Just had a letter demanding payment for channels I've never watched
Phil Owens
Posts: 6,989 Forum Member
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I've just had a letter from a comany called Key2 recoveries
They say I owe £27.49 for pay per view cannels red hot films, erotica, gay tv and bollywood movies. I've never watched any of these channels. Why the hell have they sent me this letter. should I ring them...
They say I watched a film in 30th July 2000...
They say I owe £27.49 for pay per view cannels red hot films, erotica, gay tv and bollywood movies. I've never watched any of these channels. Why the hell have they sent me this letter. should I ring them...
They say I watched a film in 30th July 2000...
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Comments
I'd tend to respond in writing, send it by the 'signed for' service. Explain that you have never subscribed to these channels and ask them for details substantiating their claim. In particular, ask them what viewing card number they have recorded for you and check whether it is correct. I think some of the channels you list require registration, so check how the registration was handled and what payment methods were involved.
You may be the victim of identity theft, so you need to sort this out as soon as possible.
All of this assumes that no-one else has access to the box and could have done this to you.
http://www.key2recoveries.co.uk/
You could try using the e-mail contact on the website, before spending your cash querying this.
this could be a scam to get money out of him/her.
Was just about to post that, but I had a quick look and Red Hot Films/Euro started in June 2000.
Still, it seems strange it took them over five years to notice an outstanding payment...
2. Make all contact in writing, NOT by phone, and keep copies.
3. Start by denying it all on the grounds that you didn't do it and there's no evidence to the contrary. Check what Digibox you had at the time.
They do seem to be fairly new, they've only joined up with TCM last year, and they don't list any satisfied clients on their website. (At least I couldn't find any.)
As they have an email address, I'd email them, and if that doesn't get them off of your back, start copying your emails to your local trading standards dept.
http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/
This address should be of help.
I'm annoyed as the letter says I have received previous reminders but I have not received anything from them before this is the first I have heard of it. Is every one else the same ?
Im now trying to decide what to do about it as it says pay in seven days.
this is likely to be a scam, but ring sky and find out
You will find that if you pay or signed up via Direct Debt they do not write to inform you that they have cancelled the account or issue bills. It is simply passed out to a collection agency after some time.
hope this helps
Here is part of the e-mail they sent me...
Dear sir
RHF PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
BALANCE OUTSTANDING: £27.49
We write with reference to the above.
The films watched were assigned to Sky card and box registered in your name. Whilst Sky is used as the method to deliver these services, the charges are not the responsibilities of Sky are, as a consequence, not collected by Sky by way of their monthly direct debit. The charges come from our client.
These are pay per view offerings, again separate from the Sky box office, and are usually contracted via a telephone call to our client's automated system. If for any reason the details are not collected correctly, the system may still allow the viewings until such time as they attempt to collect payment.
In this case our client maintains the information they hold relates to a Sky card registered in your name for the appropriate time.
Our client maintains that reminders have been sent to you. We cannot comment further if you have not received the same.
We are Key2Recoveries Limited, a debt management company, who have been instructed by RHF Productions Limited to recover debts due to them relating to the supply of television services.
RHF Productions trades as Red Hot Movie channel including Udirect films.
The statue in England & Wales for pursuing any debt is 6 years from the date of the debt.
The balance as detailed above remains outstanding and we trust the above explains the situation.
£20 of the £27.49 is the colletors charge...
Lynzi.xx
I notice other errors, too. Or is that your copying?
In any case, they are relying on technology and their customer's word to prove that your Digibox and card were involved. It's too easy to dispute. They won't go to court because they know they'd lose.
Remember a while back there was a big hoohah in the papers because loads of people got bills from BT as their Digiboxes had been phoning a wrong number? You just can't rely on technology.
They do seem to be a fairly new business, and given that this type of debt recovery generally works on a no win, no fee, basis have probably picked up some business that other debt recovery businesses wouldn't touch.
I really would advise contacting your local trading standards dept to get them to investigate their actions, and also you could complain to the ICM about them.
Their ethical code is found here, http://www.icm.org.uk/home.asp?edit_id=215&nav=15&branch=0
:cool:
I would demand that they tell you what viewing card number they say was used and what payment method was agreed. Without that information, you can't decide whether you should pay or challenge the claim. If they want to go to court, they would have to produce the information anyway.
Date of Incorporation: 25/10/2002
Previous Names:
Date of change Previous Name
03/09/2003 KEY2 MANAGEMENT LIMITED
13/06/2003 SWL (439) LIMITED
Nope - wrong. Only if they fail to contact you within that time scale with regard to the debt. It is not a magic "don't pay for 6 years and you're off" card - its if they fail to persue the debt for 6 years then you're clear. This is to stop people coming up after 6+ years and out of the blue claiming money. The claim for the debt must be made within 6 years.
D