Assistance with Debt Collection and Claim Disputes | Legal Aid

Questioner

Hello, Yesterday, to my great surprise, I received a text message from a debt collection agency because a claim had not yet been paid. It said 93 and I assumed that was the amount involved. It was a vague and almost amateurish text message. In order to avoid further costs, I had to pay the claim quickly and immediately call for a payment appointment. I called immediately, but at 5:00 PM there was no one there anymore... I tried again this morning and got someone on the line. I indicated that I had no idea what it was about and that I found the text message very vague. She told me it came from naturalist and she gave my previous address where I haven't lived for 6 years.. I found this unbelievable and ridiculous that they had never called me etc, if this is true. She kept insisting on payment and I said that I am not going to just pay and that I wanted everything sent by email with everything described. Then I received a letter by email stating that it involved an amount of 93 euros regarding Naturpost, which I had never heard of before. She also told me that I had already paid 25 euros...I couldn't believe my ears. She said that I didn't know anymore pfff Furthermore, there was nothing about the structure of the amount and there was also no correspondence enclosed from which it could be concluded that I was actually in default. So I don't even know which products we're talking about. I immediately emailed back and indicated that I wanted all correspondence regarding this to be sent to me. So all mail sent to my old address is from the naturalist and the collection agency. And then we look further, so that I don't just pay blindly and assume that everything is correct. It rattled on all sides. But in the meantime I'm worried about it Because I'm afraid they'll threaten etc. Can you tell me if I did the right thing? And advise me on how to proceed with this?

Lawyer

You have probably been a victim of advertising or identity fraud I recommend that you send a registered letter (with acknowledgement of receipt) to the company and/or the collection agency, stating that no agreement has been reached between you and the supplier. If you receive a collection, return it with a letter - preferably registered - stating that you dispute the claim. You also return the next collection with the same message. After two letters, you can inform the collection agency that the mutual positions are sufficiently clear and that you will no longer answer any new correspondence. You can also state in the first letter that you will report the matter to the police and/or to the fraud reporting center. Please look at: http://www.fraudemeldpunt.nl/home

Questioner

thanks for the quick response :-) I hadn't looked at it that way... Did you understand me correctly? shouldn't I first wait and see if they send me the requested information? If they can't do this, I know enough and I will respond with a registered letter. and isn't it also true that it has already expired anyway? I have been living at this address for 6 years now... I can also put this in front of their feet kind regards amanda

Lawyer

In my opinion, you have acted correctly. Please wait for the feedback from the collection agency. If it turns out that there is indeed no agreement, then there may be fraud. I think it is still too early to determine that. It is possible that the claim, if there was one, has indeed expired. However, in order to be able to say anything about this with certainty, insight into the entire file is required.

Questioner

Hello, As you say, I asked to see the file...waited a few days and received no response I just called and the employee of the collection agency simply says that they cannot do that and that they are not obliged to show me an agreement from which I can see exactly what it is about. And she said it's been too long etc She also claimed again that I had already paid an amount in 2007, so I said that she should be able to show me everything because I would not pay blindly. Then she started to put pressure again and that she would continue the collection process and then be able to prove that I have to pay that amount... And that the costs will only increase. I just think it's weird... And I can't find the company in question anywhere on the internet, only complaints about Naturpost So I have no idea how to approach them, and since the collection agency vf only obstructs me. Should you still send a registered letter to the collection agency? Wherein I state that no agreement has taken place? I really don't feel comfortable with it.. I would like to hear your opinion Kind regards