Moorcroft? Why do they keep calling me and who are they?

[Whatisthissoddingnumber]

Hi, hoping someone here recognised the name as they've left random automated messages on my voicemail for the last 2 weeks. I've never heard of them and when I google it seems to suggest they are a debt recovery firm? I certainly don't owe any money and am quite comfortably off so have never needed a loan.

Is this a scam? I am ignoring it as I suspect it is and don't want to give them any further information about me, let alone have to pay for a call to them.

It is indeed a Debt Recovery Firm

I'd answer and see what they want so I could clear it up if it was anything dodgy, like someone using your address

I think because it is an unknown number it seems to just go straight to voicemail? Or maybe it is a recognised spam number?

It quite possibly is an ex using my address, but then how would they have my number unless he has deliberately given them it? Surely someone can't just pretend to be you and not have to show any proof?

Just give them a call and ask what's going on. If it's your ex, tell them he doesn't live there anymore and to stop calling you.

I've just checked my phone and it flags it as suspected spam but does give an 0161 number. I'm very wary of calling them if it is scammers. Surely they can write to me if they actually have my address? I've had friends scammed with phone calls and told they were in trouble and don't want to be ignorant to the fact. If I block them then surely they have to contact me officially in writing? They don't even seem to have my name at this point so I don't want to give out any information.

Could it be an unpaid parking ticket, DART charge or similar?

I had one of those and they sent it to the wrong address because I'd just bought the car that day, didn't realise I'd gone on the DART area, and the DVLA sent them the wrong keeper's details so they sent the charge notice to the wrong address!

About 4 or 5 months later I got this debt recovery firm chasing me up! 😱 Presumably when they requested the details they had updated by then or something. When I finally got through I paid it straight away and it was done and dusted but god those late payment fees rack up!

For peace of mind, why not google the phone number and see if it matches the company, or google the company then see if their phone number is the one you're being called from? Don't bury your head in the sand if you actually owe money.

Not a scam, they are a debt collector. I'd call them back.

I don't think it would be a parking ticket, although I guess it potentially could be? I have automatic payment for DART set up already, so even if I accidentally went in it would be paid.

I will google the number and see. I am a bit worried as a distant ex turned up at my dad's just before Christmas unannounced and is known as a bit of a drug/alcohol dependant these days - it's the only possibly dodgy connection that might have given out my number I can think of who doesn't have any money.

See that screen shot is not the same number that I'm getting on my mobile. Same area code...

Just ring them back

Possible they have the wrong no & are looking for someone else? I went through a period of 2 yrs where a string of companies rang my mobile no looking for 'K', just kept telling them I wasn't her & they had obviously been given wrong details- only stopped when I had a rant at a caller about how annoying it was & that she had given many companies the wrong details, i suspected deliberately.....it turned out to be Ks sister lol

OK so I just rang the number back. It was an automated message saying to call them back on the number on the letter they have sent me. I have had no letter, so am going to assume someone else has given out my number instead of theirs.

On the flip side, how on earth am I going to stop them calling me if my phone suspects spam and won't let it ring?

Your number could be on someone's account if you've had no letters. I worked for a debt recovery agents years ago and often would call numbers which weren't for people.
Someone could have given your number, it's been input wrong.
I would call them and find out. They should be able to search by your mobile number and find the account it's against.
If it's not your name on the account then just ask them to remove your number.
You'll have to confirm your name as they can't give any information but if it is your name then you'll need to go through data protection with them. Hopefully it's not someone using your details to take out credit but they'd be pretty stupid to use your phone number

They are debt collectors but very d

Dodgy ones!
Read up on them and be very wary of any further contact.

They are debt collectors

I had them when I owed Thames Water.
I ignored them for ages thinking it was a scam as I am in London and they are in Stockport I believe so would not link Thames Water (London) with Stockport.

In the event they are legit and I rang them and arranged to pay off over a certain period, which they were fine with.
All paid off now.

Don't call back the number on your phone call the company directly (if you must, but I wouldn't). If it's spam it may well not really be that company, you have no idea who you are actually ringing. If it is a debt recovery I would expect to get a letter, rather than a random call.

Oh that is a good point I forgot to add to my post

They DID also send me letters, that I let build up and build up and they eventually rang Me.
I take it you have had no letters @Whatisthissoddingnumber and if so, can understand your disquiet

Yes, I'm very wary that it's a scam using a similar number and hoping people call with details they can use.

I presume they must get people giving false numbers a lot, so will wait for a letter. At least the I know that they have my address and what I am meant to be in debt for!

Have you recently moved? We had a letter from a debt collector, not phone calls, as although we thought we had updated all our vehicle details, we hadn't changed the registered keeper address and missed the tax renewal letter I believe, so were fined.

They may be trying to track someone who lived there or had some connection to you. I once got a call from someone looking for a neighbour who had skipped on some bills. I always make sure not to list my number so went nuts and they hung up on me. But they can pay for access to special directories. Just ignore it.

You need ti answer and find out what they want.

Have some paper and a pen ready to jot down what they’re saying.

Don’t give out any personal details.

If you think it’s a scam or don’t like what they’re saying, then just put the phone down.

Moorcroft are one of the debt recovery agents used by HMRC to chase their outstanding payments.