly enough, we received a couple of missed calls about two weeks ago as well...No message left but when we googled the telephone number it came up as a credit bureau based in Texas?..Wonder if it's the same one?..They haven't rung since so hopefully they've given up on us[:D]
IVA accepted 13/11/2008..17 payments down,55 to go..
Looks like they are targeting anyone they can get their hands on at the moment!
I do hope they ring me - they'll wish they hadn't afterwards!
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
