1st Credit, debt not mine.

[Casper76]

Hello, im new to this. I will try to explain fully so i can hopefully recieve some helpfull advice.

In August 2009 i recieved a letter from 1st Credit looking for someone with a very similar name to mine that previously lived in Bournemouth. As i am not the person they are looking for i phoned them and tried to explain this fact, as i would not supply any personal information the phone operator basically told me that this was an admission of being the person they are looking for and that futher proceedings would take place. I witheld my telephone number so they have not phoned back.

I wrote a letter (i have proof of postage and delivery) to 1st credit explaining that i am not the person they are looking for and that i have never lived in Bournemouth or even in the county of Devon and that i have medical and financial records to proove this. They have ignored this letter and now have sent a letter stating that they have been assigned to administer an account of outstanding debt of £18,500 on behalf of a major high street bank and i should pay up. I do have an account with this bank but am not nor have i ever been in debt to anybody. I contacted the bank who informed me that i am correct in that i am not nor have been in debt with them but apart from that were of little help.

I have had to see my GP as £18,500 is a lot of money to me and as i am on long term sickness benefit and this letter has caused me more worry and grief.

Please any advice would be most helpfull

[cerberusalert]

Make a complaint to your local trading standards & the OFT with regards to their harassment and threats, they are in clear breach of OFT guidelines & CPUT ;

 

Consumer Direct - Contact us

 

OFT Complaint form

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/DebtCollectionComplaintForm.DOC

 

The Office of Fair Trading: Contact us

 

[email protected]

 

 

tel: 020 7211 5823

 

The Office of Fair Trading: Debt collection practices

 

http://oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

[dcakiller]

Report these clowns to oft, trading standards, ioc ,and your local mp and make sure they all know you will not be fobed off and want action, you could also report them to the police for fraud.

[PGH7447]

and check your credit file with the CRA's, these muppets will try and trash it

[DonkeyB]

Should you call them again, it would be very useful to record the call and have them repeat the kinds of disgraceful things they have already said. You don't need to tell them you're recording. This is one rare instance where actually talking to a DCA could actually do you good, as they'd never put their shameful bluster in writing!

[Casper76]

Thankyou all for your time and answers i will get busy writing to the relevant authorities.

If i get any futher letters from these 'people' should i ignore their demands and simply file the letters?

[DonkeyB]

If you get more letters, simply copy them and forward to the authorities in further support of your complaint. Then keep them safely filed - no need to respond to 1st Credit, as you've already informed them the debt is not yours. They have to prove otherwise.

[spark1]

Casper

 

Now your've written to 1st Credit, yourve disputed the debt. Try not to worry, just keep filing the letters as they arrive.

 

Allow 8 weeks to pass, then file a complaint with the FOS. But in the mean time file a complaint with the ICO, 1st Credit have more than likely Breached the DPA 1998.

 

I have 1st hand experience of the situation your in. My wife was pursued over a 14 month period. By 1st credit, connaughts Collections, ScotCall, and between them they threatened all sorts.

 

The matter is almost at a close, the FOS upheld my complaint, and the ICO found 1st Credit likely to be in Breach of the first principle of the DPA.

 

The situation at the moment is, the Adjudicator at the FOS awarded compensation (in the hundreds). But I asked for the assessment to be passed to the Ombudsman and passed over the ICO assessment. So hopefully it should it should all come to a close, without the need to go to court.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Spark

[42man]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collection-industry/185731-macenzie-hall-nationwide-not.html