Yes the incorrect address and the "debt", "missed payments" etc are appearing on her credit files.

Swe finally got the information dump back following our SAR to British Gas (there has been a long delay due to some confusion initially around download links they said they'd provided but hadn't, then we moved house and other things took precedence so we didn't chase it up. we finally have it). The file contains lots of BG bills and documents showing my wife's name and the incorrect address She has just sent an email to them (to the same person who emailed her the SAR information) explaining that she has never been a BG customer nor has she ever lived at that address, and asking them to correct it. We've noticed the address has started showing up in credit reference company files as well so we've contacted them about it but it seems like this is a downstream problem -- they won't correct their files as long as BG is telling them that their information is correct. it seems like the main thing is to get BG to correct their files. Is there anything else we should do at this point, something more "official" than the email we've already sent perhaps? thanks.

I never wrote anything to the contrary, nor did I ever mention Lowells -- these were all your incorrect assumptions. Are you here to offer help or to pick fights?

Thanks. Although they shouldn't have any record of my wife at all as she's never had an account with them. The problem here is a bill associated with an address we never lived at, and I wouldn't want to mention that address on a SAR as it could muddy the waters surely?

"Blindly played silly letter tennis"?? I sent a "prove it letter", which is what is what is generally recommended I believe. You yourself wrote "you've done all good to date" only a few hours ago!

British Gas.

Thanks. I don't see Lowell mentioned anywhere in their letters.

My wife received a letter from BPO debt collection agency a couple of months ago demanding £1400 for an outstanding British Gas bill. She's never had an account with British Gas so we sent them a "prove it" letter. hey have now replied with a copy of what appears to be a genuine British Gas bill, in my wife's name, but an address that we have never lived at. The address is just down the road from our last house, that we left two years ago. it appears that our ex-neighbours decided to use my wife's name to run up a huge bill, then they've done a runner without paying (the bill also says "we're sorry you're leaving") . We have contacted the police but they said identity theft is not a crime and so it has not been recorded as a crime, and they will not investigate further. They gave us a reference number which they suggested we pass onto the debt collection agency. I will write to BPO today explaining this, and I will include the police reference number. Is there anything else I should do, anything I should be aware of? Thanks in advance.

I'm going to cobble together what money I can and make an offer. Maybe I do have a case but I'm running out of time fast and loosing the will to carry on. I just want it over.

OK thanks again. But they will add interest etc no? And 6 years of interest on a 10k debt. That could be a lot. The difference between me being able to pay or not, therefore the difference between getting a CCJ on my record or not.

Well I appreciate all advice but I'm starting to think now that there's no defence, and unless I get them paid off I will be liable for interest etc which could be a lot. I would have to get payment to them within 14 days of the date of service right? Even though I acknowledged it and bought another 2 weeks that way?

It's looking like there is no defence really. Even though I stated that I intended to defend the claim when I acknowledged it, can I still pay it off in a lump sum (if I can scrape the money together)?

thanks Andy Name of the Claimant ? Arrow Global / Restons Solicitors Date of issue – top right hand corner of the claim form – this in order to establish the time line you need to adhere to. 09 August 2016 Date of issue XX + 19 days ( 5 day for service + 14 days to acknowledge) = XX + 14 days to submit defence = XX (33 days in total) - 11 Sep 2016 What is the claim for – the reason they have issued the claim? Please type out their particulars of claim (verbatim) less any identifiable data and round the amounts up/down. Particulars of Claim The Claimant claims payment of the overdue balance due from the Defendant(s) under a contract between the Defendant(s) and Egg dated on or about Jun ## 2006 and assigned to the Claimant on Feb ## 2013 PARTICULARS a/c no - ########## DATE ITEM VALUE ##/11/2015 Default Balance 9300.00 Post Refri Cr NIL TOTAL 9300.00 What is the value of the claim? 9300 + 410 court fee + 100 legal representatives costs Is the claim for a current account (Overdraft) or credit/loan account or mobile phone account? Loan When did you enter into the original agreement before or after 2007? 2006 Has the claim been issued by the original creditor or was the account assigned and it is the Debt purchaser who has issued the claim. Debt bought by Arrow and they are the Claimant Were you aware the account had been assigned – did you receive a Notice of Assignment? I don't think so Did you receive a Default Notice from the original creditor? I can't remember -- long time ago. Probably. Have you been receiving statutory notices headed “Notice of Default sums” – at least once a year ? No Why did you cease payments? Redundancy / joblessness due to collapse of my industry in the recession. What was the date of your last payment? Nov 2010 Was there a dispute with the original creditor that remains unresolved? No Did you communicate any financial problems to the original creditor and make any attempt to enter into a debt managementicon plan? Yes. I gave up in Autumn 2010 when they would not see reason, and I was on the verge of suicide frankly. I stopped paying altogether and was homeless for a while, and lost touch.

Thanks for the reply old cogger. This is just all very confusing. I have submitted a CPR. All that was mentioned in the Particulars of Claim was the contract (which they provided in reply to my CCA request), and the fact that the debt was assigned to them, so I asked for a copy of the contract and a copy of the Notice of Assignment. Their reply refused both.

I've just spoken to national debt helpline and they suggested that just because Restons provided me with an unenforceable copy of the agreeement when I requested it, doesn't mean they won't turn up to court with a genuine one, which would trash my only defence and leave me liable to court costs too!