Customers of collapsed debt firm Chase Saunders targeted in scam

According to one Chase Saunders customer, someone from the ‘Guidance Office’ recently called his mobile to advise him that Chase Saunders had gone into liquidation and that he would be able to claim back money he paid to the company.

Steven Williamson, 27, from Crawley, was on a debt management plan with Chase Saunders for 18 months, before terminating it six months ago and seeking an IVA.

He said: “A guy called me and said that he was from the Guidance Office. He went on to say that Chase Saunders have been liquidated and owe creditors £2.5 million and that as I was paying Chase Saunders I could be due money back.

“I was driving at the time and the call ended there, he hasn’t called back since and as it was from a withheld number I couldn’t ring him back.”

Consumer experts have warned that there is no such body as the Guidance Office and urged former Chase Saunders customers to not give out any of their personal details or information if they are called.

Mr Williamson confirmed: “He didn’t sound very professional, and I made sure I didn’t give him any of my details. When it was clear that I wasn’t interested he hung up suddenly.

Chase Saunders clients are managed by In Touch Financial Services. Although no one from In Touch was available for comment, a source close to the firm said that other clients had been called from ‘pseudo official offices’.

The source continued: “In Touch contacted the OFT regarding this subject, in concern for their own clients complaining about a governing body calling them which didn’t sound genuine. The OFT advised them that other debt management companies had also had issues relating to this, however the OFT confirmed that it is not normal practice for them to contact individuals unless any investigation was being carried out.”

Source: Debt Management Today