Debt help scam ?

[unsurehereidk]

Hiya recently I saw a post in my local facebook group asking for advice on struggling with being in debt
I saw that a few people suggested a charity called step change
being in the same situation I searched them up on Google and clicked on the first website that came up
They rang me today and I’m unsure on there legitimacy after speaking to them
I went back into Google and realised that their was a couple of websites in the search results and that maybe the one that I’d clicked on wasnt the legit charity that was being recommended and was a company set up to take advantage of people looking for genuine help and who would accidentally stumble across this fake one
has anyone else had the same experience or can offer any advice on where to go from here ?

If this is the site you visited, it's legit.

If it isn't, use the Contact Us link to tell them about the fake.

https://www.stepchange.org/

The website I clicked was ending in .org.uk I’ve asked chat gpt and they say it’s a scam I’ve tired calling the legit company but can’t get through

Hmm! My browser can't reach stepchange.org.uk. Perhaps it's already been taken down? Hope so!

If you've been bamboozled over this you've hit the tip of an iceberg that deserves much more publicity.

Step Change is a genuine charity.

Searching for 'Debt Advice' tends to turn up results that will lead you to for profit practitioners. Typically they will try to sell you an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA). IVAs are the answer for some people but there are better, simpler and cheaper solutions for many more.

As long as you've not signed up with anything for one of the sharks just contact Step Change per the link above.

They’ve changed their url to go.thedebtadviceservice.co.uk now
before it was the same as the legit company but with a small change at the end

Op you went most likely to debtadviceuk org.uk
That is the firs promoted link.
VERY quick search shows the vompany who owns this had notes served by FCA etc.

Did you give them personal data?

I’ve called them and told them I’m no longer interested and to delete any data they have on me
I’ve also sent an email to the “accountants” that they passed me onto asking to delete all data they have on me

Ah that's different one but still... Not the free correct one PP has given

What notes were on them ?

Sorry plenty of typoes. Notices.
It's fine, you went to different site.

This Is the website

Hi...

I completed the form on debtadviceuk.org.uk website and got a call back. I wasn't on the ball that day and was sure the lady that called me back said StepChange.. anyway, I gave them details of my debts, employment etc and agreed to be put through to National Debt Line. The guy I spoke to was pushing me towards an IVA, like really pushing. I told him I want to do a full I&E with my wife before going ahead to make sure the plan was right for me. Turns out it wasn't because my disposable income was too low. I suggested a DRO would be a better option and he became quite aggressive, judgmental and very unprofessional... he told me that a DRO is like mini bankruptcy and I'll lose my job. He said my creditors will have access to my bank account over 12 months and even if I was to receive, say, £100 from a family member or friend the DRO would be cancelled. He also told me that I would be seen as a "fraud person" at which point I asked him if the call was being recorded and asked him to repeat what he said. He did and said "yes, because you've taken someone's money and you're running away with it". I ended the call, found a complaints email for the organisation that runs National Debt Line, and sent a complaint about him. A couple of hours later I got a call from Cleo of National Debt Line who told me they have no record of me on their system. It turned out, I wasn't talking to NDL at all, and when I checked the email he sent me it was from [email protected] (notice the sneaky little S in the email address...well, I didn't). Felt like an idiot and spent the next few hours trying to recall exactly what information I'd given. Cleo gave me an account number and I chose a memorable word, and she suggested I go to the NDL website, find their correct phone number and call back myself so I can see she's the real deal.

Hi I was just reading through this post. I spoke to someone today from this company. Debtadvisecompany is it not legit. They offered me a dro with no fee to pay but asked for some info