All the info online seems to be geared towards people who are having problems with their debts - where can I find info on what to do when you DON'T actually owe anyone anything, but no-one will give you the details you need so you can PROVE it?
A home shopping company - we'll call them "A" - have employed the 'services' of a debt collection agency, who've started sending nasty letters to my Mum's house! She's having kittens - so to speak - and I'm not much better off either! I've been e-mailing and writing to "A" for nearly 3 weeks, since this started, trying to find out what the hell they're talking about, but I'm just being blanked! I've e-mailed the debt collection agency too, same thing! I don't think their 08-whatever numbers would even work from America, and I know what their call systems are like so I don't want to try! They have a legal obligation to tell me the details of what was purchased, when, where it was delivered, who signed, etc., but they WON'T!
I NEED help!!
2006-10-09 22:12:40 · 8 answers · asked by Robyn 4 in Local Businesses ➔ United Kingdom ➔ Other - United Kingdom
The sickening fact is that I don’t have a CLUE what they could be talking about, and they’re threatening court action and extra charges but will only discuss things if you phone them from the UK – there’s NO provision for ex-pats, and there’s NO info for people who don’t actually know where a debt came from!
I had an account with “A” ages ago, but cancelled it years ago – before I sold up and left the country! My mail was forwarded for 3 months to my Mum’s house, but they NEVER sent anything, and I’d paid all my debts anyway.
I don’t even know if it’s ME who’s been a victim of identity theft, or if the debt collection agency has just searched for someone with a similar name to a REAL debtor! And they won’t TELL me anything! How do I FORCE them to obey the law and give me details?
2006-10-09 22:13:31 · update #1
Oh, and when I talked about '08' numbers, I mean like 0845 (lo-call rate,) and the other one I can't remember for national rate.
2006-10-09 22:15:10 · update #2
Serious now,if you do not owe them anything this could be a case of mistaken ID so in the first instance Solicitor or C.A.B Companies have strict codes to follow you unfortunately are caught up in a system see a solicitor at once.
2006-10-09 22:23:23 · answer #1 · answered by edison 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unless debt collectors have previously been into your mum's house to collect payment, they have no right to enter the property unless invited. Your mother should therefore refuse them entry. They may then call the police who will try and sort it out.
The Office of Fair Trading and the Citizens Advice Bureau are cracking down on debt collectors, so you should contact both these organsiations for assistance.
Good luck. It must be very stressful. I have heard of this kind of thing happening to so many people.
2006-10-10 05:33:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could try contacting the Office of Fair Trading, who regulate debt collection companies
Unfortunately, it seems that although you can report companies, they won't intervene in individual cases. But maybe a threat to report them will spur them into complying with the guidelines.
Write to them, telling them that you expect them to comply with the guidelines (quote them from the doc linked below) and tell them that the next letter will be from a solicitor, and at that point you will be seeking damages for harassment as well as recovery of your legal expenses.
BTW, the debt collectors shouldn't be able to take anything of your mother's unless she co-signed any credit agreement. If they try, she should call the police.
2006-10-10 05:18:59 · answer #3 · answered by gvih2g2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get your mum to go and talk to the Citizins Advice Bureau. Contact the office of fair trade. Invest in a solicitor to act on your behalf to contact the debt collection agency.
2006-10-10 05:23:41 · answer #4 · answered by Tuppence 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First write to them (phone calls and emails won't work). Tell them that you have had no dealings with "A" and that you no longer live in the UK. Send a copy of your letter to the Trading Standards Officer at the local authority where your mother lives.
If this doesn't work, you can make a formal complaint via the Office of Fair Trading website.
2006-10-10 05:21:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sign up to Experian or Equifax, they will have all your credit history and even though you are not in this country you can print it off an write to the company involved, or write two letters one to each and ask your mum to get 2 £2.00 postal orders and ask her to post them on your behalf to your mums address. This should state what your financial position is and may give you a clue to how this has happen. Good Luck
2006-10-11 08:15:39 · answer #6 · answered by hawkeye 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get your mum to ring and pretend she is you. Get her to say that live in the US, but you have come back for 1 week only to sort this out, and stay with your mum. That is the only thing I can think of, as long as she knows your personal details how will they know its not you?
2006-10-10 05:16:01 · answer #7 · answered by OriginalBubble 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
get a lawyer to send a letter asking for full disclosure and also that you have been harrassed. I know that this is an unnecessary expense, but unfortunately you will have to do this to prove you mean business. Do it ASAP.
2006-10-10 05:27:33 · answer #8 · answered by silvervixis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋