Now a letter

[gojuryu3]

  Hi all. I`m new to all this but here goes....excuse any typos as my 60 odd yearold fingers are a bit big.

I encountered this lot of robbers when I returned from the middle east in July. when I switched on I had this virus flashing on my screen, demanding money. Not one to suffer fools of any sort let alone gladly, I duly phoned the number and told them to get the thing off my machine or I would have it done and send them the bill. Further more they could expect no money from me  as I was 7 thousand miles away when they say I "joined" their scam.  I was told a code would be sent by email and it duly arrived a few days later, I used it and all has been ok.
However, last Monday a communication came by post although at no time have I supplied them with this.
How could this happen? The only way I know of is if it was supplied to them by my ISP.
If this is the case they won`t be very much longer and also be in serious trouble.
The letter is meant to look lik an actual summons even stating the court, Northhampton, and is worded in such a way as to frighten shall I say vulnerable people. 2 pages of whythey can do this legally. QC`s opinion
 (not named) government supported (OFT) youv`e no chance , pay up now!! I don`t think so!!! Despicable!!!
I have since found that my grandson used my machine while I was away, only once and says he downloaded nothing just clicked through a few websites. He is no longer a minor so that avenue is blocked.
I really would like to find oput who the faces are behind this mess and where they live.  If they can find our addresses there must be some weay of reciprocating and I would certainly do that.
Just a thought I wonder if the clerk to the justices at Northhampton court know they are becming embroiled in this fiasco. Perhaps someone on here knows how to enquire?

[ForumFriend]

Sorry to hear your story which, sadly, sounds pretty familiar on this forum.  It is likely that your grandson, while browsing, briefly visited one of their sites and, without realising, thought that, as it was a 'free trial', he could just exit without cancelling.  It is something of a honeytrap and, people being people, they don't always trawl through the terms and conditions wherein it is written that you have to actively cancel if you want to avoid being billed for your visit.

Anyway, that's all ancient history from your point of view, and now you're wondering how they got your address.   We've been wondering this too, and my guess is that they may have traced you back from your phone call.  If you called from your home telephone and didn't prefix your call with 141, it is possible and quite easy for them to trace back, particularly if you are not ex directory.  Michael Pollitt, in his article, has looked into the ISP route, and it does look unlikely that this is how they have tracked you down (though not impossible, I'd guess).

You are right - these letters are intimidating, but mean very little as they stand.  Other forum members have made enquiries at Northampton County Court, who have had no record of the cases.  We've said it here before, and will say it again, that Platte are unlikely to want their business model to be tested in Court - and to date we know of no cases where they have done so.

We can tell you (it is public knowledge) that the original face behind this is Ashley Bateup, and you will find on the forum links to a transcript of an interview conducted with him on You and Yours.  The outfit is now somewhat more global, and Michael's article gives some of the names now also connected with it.  We, a while back, removed from the forum addresses of some people connected with Platte because, frankly, there were people out there sufficiently angered by what had happened to them that they were threatening harm to Platte directors.  However, if you want to contact these people, it is not very difficult to find addresses to which you can send correspondence, though whether or not they will read it is probably unlikely.

Platte do visit this site at least once a week to read up on what people are saying about them.  Provided you observe the forum rules, you can always post up something here in the sure knowledge that they will read it.  But, please remember, as this is a public forum, and as the need for us to provide support to people outweighs everything, we will have to take down anything which could be deemed threatening or in any other way illegal.

I think it is relatively easy to contact Northampton Court, and I know at least one person who uses this forum has already done so.

[gojuryu3]

Hi and thanks for the supportive response, although I have decided to let them get on with whatever they are going to do (or not) It`s nice to have your instincts confirmed.
I wasn`t thinking of harming our friends at Platte, although if you note where I was when this occurred, I could
easily become their worst nightmare. I would just like to send them an open email saying " Now I know who you are too and where you live".
You are probably right about them tracing me through the phonecall, I find it hard to think about hiding when my admittedly short fuse has been lit.

I will keep this forum advised of any developments.

[ForumFriend]

Thanks for the update, it's useful for others to know what is happening (or not!)

I'm sure other forum members will appreciate and understand your anger.

Please do let us know how it goes, and don't hesitate to contact, either by a posting or using the forum email system, if you want to either share or ask for information.