To just block this number that appears to be from a debt collection agency?

[imeandmyself]

I've been getting regular calls on my mobile from The Zinc Group. It asks I call them back quoting my reference number. I've had one text message too.
Some messages say they are calling on behalf of NatWest, some the Royal Bank of Scotland.
They never mention my name.
I've had no letters.
I certainly don't have a reference number.

I've googled them and they are a debt collection agency. I have no debt as far as I'm aware.

I even registered for an Experian credit check earlier in case it shed any light on something I was but aware of lurking in the shadows. Nothing untoward on there at all.

So, just block and forget about it?

Yanbu

Sounds like it’s potentially a scam, I’d ignore- checking your credit rating is a good idea just incase it throws anything up.

Be wary of a scam. But have you never just answered the phone?

It’s a bit odd that they’re not mentioning a name.

We used to get similar calls from a similar sort of agency, but the messages would all start with “this is a message for Mr John Smith….”

(I’ve changed the name, but it wasn’t anyone we’d ever heard of)

Block.

Id be 99% sure it’s a scam.

If you were in debt you’d have letters from the creditors.

Yes I always answer. It's one of those computerised voices saying "this is the Zinc Group calling on behalf of NatWest/ RBS. Please all 0.... quoting your reference number".
So really there's no point answering!

If you research the company and they're genuine, I'd call them.

I work closely with a number of DCAs and their clients. You would be amazed at the number of people who would have sworn they had no debt or no bad debt and were gobsmacked that they legitimately had an account with a DCA.

Also - your credit file can't be relied on. It can take weeks for defaults to show on credit files. And if a DCA is just managing a debt on behalf of a bank - as opposed to fully purchasing the debt - their details wouldn't be recorded anyway.

Isn't there a scam where you call the number back and it's a massive premium rate and they leave you listening to a long message...be wary..

If you research the company and they're genuine, I'd call them.

If they're genuine, they'd send a letter.

I've a bit dim! I didn't notice that the first message had a name on it . My name is not Debbie!

If they're genuine, they'd send a letter

Yeah, surprisingly, not always. There are several major DCAs whose introductory contact is by telephone.

I know that I don't have any debt. I'm lucky enough to have not needed to borrow anything that I haven't easily paid back I full

How long have you had this mobile number? Might it have been recycled after a previous person gave it up?

@GirlGotGuts since I first got a mobile so 20yrs!

I reckon it's a scam and they've spoofed the number of the legit DCA. I'd ignore.

It's just a scam trying to get you to click on the link. If you have bank details on your phone they will have cleared it out before you even think about ringing them up to check it. Block the number.

Would that call be by a computer, not mention your name, and ask you to quote a reference number you'd never been given?

DS told me about the scam where they hijack a legitimate phone number to lure you in. Frightening. I use the Who called me website

I know that I don't have any debt. I'm lucky enough to have not needed to borrow anything that I haven't easily paid back I full

This is the primary reason for many debtors' surprise op. 'I've never borrowed money, I can't have a debt'.

A parking ticket. A dormant bank account you left £50 credit in that's turned into £50 debt over several years due to standard bank fees. A closed credit card with NIL limit that a forgotten annual subscription then debited (they still debit if a card is closed). A tax credits overpayment from ten years ago.

It happens to hundreds of people every week. People with 'no debt'.

I would never ignore contact from a DCA. I'd tread carefully, in case of a scam, but I'd not risk ignoring one.

@FancyANewID does the fact that they called me Debbie in a text message nit suggest they either trying to scam me or just have my number in error? Since my name isn't Debbie?

It looks like a scam , I'd report it (to 7726) block it and think no more about it.

🤷🏻‍♀️ Yeah probably op.

Personally I'd still call though, to double check, after I'd established the company was genuine. Not on the number given in any text, but the official number online.

I would consider it a few minutes well spent to ensure it was checked out and put to bed.

It's just bollocks. Report it if you want to do your civic duty, as per pp's advice.

It's a scam. The clue is always the link address these things use. They'd use their actual organisation, not a 'mailvu' domain address. That, and they called you the wrong name. Plus good credit check. It's not legit, so block the number.

You can also type in their number in google and it will probably be on some scam alert site.

My school aged son kept getting texts on his contract phone I own. They were from a debt company called Lowell and it said the persons name in the text. I emailed them saying the guy must have given a random number as they are texting a child. Never got a response but he never got another text either.