OFFICIAL response from Oriel Collections regarding Platte

[matt_d]

Today I received official confirmation from Oriel Group's Collections Operations Manager, via email, of the company's stance on Platte International and on pursuit of alleged debts:

Due to the fact that Platte International Limited are ceasing to trade in the uk we are ceasing our collections of legitimate debts over the coming month.

Our current process insures only letters with name and address details go out and no letters will be sent addressed to “the computer owner”.

Exact timescales aren't clear (the coming month is as close as we get). Interesting to note about Oriel's "current process" which is supposed to ensure that only named individuals are sent letters. I've had no direct response as to why letters had previously been sent to "the computer owner".

Sounds positive, but as always do let us know if you continue to receive letters from Oriel.

[Dave McDave]

This is fantastic news Matt_d!  Certainly Oriel have had to back pedal a bit with some of their alledged debts. And saying they will only pursue ligitimate debts means they are going to have to provide proof on the others.

This is good.

[ForumFriend]

Well done, Matt! 

[Sailorsam]

I received my letter dated April 2009, this letter had my name on it demanding £74.99 to be paid immediately.  Does this latest statement state, that they will only be chasing the debt of the names that they have, even without proof or are they going to drop all proceedings altogether.  I have said in other entries, I do not want my credit rating tarnished by these people due to some dodgey company dealings.  As to yet I have not written to Oriel but I will be tomorrow requesting proof.

[matt_d]

This statement, though brief, seems to suggest that Oriel will cease to pursue anyone associated with a Platte International "debt" within the next month. Whether they'll actually tell you that is another matter. I'm afraid I don't have timescales on this.

[Dave McDave]

  You know I must have read it wrong. it's a good job you mentioned this Matt as I thought it only meant they'd stop persuing the ones they've been chasing to 'The Computer Owner'. Thanks for pointing this out.

So now it would seem Oriel are giving up Platte's fight on their behalf. We'll have to wait and see what transpires.

[ForumFriend]

I suspect Platte have only 'hired' Oriel for a limited time (after all, they will be paying a fee to Oriel).  I wonder how much money Oriel have managed to 'make' for Platte during the time they've been acting on their behalf?

[dead bod bill]

hi matt its chris. recieved a letter from oriel on 28th of april. i am a named customer( stupidly gave my name to platte three months ago) and oriel have build me for 74.99. i never used platte's services.
will i be pursued, or am i one of the ones to be left in peace.
Keep up the good work. chris

[matt_d]

Hi Chris,

If Oriel is true to its word, then we could either see these letters stop at the end of April (as dated) or possibly around the second half of May, depending upon what Oriel's definition of "the next month" is in relation to winding down operations.

In any case, I can't imagine they're going to pursue. This is more likely some automated system that hasn't been instructed otherwise as yet.

We still haven't heard of anyone being taken to court or pursued beyond letters.

[ForumFriend]

Chris, if you haven't already done so, drop Michael Pollitt a line about your case - he may well be interested. 

As Matt says, in all the time we've been running the forum, we've yet to hear a single case of anyone being pursued to the Courts by Platte.  We think they have good reason not to - and I doubt Oriel would want to test those waters in this matter either.  There are people who have been hoping to be taken to Court just to make a stand against Platte.  Platte, clearly, doesn't want to have its business model put under the spotlight of the Law.

[Stiffed]

Hello everyone,

It appears to have gone particularly quiet over the past week or so (both on this forum and Michael Pollitt's .. apart from a Norwegian lady).

Has Oriel sent any demands for money to anyone after the last post (6th May)?
Any more Platte pop-up invoices anywhere?

I sincerely hope that this is the end of all this Platte and Oriel nonsense (with thanks mainly to this and Michael Pollitt's forum).
If not, then we have to keep up the good fight.