Sigma Red

russelldurose · Post by **russelldurose** » 18 Jun 2014 15:57

Dear all,

Really need help here to get this 3 party debt penalty company.

Last year my car failed an MOT, just before I was due to renew the tax. The car had extensive repairs. Then when the car went out and the wheel came off, the garage admitted liability. I was nearly killed in that accident.

Whilst the insurance were due to come and do a Liability to see whether the car was a write off, the tax ran out. I then got the category C write off, so I asked who would deal with DVLA with the write off. The insurance company said they would. So I sent the write off doc to the DVLA wrote to me in January. After which they sent me a penalty of £80 for not renewing tax or SORN. I told them that the insurance wrote the car off. They then contracted Sigma Red to chase me up for the debt. I have been in touch with the insurance company who say they will deal with it. But for some unknown reason Sigma Red continue to chase me saying I am liable. Please help.

Post by **Amy** » 18 Jun 2014 16:06

Write to the DVLA insisting they call off their dogs because there is no legal requirement on you to ensure that information you send to the DVLA actually reaches them. Give them the details of your insurance company and let them take it up with them.

russelldurose · Post by **russelldurose** » 18 Jun 2014 20:00

OK…thanks

russelldurose · Post by **russelldurose** » 20 Jun 2014 15:49

They keep calling, the insurance company have now changed ideas and said I need to pay the penalty to DVLA. Then today Sigma Red telephoned. Last time the woman would not listen and said I need to pay. Today they said they understood how the misunderstanding could have taken place, and suspended enforcement.

russelldurose · Post by **russelldurose** » 22 Jun 2014 14:29

They called again last friday. They have placed the account on hold. The insurance say I have to pay the £80 because I should have made a sorn when the car came out of the garage. But how if I did not know the wheel was to come off at 70mph on the motorway? The Garage assumed responsibility and the insurance did not write it off until 10th August, about 9 days after the tax was due.

The 3rd party enforcement company Sigma Red now understands that this is not my fault as from the accident the issue was out of my hands. So what do I do now? I have written to DVLA asking them for clarification, they think I owe £80. Who can I contact?

Schedule 12 · Post by **Schedule 12** » 22 Jun 2014 17:29

I don't know enough about DVLA but Sigma Red doesn't appear to be a bona-fide bailiff company with court authority.

You can try speaking to the Parliamentary ombudsman and they can find out what's going on and if the conduct is kosher.

Post by **Hithard** » 22 Jun 2014 19:18

Sigma Red are just a debt collection agency. That's it. Debt collection agencies have no enforcement powers and the only way they can get money from you is by taking you to the small claims court and trying to get judgement.
The way debt collection agencies work is; a letter, a strongly worded letter, a letter with a red headline, (Ooh, scarey!)
Then lots of phone calls. It's not their money so why do they get shirty?
Just don't bother answering the phone or file the letters in the plastic file marked 'Bin'.

Schedule 12 · Post by **Schedule 12** » 22 Jun 2014 19:28

This app is great with withheld call junkies. It puts them to voice mail "hello, don't leave a message, I'll call you straight back to the number on screen"

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&sourc ... x1PxMThImg

And you can ditch the land line and re route all your numbers to a mobile using this. http://www.live.sipgate.co.uk/faq/artic ... to_sipgate

I can speak to any client at any time from anywhere, and eliminate the crank callers. It has increased productivity no end.

Post by **Andy** » 22 Jun 2014 20:36

It wasn't their debt in the 1st place so a CCJ I imagine would be rather hard to obtain. Debt Collection companies look to make a profit - simple. You don't owe them anything as you don't have a contract with them. Once you do pay, a contract is formed.

Ignore Ignore Ignore - job done.

russelldurose · Post by **russelldurose** » 23 Jun 2014 14:54

Andy,
I just may ignore it. But they have my number and calling me up…how do I stop them from calling? Give them a new number? An unused mobile? LOL.

Post by **Amy** » 23 Jun 2014 15:06

It will be an autodialler that they use and it will come from a call centre. If you keep ignoring the call, your number will eventually drop off their list. Every time you pick up, they confirm a 'live' number.

russelldurose · Post by **russelldurose** » 23 Jun 2014 15:59

I have just given them a number that is always off.

Schedule 12 · Post by **Schedule 12** » 23 Jun 2014 16:01

You do something about it.

http://www.dealingwithbailiffs.co.uk/Ba ... xtSMS.html

Post by **Andy** » 23 Jun 2014 18:23

I would just ignore it, plain and simple. The original creditor has washed their hands of the debt and sold it to a debt collection company. I think its about 6 or 7 pence in every pound they buy it for, they simply chase you looking to charge to full amount plus fees as a nice big fat profit. So the debt, as far as all parties (creditors) involved are concerned, has been paid. They bought it, you didn't ask them too - done.

Debt, what debt? I don't have any debts! If you don't own up they have no liability over you, and in the end will simply give up the ghost.

russelldurose · Post by **russelldurose** » 01 Oct 2014 00:06

Andy,
The whole issue has fallen silent. No more letters from Sigma Red, and I think DVLA or insurance company have stepped in. Since then I have heard nothing. Since May.

russelldurose · Post by **russelldurose** » 20 Oct 2014 15:19

Sigma Red have passed the case onto solicitors called HL Solicitors. I believe these do not exist and are probably a department of Sigma Red meant to scare me off. Please advise.

Post by **monkeynuts** » 20 Oct 2014 16:44

I think HL are just a debt collecting solicitor

Post by **Amy** » 20 Oct 2014 16:55

H L Solicitors are part of Sigma Red.

Pote Snitkin · Post by **Pote Snitkin** » 20 Oct 2014 17:31

It's a ruse these DCA have used for years - they make you believe a real Solicitors firm is involved. It will just be their 'legal' department, probably on a different desk in the same office.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » 20 Oct 2014 23:09

Pote Snitkin wrote:It's a ruse these DCA have used for years - they make you believe a real Solicitors firm is involved. It will just be their 'legal' department, probably on a different desk in the same office.

HL Solicitors are a real firm: http://www.hllc.co.uk/

Authorised and regulated by the Solicitor's Regulation Authority No: 564160. HL Solicitors is a practicing name of HL Legal Solicitors. HL Legal Solicitors also practices as HL Legal & Collections Solicitors

They work in partnership with Sigma: http://www.credittoday.co.uk/article/87 ... t-purchase

Sigma currently provides contingency collection services in the UK, incorporating "white label" collections through Sigma White, contingency collection services through Sigma Red and litigation services provided in partnership with HL Legal Solicitors.

That doesn't mean they cannot issue a claim in court.

If you get a letter from a firm of solicitors threatening court action, it's best to treat it as a letter before action and respond accordingly, asking them to supply you with the documents they would rely on in court rather than dismissing it as just another idle threat from a DCA. They are more likely to issue a claim if they are ignored, they will assume the claim will also be ignored or admitted.

Pote Snitkin · Post by **Pote Snitkin** » 21 Oct 2014 08:23

Bacchus wrote: HL Solicitors are a real firm: http://www.hllc.co.uk/

Umm... no, they are the legal department of Sigma Red - they even have the same address:

http://www.hllc.co.uk/contact.php
http://www.sigmared.co.uk/contact.php

Like I say, it will be a different desk in the same office. You certainly wouldn't be able to hire them yourself. It's simply giving the impression that a team of solicitors is on the case, scaring you into paying.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » 21 Oct 2014 10:41

Pote Snitkin wrote:
Bacchus wrote: HL Solicitors are a real firm: http://www.hllc.co.uk/
Umm... no, they are the legal department of Sigma Red - they even have the same address:

http://www.hllc.co.uk/contact.php
http://www.sigmared.co.uk/contact.php

Like I say, it will be a different desk in the same office. You certainly wouldn't be able to hire them yourself. It's simply giving the impression that a team of solicitors is on the case, scaring you into paying.

But they can still issue a claim/act as solicitors for the claimant, which is the main point. They can do more than scare you, they can legitimately take you to court.

Pote Snitkin · Post by **Pote Snitkin** » 21 Oct 2014 11:24

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/sra-sil ... ullarticle
http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/j ... -customers

And considering that they're not registered with the SRA as they claim...

http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/firm-b ... ister.page

... I would say it's pretty unlikely that they will take you anywhere.

Bacchus wrote:They can do more than scare you, they can legitimately take you to court.

As can anyone.

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