Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2003/05/27/tiscalis_debt_collectors_demand_cash/

Tiscali's debt collectors demand cash from ‘PC Plod’

You couldn't make it up

By Tim Richardson

Posted in Legal, 27th May 2003 12:15 GMT

Tiscali's debt collectors have sent a threatening letter demanding £14.98 - to "PC Plod".

Greg Palmer from Peterborough was shocked when he received a bill demanding £14.98 from NCO Financial Services (UK) Ltd on behalf of Tiscali UK Ltd.

Although the bill was sent to his home address it was sent to "PC Plod". To make matters worse, Greg doesn't even have a Tiscali account.

The letter said: "We are advised by our client that you have failed to repay the outstanding balance on the above account and have elected to ignore all previous demands for payment.

"Although the amount outstanding remains relatively small, you should be advised that, if not satisfactorily resolved this may affect your future credit rating.

"To avoid any further action on your account, it is important that you settle the balance immediately," it said.

"This came totally out of the blue," Greg told El Reg. "I thought someone was pulling my leg at first."

But when he contacted NCO he found that the demand was genuine. After explaining the problem, the debt collection outfit said it would get in touch with Tiscali to try and resolve the matter.

So far Greg hasn't heard a peep out of Tiscali or NCO.

When The Register called NCO to discuss the "PC Plod" bill, one of the operators said "this must be a wind up" before admitting that the company has received "quite a few complaints" from hacked off Tiscali punters who claim they are being wrongly chased for cash. ®

Related Story

Tiscali calls in debt collectors over 'unpaid' bills