Can a catalogue do this?

[cosmicangel]

I had a call from a catalogue company, it's a long story and I have not paid a months bill and stupidly said I no longer lived at this address. They said they are going to be calling the police liason officer and they'll contact me for more details.

Can they do this and if so what will happen?

[woofgang]

Well you have just attempted to defraud them......why can't they contact the police?

[ummmm]

Over one months arrears? Why would you lie?

I can't see why they can't contact the police. If they think you are lying to get out of paying what you owe.

[jackthehat]

I assume you pretended to be someone else and said, "She doesn't live here, anymore"?

Pay what you owe and blame an anonymous 'friend' for messing the catalogue company's telephone agent about...........you 'may', just 'may' get away with it. But I don't think you ought to try purchasing anything else from them (they may not allow you to, in any case).

[jno]

why not start by paying the bill? They probably won't want to pursue the matter any further; prosecutions cost time and money.

[woofgang]

Even if they believed you, why wouldn't they contact the police to trace where you are now?

[pink-kittens]

Could you not pay because you were off sick?
Talk to the catalogue company and tell them this

[cosmicangel]

I've spoken to national debt line and they said they were chatting complete bullsh*t and they were using scare tactics to frighten me so I'm waiting for them to send me a letter with advice in how to deal with them

[ummmm]

I don't think they are chatting bull...they have the same rights to phone the police as anyone else.

It's whether they will bother....

[Barquentine]

A 'police liaison officer' is someone who liaises between the police and a particular community or set of individuals. If there's some set-up that needs this type of contact with them then I'm not sure why the catalogue company needs to know about it.
In ordinary circumstances the police would not bother with such a minor matter.
The situation you're describing sounds like it involves more factors than you've set out - which is not a problem.
Best thing to do would be to contact the company and sound willing to sort out how to repay the arrears. They relax if they think you want to try to be helpful. They only get worried by people they think are avoiding them!
And about the address thing - just say there's been a misunderstanding - what you actually said was that you were thinking about no longer living there - and they misheard you or misunderstood. These mistakes happen all the time!
Do work out with them how to reschedule the payments if necessary though.

[jackthehat]

You are dodging the real issue which is; you owe the catalogue money and they would like you to pay it.

Never mind whether the woman on the 'phone was talking nonsense.........so were you.

You'll have to contact them sooner or later; do it sooner before you completely stuff your ability to 'buy on credit'.

[R1Geezer]

The best thing to do here is pay up. By claiming you move when you haven't you are committing fraud and that is a criminal matter. Howevere the police probably won't be that interested so they probably are using scare tactics. Is there any reason why you don't just talking to them and arrange how you are going to pay?

[woofgang]

missing a payment isn't the problem, its the attempt to defraud that will get the catalogue company's hackles up.

[cosmicangel]

I really didn't mean to say I didn't live here I just panicked when she said she was from the fraud squad. Like I said spoke to debt line and they are sending me info as to what to do, they said only communicate in writing which I'm going to do.

[jackthehat]

To be honest, you'd only get the Fraud Squad (I take it you mean the Fraud Department of the catalogue?) ringing if they suspected fraudulent activity. A missed payment, or two, does *not* constitute fraud.

They may have wanted to discuss suspicious activity on your account..........and you could have dealt with it quite easily.

[pink-kittens]

why chat ot national debt line if all you missed was one catalogue payment?

So did u talk to the catalogue or not?! And why cant you just pay it?

[pink-kittens]

Hang on you say "I really didn't mean to say I didn't live here I just panicked when she said she was from the fraud squad." which sounds as if you told the fraud squad you know longer lived there??

What one is it?

I am beginning to hear trip trap myself

[CheekyChops]

So who called you, the catalogue company or the fraud squad? Maybe you should tell us the whole story, the 'fraud squad' does not get involved over 1 missing catalogue repayment.

[ummmm]

The fraud department?

[vodkancoke]

In the past, I have missed one payment from a catalogue company. All they did was send me a letter advising me I missed a payment. No mention of the "fraud squad" or the police and no telephone call. I paid in full the following month and all was well with the world. Something doesnt add up with your story and I still can't fathom why you would panic and state you dont live at your address unless you had something to hide?

[joko]

i think maybe CA is looking for a way out of paying this debt and checking to see what might work...