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UK Getty Images Letter Forum / Re: The Office of Fair Trading [OFT] Response re: Atradius
« on: July 25, 2013, 07:19:22 PM »
Hi,
I found this information whilst searching for information on Atradius and was glad I did.
I thought I would add a little bit of my experience with them although this is not to do with the Getty Images issues, but in context I thought it relevant to bring it as whilst there is a grey area (as to if they are debt collecting) they do actually collect debts as well.
I received two letters from Atradius and an email in relation to an alleged trade debt. The first letter arrived 2 days after the 5 day deadline. I'm quite immune to receiving letters like these. Having said that, I rarely receive them and after 4 years in business nothing really scares me or bothers me. The debt in question is one which I dispute, my business purchases supplies of almost £1m a year from various suppliers and never had an issue until a specific global brand.
I decided to reply to the email to dispute the debt as I was replying to them via letter when the email arrived. The great thing about Atradius is their incompetence which makes me smile
. They didn't actually know the legal status of the company, a sole trader. Which in law has consumer protection, they also didn't know my name (and they still don't) they sent the email to an email address on our website with an unidentifiable recipient, as well as the official email give to for accounts.
It took them about three emails to realise I was a sole trader. They also continued to demand payment after I disputed the debt and did not provide proof of the debt. They are now going to see if they can find proof.
They are even telling me the debt is in Euros when I have never dealt with any company in this currency and the alleged debt is from a UK company.
They also are of course unregistered and unlicensed with the OFT, a legal requirement under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and a criminal offence to carry on the activities of debt collection in the absence of such a license. Maybe their license lapsed as they knew they might not get a new one? - This has up to a 2 year imprisonment for this breach.
They after three emails are now quite timid and still trying to "amicably" resolve the debt yet they haven't provided any proof, and it amuses me to continue replying to their email, not answering their questions, just as they do to me (as of course they can't confirm their consumer credit license number), with each email further breaches of OFT guidelines and laws are broken. It also appears they get slightly wound up by doing so, as gradually they become even more unprofessional in their wording which I sarcastically reference in my next email.
I will take pleasure in completing my complaint to the OFT. Certainly don't be scared into paying them or give in?
I found this information whilst searching for information on Atradius and was glad I did.
I thought I would add a little bit of my experience with them although this is not to do with the Getty Images issues, but in context I thought it relevant to bring it as whilst there is a grey area (as to if they are debt collecting) they do actually collect debts as well.
I received two letters from Atradius and an email in relation to an alleged trade debt. The first letter arrived 2 days after the 5 day deadline. I'm quite immune to receiving letters like these. Having said that, I rarely receive them and after 4 years in business nothing really scares me or bothers me. The debt in question is one which I dispute, my business purchases supplies of almost £1m a year from various suppliers and never had an issue until a specific global brand.
I decided to reply to the email to dispute the debt as I was replying to them via letter when the email arrived. The great thing about Atradius is their incompetence which makes me smile
. They didn't actually know the legal status of the company, a sole trader. Which in law has consumer protection, they also didn't know my name (and they still don't) they sent the email to an email address on our website with an unidentifiable recipient, as well as the official email give to for accounts.It took them about three emails to realise I was a sole trader. They also continued to demand payment after I disputed the debt and did not provide proof of the debt. They are now going to see if they can find proof.
They are even telling me the debt is in Euros when I have never dealt with any company in this currency and the alleged debt is from a UK company.
They also are of course unregistered and unlicensed with the OFT, a legal requirement under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and a criminal offence to carry on the activities of debt collection in the absence of such a license. Maybe their license lapsed as they knew they might not get a new one? - This has up to a 2 year imprisonment for this breach.
They after three emails are now quite timid and still trying to "amicably" resolve the debt yet they haven't provided any proof, and it amuses me to continue replying to their email, not answering their questions, just as they do to me (as of course they can't confirm their consumer credit license number), with each email further breaches of OFT guidelines and laws are broken. It also appears they get slightly wound up by doing so, as gradually they become even more unprofessional in their wording which I sarcastically reference in my next email.
I will take pleasure in completing my complaint to the OFT. Certainly don't be scared into paying them or give in?