SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

Hi Guys,

hope you guys can help me as its causing me some severe grief!

Owed some money by a debtor >£6k.

Got their mother's address which was used to take out the contracts(mobile's) and also an address they claim to be currently living at.

Customer has persistently lied about coming into our office to pay the balance or at least make a payment arrangement. Pick's up some of my calls but then always has some kind of story ready.

Now he tells me he's moving house as I've said we'll be doing some form of CCJ/Enforcement action if this is kept up. I've said I'll pick up payment form him as he has some kind of problem getting to us! He says ok but am waiting on him to provide his new address.

Left a voicemail and a text today saying if we don't hear anything by 6pm tomrrow we will take action.

Things I'm worried about:

1.Can't see him paying

2.If he moves from the address he claims to have given me then all I have is his mother's address (called and checked so no worries there unless she moves too!!)

3.We do employ a collection company but ideally want to find an address where this guy is based.

He works/worked for TNT Couriers although he claims that he now doesn't and lives in Brum( Mother's address is Wales).



We have his :

mother's landline which tallies with address he used for the agreement.

orange payg number - have considered reverse engineering his address out of him unless I can get it another way??

copy of driving licence and visa electron card (which has since expired else we could've charged that). Also have a proof he submitted in the name of his wife (visa debit card). - have considered debiting the card as we have a signed agreement from him but seems the way to guaranteed hassle.

We can go thru our collection agents but this may not mean 100% success.

As he works/worked for TNT was going to call them and see what I could get out of them?


Basically want some form of payment from this guy as it's put us in lumber with our supplier as we now have a debit balance and its causing us financial pressure.

Can anybody help with tracing said individual? Offering advice? Paying a visit?

I always keep faith in 2 things - God and the good people of Scoobynet

cheers guys!

sti-04!!

6k for a phone bill

Why didnt you catch it quicker before it escalated to that cost ??

SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

Hi sti-04 - wasn't for a phone bill.

We took id's from customer. Got them some phones connected. Network came back to us, told us it was a potential fraudulent connection and as a result didn't pay us our commission. Then we're down on the cost of the equipment

Want somebody to trace this person for me if poss, either thru their phone number or something else we have on file.

keeping my fingers crossed

mart360

6K for a payg fone???

hand it over to a debt recovery agency and then call the beeb


mart

SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

The debt is for equipment.

Have contemplated going to the Police but can't see them doing much. It will give me some pleasure though as it means that I can at least call him and **** him up a bit.

He does deliveries around our office building so I'm going to keep an eye open and see if I can get his vehicle impounded or something ?

Lucifer

What network did you connect him to?

little-ginge

I doubt TNT would release information to you re one of their employees.. the have a 'duty of care' and for all they know, you could be some raving lunatic

SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

Lucifer - connected him to Orange and Voda.

there's got to be somebody on here who can help

Lucifer

So that's what, 15-20 handsets, (unless you supplied diamond encrusted phones) you sold on contract to a private individual and you're wondering why you lost out??? It sounds like a classic scam to me.
Get the IMEI's blacklisted before the phones appear on e-bay and start legal proceedings, it's the only chance you have but to be honest with you, you won't see him, the phones or the money anytime soon.
He may be registered as living at his mum's address in Wales but I doubt he travels Wales--> Birmingham everyday for work so you're not going to track him down so easily.
TNT won't be able to give you any of his personal details so if he still works for them send yourself a parcel to work and hope he delivers it

SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

It was a sole trader connection and it was 8 phones. They were D500's and a few others.

I know he lives in Birmingham, he's given me one address but he reckon's he's moving - would like to find out where his PAYG Orange phone is registered if possible.

Could try the TNT parcel delivery thing but I'm sure he'll clock on.

Iif anybody can do a trace please get in touch,

cheers

TopBanana

www.moneyclaim.gov.uk in the first instance

ESH

I've read your first few posts and one things springs to mind.

Now I 'm not telling you how to suck eggs but.......Why release the equipment until the credit control at orange came back to you??? Its iether pass, fail, deposit or needs further investigation (48Hrs)

I do alot of business connections and would never dream of releasing any equipment till the the accounts side of things had a green light.

I'm sorry you've lost out thus far.

I would use your collection agency and move on as there is more business out there. Cashflow is always tight when dealing with mobile kit and this reply probably doesn't help much but what more can you do??? Collection agents will take time too.

Esh

GaryK

Hmmm a tricky one with a sole trader, you will have to use some form of enforcement to get the money out of him and getting solicitors involved will cost you lots of money. The small claims court will go upto £5000 and although its reasonably cheap it does take time. What you can do with them is go through a series of actions from the initial judgement then bailiffs, then oral examination (a hearing where he has to declare income/expenditure) and then you can go for an attachment of earnings order, however like all these things there is no *guarantee* you will actually get the money.

harvey

iTrader: (48)

I am sorry to hear this and from what you write, I guess you have been had over. He is now stringing you along in the knowledge that you are not adept at getting to grips with this in such a way it will hurt him.
My advice would be that you find a suitable collection agency.
There are agencies that write letters and do little else. This is not what you need. You want a proactive agency that will track him down, that are forceful, will visit the mother if need be and can impress on the scammer that as they are paid on results, he has a problem.
The best thing you can do for yourself now is identify the specialist agency that is right for you in this circumstance. such operations are often run by retired police officers. Ensure you do not get a dead leg. They may also employ or have a close association with a bailiff and they will be on first name terms with the Sheriff's officer.

SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

Esh - cheers for your post. It was a pass from Orange. We too never release kit unless we have a pass and signature. Had the id's and everything. As you'll know too, Orange and the other networks look for every little issue when we submit ID's to prevent clawback. We played everything by the book and in effect god shafted by Orange and the debtor.

Got in touch with another agency rather than our normal collectors(who go by the letter > telephone > legal route) and they don't waste time on letters. We've provided them all the information we have and they've said we should get a result within 4 weeks. They are able to trace him from what we've supplied and if need be will lean on the mother. Even to the point they will hang around the local pub etc. to build up a picture. These guys who collect are paid on results so they won't give up easily.

The guy who came round didn't mess around - told me what they do, what they've done and their results. 17% commission on the debt which is paid upfront. If collection is successful they can add this amount to the debt. If unsuccessful we don't pay a penny and get a refund on all fees paid.

I do feel lighter knowing that we've got help from somebody who know's what to do. They're beginning door knocking on Monday which I think is good. Will be awaiting the call from the distressed debtor asking for more time to which I'll reply "you've had your chance!"

In normal situations I'd feel guilty but we've given this person the best part of 8 weeks to pay or come to some form of arrangement. As a result of his p1ssing around we're now experiencing problems.

Keep the advice and tips coming in please

MikeCardiff

iTrader: (2)

Hopefully the collection agency will get some results - its amazing how many of these amateur scammers suddenly find the money down the back of the sofa once they get an official visit and the threat of the their car being towed and their TV taken away.

SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

I hope so Mike

LIke I say, without sounding too hard, I'm looking forward to receiving a call from him asking what's happening and why there's 2 guys sitting in his mom's front room. Beauty of it is that the collection agency are completely legit and it won't cost a penny unless I get a result and even then the cost is added to the debt.

Not too sure if TNT employ contractors but last time I saw him he was delivering for TNT. Considering the possibility of these enforcers lifting his truck. That'll teach him a lesson!

Keping my fingers crossed

ESH

Tell me all about it...... The level of support you get from the networks is horrendous!!

We moved away from mobiles for about 6-8 months as the commissions kept decreasing and focussed our attentions on the fixed line market to build up our billing base. Our plan was to build up our own billing base then move back into mobiles this year. Comms are up and up and it sems a good time to get in there again.

Two things though:
1. We only deal with ltd. companies. Not saying they're less trouble but at least they have to file accounts each there meaning there is a track record.

2. We always do a pre-check before proceding with anyone!! This way we know in advance whether there is any potnetial trouble around the corner.

What other services do you provide?

Esh

Chrisgr31

We had an excellent result at work recently. Some years ago a client refused to pay us stating the business had gone bust. However it was he personally that was our client rather than the business.

Issued proceedings at court, he didn;t turn up so we won. He asked for decision to set-up for some excuse, however failed to attend re-listing so we won.

Still didn;t pay us, and rather than send in the bailiff we decided to place a charge on his house, so when he sold it we would be paid.

Move forward two and a half years - Couple of weeks ago we get a fax from Mr Xs solicors. Mr X is trying to remortage please confirm this debt has been paid. Respond saying can;t as it hasn't! 48 hours later the money plus interest was in our bank account and I suspect he was mighty peeved!

SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

Hi Esh - know what you mean mate. Been in comm's for years but it's not like it used to be

We do a range of services such as CPS, Non-geo numbers, premium rate, SMS and Premium SMS services. Never really done much on the CPS side as we find non-geo and premium rate/sms etc is a good money spinner.

Only within last 12 months made a move into business mobiles - had a good year but then tw@ts like this get one over .... hopefully only temporarily

jai

beemerboy.

..... are you sure your TNT man hasn't gone into the debt collection business??



Good luck

BB

SinghSuperStud

iTrader: (2)

beemerboy -

I was shocked at the 17% too but it's added to the debt anyway so that's cool.

From what the guy was saying, it's high because they give a good whack of that to the actual door knockers and collectors. They work on commission and it's got to be pretty good. It's good news for me on this side of the fence because it means they won't listen to bullsh1t excuses.

Will report back as and when I hear anything

If anybody's got any debts that need collecting ......