1 October 2010
13:3873287#1
Kent Trading Standards have been receiving complaints from consumers receiving letters from a loan company demanding payments on a £513 loan. These people have not applied for a loan and think the letter is a scam. However, the loan company is genuine operating from an address in London, but based in Finland. It is believed that criminals are using stolen identities to make fraudulent on-line loan applications. If you receive such a letter, do not ignore it. Write to the Company: Help Loan, Imperial House, 15-19 Kingsway, London W22B 6UN and confirm that you have niether requested nor received a loan. It would be advisable to do your own Credit Reference Agency search to see if applications have been made in your name. (www.equifax.co.uk or Experian on 0844 481 8000 are two suggestions).
KTS have also been getting reports about a scottish based company selling kitchens, cold calling consumers and arranging home visits, claiming the consumer has won £1,000 voucher towards the cost of a new kitchen. Once they gain access to a home they subject the householder to a high pressure sales pitch. On one occasion the rep stayed from 2 pm to 10 pm when he only left because a concerned family member turned up. He had spent the 8 hours trying to pressure the consumer into agreeing to a £26,000 kitchen that would be reduced to £15,000 if they agreed to act as a show house.
I think everyone on here knows how to deal with cold callers, but if not, I can pass on plenty of advice.
On a different note, there will be a legitimate door knocking exercise run by KCC shortly. They will over home energy and water surveys to help householders save money and keep warmer this winter. They will carry photographic ID cards, which will display the tel. no. 0845 247 247. Consumers ringing this number will then be given a password which legitimate door knockers will know. Householders will also receive a postcard prior to the visit.