OFT issues mailing warning

Following a number of complaints to Consumer Direct - the Government funded telephone and online consumer advice service managed by the OFT Office of Fair Trading - 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 says it 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.

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2006-11-07 10:30:14 © Moneyextra.com