Press Release from IW Council and Hampshire Constabulary
Islanders are being warned about a company that rings households offering to help reduce personal debt. Both Isle of Wight Council’s Trading Standards and Hampshire Constabulary are reminding residents that no bona fide financial company would ever seek to obtain personal bank details over the phone.
A company called Global Credit Management has made calls stating it can help reduce household debt by up to 70% and then arranging for the remaining 30% to be paid back in instalments. This would be through an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) which they would administer on behalf of the home owner.
The caller has been known to request personal and bank details. These include account numbers, mortgage company and outstanding debts. With the credit crunch and negative equity being a major issue, people who suspect they may be able to pay less each month may be vulnerable.
Julie Woodhouse, Senior Fair Trading Officer at Isle of Wight Council’s Trading Standards, said
“Under no circumstances should you ever reveal your personal bank and financial details over the phone or Internet to a firm you are not familiar with. As soon as a company starts asking these details, the alarm bells should ring in your head and you should end the call. Always seek advice from Trading Standards or police if you are unsure and remember the old adage that if its too good to be true, it usually is”.
Hampshire Constabulary’s Crime Prevention Officer Michala Bailey said:
“Anyone who receives a call like this should try to remember as much as they can about the bogus caller, and the details they give you over the phone. This information can prove vital to police in identifying and catching offenders. Try dialling 1471 to find out if the caller has allowed their number to be traced.
Don’t hesitate to challenge and question the identities and motives of any callers who you believe could be suspicious. Information about cold calls can be passed to Hampshire Constabulary’s Force Control Room on 0845 045 45 45.”
Members of the public wanting to know more about their customer rights and information on how to spot scams can contact Isle of Wight Council’s Trading Standards service on (01983) 823396 or log onto the council’s website.
Alternatively, information can be obtained at Consumer Direct which is a government service. The organisation’s website can be found online and the phone number is 08454 040506
