Letter from Debt Collectors (Intrum Justita)

B_Rabbit

Hi,

A few months ago I remember putting down my friend's address for something I wanted to order on a website, but can't remember what site it was. Don't think I ordered it either.

Anyway, he got a letter through the door yesterday with my name on it. It was from "Intrum Justitia" who have a site here: http://www.intrum.com/ie/

The letter said they are debt collectors and are operating on behalf of ebay, and that I owe something around €40. There was a bank giro attached too, which I thought was a bit odd?

I rang their number and they asked for a reference number, which I gave, but then they were asking for my d.o.b to verify my account, which I wasn't prepared to give them.

I tore it up and threw it out, which was probably a bit in haste.

Anyway, is this a genuine company? Can they do anything if I don't pay?


Found a thread on them here:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055219927&page=2

ElNino

They are genuine company who are engaged by companies for debt collection. Do you have an ebay account with a negative balance? If you genuinely owe money to ebay then you should pay ebay directly. Anyway they are not going to take you to court for €40 and they can't affect your credit rating so if you think it is a mistake just tear up their letters.

B_Rabbit

ElNino wrote: »

They are genuine company who are engaged by companies for debt collection. Do you have an ebay account with a negative balance? If you genuinely owe money to ebay then you should pay ebay directly. Anyway they are not going to take you to court for €40 and they can't affect your credit rating so if you think it is a mistake just tear up their letters.

I checked my ebay account and there's nothing about debt on it. I may as well just leave it

CelticRambler

They are a real company, and obsessive about chasing non-existent debts that they've bought off other businesses. Be prepared to be hounded by them for months (maybe even years) to come, and they don't care about how little the debt is. They don't get paid until/unless they collect so they don't want to hear why you don't owe the money. You'll get to recognise the envelopes - bin them, burn them or save them for your biographer but don't bother replying.

shruikan2553

If they are persistent can't you threaten with harassment charges? I've heard of it working for some people.

ligertigon

Hi OP, I had these guys on my back for 3 years. I initiated a student loan in the uk but decided to pay my fees personally as I got a sum off a relative. The college was paid twice in the end and said nothing.
I eventually got contacted by them and the farce went on for 3 years with phone calls every week by them. I was stuck in the middle. The college couldn't pay them back directly so gave me a refund to give to them, needless to say when the sterling changed to euro and back to sterling again there was a discrepancy I wasn't willing to cover.

I would be very wary of your credit rating if you have a good one, and maybe contact mabs etc for advice as €40 can escalate to more and then possible credit rating issues.

Beano

They can only affect your credit rating if they take you to court and get a judgement against you. Highly unlikely they will do that for €40.

If you want them to go away ask them to provide in writing proof that you owe the debt. Only deal with them in writing. If it turns out you do owe the debt go back to whoever you owe the money to and deal with them directly.