Westcot-It's my name, but not my debt!

[ja-de]

Hi all, last year I received a letter from Westcot Credit Services, claiming that I owed £140.61 for goods ordered from a mail order catalogue. My initial reaction was complete puzzlement, as I didn't have a catalogue, neither was I a customer with anyone. I rang Westcot there & then, & that's when I found out that this happened in 1999. She also told me that the catalogue in question was Choice, I definitely knew that it was not mine as I had moved out of the address in 1998. I think it threw doubt in her mind when I gave her my DOB. So I had to prove who I was & that even though it was my name, it wasn't my debt. I had to send a photo-copy of my birth certificate, ask the local council to provide proof of when I moved out of the address in question, & finally I had to report the matter of stolen Identity & fraud to my local Police.
I sent a letter, together with all the proof I had to Westcot, I also demanded that they clear my name. They replied by saying they will contact me when their investigation is completed.
I sent a letter in late February of this year, requesting that they let me know whether they have cleared my name, & if they have found the person(s) who stole my identity. I'm still waiting for a reply. I feel as though I'm stuck in limbo. I have no idea what to do next. Can I claim compensation? I desperately need to clear my name. Can anybody advise me. Please help.

[ja-de]

Been trying to find a template letter to send to westcot, but can't seem to find one. Could someone please send me a link to the one I need, thanks.

[dencha]

This may be a case for trading standards.

Hopefully you have kept all correspondence. Copy all this and send it in date order to your local Trading Standards Office with a covering letter explaining what has happened and that you can get no response from Westcott.

dencha

[ja-de]

Thanks Dencha,

I'll do that, & take it to my local Trading Standards office, & hopefully I will find out what I can do there & then.

[rory32]

Good luck ja-de......let us know how you get on.

[ja-de]

Thanks Rory. I'll definitely let you know, but I won't be able to get there until next Tuesday. I go see my Mum & Dad then & its only 5 minutes away from there house. So I suppose its a case of watch this space - lol .

[ja-de]

Hi all. Just got back from West Yorkshire Trading Standards, & they told me I need to send a LBA to Wescot, & add that I have already sent a letter requesting all documentation & evidence, but because they have ignored my request, I should inform them that they have 7 days to settle & finally resolve the matter.
I was also advised to get in touch with the Information Commissioner, quote the ref no I was given by TS & see what happens. So I'm going to ring Information Commissioner in the morning & see what else I can do about this matter of stolen Identity. Gotta tell you, I don't like the idea of somebody using my name at all, it gives me the creeps.

ja-de

[dencha]

Well done ja-de.

I should imagine it would feel the same as having your home broken into, an invasion of your privacy and property.

You now have a path to follow and will be watching with interest.

Have you checked with the CRA,s to see if a default has been added by Westcot.

dencha

[ja-de]

Good point Dencha, its on my list of todo's, but I will definitely be checking it out. Mind you, I don't mind telling you that I'm a little scared at what else I might find with my name against it. I will be seeing if I can find out who moved in after me, & take out a complaint against them for causing me a lot of distress due to this fraud problem. But that's for later, I've got more proof to collect first.

[powelll]

You could also try this letter ( sorry didn't see your thread earlier it may have helped ) :

(Your home address)

_________________

_________________

Date: ____________

To: ______________
__________________

Dear Sir/Madam

Account no:

You have contacted me/us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself/ourselves.

I/we would point out that I/we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to (insert company name).

I am/we are familiar with the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance which states that it unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

I/we would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

I/we would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above account unless you can provide evidence as to my/our liability for the debt in question.

I/we await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

I/we look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully



(Your signature)

[ja-de]

Thanks Powelll, that letter is just the job, filling it in right after I post this message. Don't you just love it when it starts back-firing on the big boys.
This site is the best by far. I'll be donating as soon as I have my money back from Halifax.

[ja-de]

Sent my LBA off to Wescot by Recorded Delivery. So all I have to do now is sit back & wait for another couple of weeks, & see what turns up.

[ja-de]

Well I've just checked my calendar, & 7 days since I sent my LBA, & only another 7 days to go for deadline, which will be the 8th June. Nearly there!

[ja-de]

Got a reply from Wescot this morning, they acknowledge receiving my LBA on the 29th May, but they say they didn't get the first letter I sent them (which I don't believe for 1 minute). They go on to say that they that my credit record is clear, as they DO have proof that it wasn't me who ordered these things from Choice. But they also go on to say that they can't get hold of any of the paperwork belonging to this matter.
Has anyone had this kind of thing happen to them, & should I still try to get hold of the paperwork, so I can try & bring a private prosecution against the fraudsters, Or should I just leave it as it is, & do nothing. I just have no idea what to do for the best, as I have so much going on in my mind. I am still very at what has happened to me, even if it was about 8 years ago when it happened, but I only found out about it last summer.
I'll be very very appreciated if someone could please advise me.