Cinnamon Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 I got a letter from a company called Helploan (MCO capital) in August,saying that I (well,Hubby) had agreed to a loan of £513 which was payable back immediately. As I know we have no loans, & are very proud of the fact that apart from our mortgage,we don't buy unless we can afford it,I promptly filed it to one side & forgot about it. Got another letter today saying that interest of £213 had been added & it was being reffered to a debt collection agency. Has anyone had anything similar? I have tried phoning them,but of course as its in Hubbys name,they won't speak with me about it. Hubby says he will phone when he gets time It smells like a scam to me.................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Does to me too - I will ask a friend who is with the Trading Standards people and let you know what she says.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 A quick Google has come up with this: http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/mco-capital-limited-sep10 I am just reporting it to Action Fraud now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Sounds very dodgy, Try contacting Citizens Advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Definitely dodgy. I wonder how many people panic, and pay up? Let us know how you get on with reporting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Definitely dodgy. I wonder how many people panic, and pay up? Let us know how you get on with reporting it. That'll be what they are hoping - some people would find this very scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 Well,I called Action Fraud, & they are so inundated with calls that they had to take my number & are calling me back. Apparently they have had THOUSANDS of phone calls in the past few weeks about this Its horrible & really scared me at first,but I am calmer now I know I am not the only one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Friend at Trading Standards says it's a new and serious scam - call them on 0845 051 0845 (Oxon region) It really is a problem and apparently some people are being scared witless, or near divorce over it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 That's dreadful; these scams get worse and more 'professional' every time. Many might be tempted to pay up a relatively small amount rather than worry about solicitors etc. Grrr. Well done for spotting it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 Ta Clare. Sadly,they too are inundated with calls & have an answer machine on My bank have been worse than useless.......................... The fraud advice people advised me to report it to them,even though there is no sign on my accounts of any fraudulent activity & they (HSBC) wouldn't even put me through to the Fraud department so I could report it,as there is nothing (YET!) to report. It didn't help that I don't know which of our 3 HSBC accounts has been targeted either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 Well......................... Got through to Trading Standards who have told me,directly against the advice of Action Fraud,to write the company a letter denying there is a loan at all & asking them to prove it. Action Fraud told me not to,under any circumstances,make contact with them Think I like that idea better,less fuel added to the fire as it were,so I am not going to phone or write to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Well......................... Got through to Trading Standards who have told me,directly against the advice of Action Fraud,to write the company a letter denying there is a loan at all & asking them to prove it. Action Fraud told me not to,under any circumstances,make contact with them Think I like that idea better,less fuel added to the fire as it were,so I am not going to phone or write to them Yes that does sound a better way, I worry that some vulnerable people have paid up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 A friend got a similar ( text on his phone as it happens) purporting to be from the AA. Do you think this is a similar scam? Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 A friend got a similar ( text on his phone as it happens) purporting to be from the AA. Do you think this is a similar scam? Tricia I can't imagine the AA would do their debt collection by text? Think I'd ignore it and see what happens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 There is a lot of discussion about this lot on Martin Lewis's MSE site. Apparently Helploan are part of the MCO that are targetting the unwary. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=2704995&page=34 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Knowing we don't do loans and the mortgage has been paid off a couple of years ago I'd be sorely tempted to say to them "bring it on - and then I'll sue you". I reckon they are hoping that so many people have taken out so many loans that they have lost track and so someone will cough up. They are Go get em Cin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Love the naughty smilies where do you find them? Christian will be on your back re these. I hate these fraudsters - go out and get a job and leave us law abiding citizens alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 PM'd you Alis girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 *climbs off Valkyrie's back* They are in the Smilies section on the right Ali. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted October 15, 2010 Share Posted October 15, 2010 Oh thank goodness, I was beginning to feel the strain there, Christian! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Not the ones I wanna use ain't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted October 16, 2010 Share Posted October 16, 2010 Oh so it is - senior moment mwah mwah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 And so it goes on................ Recieved a debt recovery letter today for MCO Capital LTD f0r £726.00. It all looks VERY legitimate, it has a tear off payment slip on the bottom & the usual 'How to pay' bit on the back. Even though I am certain it is a scam,I hate getting things like this through the door...... It says we have to pay within 48 hours or either solicitors will become involved or debt collectors will come around. I wonder how many people have had this very formal looking letter & just paid up? Anyhow, I contacted ActionFraud again and they have totally changed the advice they gave me a couple of weeks ago (nice of them to tell me,eh?) I now have to contact MCO and tell them that I do not have nor ever have had a loan with them. It seems that rather than they being the scammers,they are a legit company who have been targeted by a large gang of identity thieves. So, we just might get Bill Bailiff banging on the door next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Personally I would write to them, stating you are sending a copy of the letter to trading standards, categorically denying you owe them any money. Ask them to send you proof and notify them you are seeking legal advice over their continued harassment of you. We did this in similar circumstances (the company sent a debt collector to our house) and heard nothing back from them ever again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 Just what I am doing now I am very cross that firstly ActionFraud did not respond to me phone call & secondly the advice on their site has changed & gone from do not contact the company,to contact the right away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
