Help please debt not mine!!!!!

[sallypotter]

Hello,

 

I hope someone can help me please.

 

I have lived in my flat for over 6 years and pay Council Tax and all other bills there.

 

A few months ago i received 2 letters from a debt collection agency chasing a debt of over £1600 for my cousin who has the same surname as me, they don't seem to have his first name hence we are both Mr......

 

I used to live with him at the address up until 2006, the £1600+ relates to bills for August 2010-September 2011, when i certainly never lived with him.

 

I rang up the company told them it wasn't me and they said that was the end of the matter.

 

Oh no it's not! It's been passed to some other debt collection agency called GB Debt Recovery.

 

I've rang them and they told me the debt is for my address. It is not. I said i would send them a council tax bill for this period to show i didn't live there. They are not interested and want my utility company EDF to email them! Of course i ask EDF and they won't. They are not interested in seeing my Council Tax bills which logically i thought would prove where i live.

 

Please help i feel so depressed and don't know who to turn to for help.

 

They are threatening me with court. They haven't even asked who the person the bill is actually for as they believe i am lying. I AM NOT.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Jay (on my sister Sal's account)

 

I

[silverfox1961]

Hi Jay

 

You have made one mistake. You allowed them to speak their rubbish to you. DO NOT DEAL ON THE PHONE. Sorry for shouting but that is the only way to get them to give the truth-in writing.

 

I would use the 'prove it' letter from the library and of course make it part of a formal complaint as they have failed to follow the OFTs Debt Collection Guidance in ensuring the debtor they are chasing is the actual debtor they want.

 

You are allowed to name the DCA. we have had all sorts here.

[sallypotter]

Thanks Silver Fox for your very quick response.

 

Where can i find this letter in the library, is it on this website?

 

I will not phone them again.

 

They have not got a clue what they are doing obviously as they even say the debt is for where i live???????

 

My energy bills are with EDF and not Southern Electric! Wouldn't even let me explain and put the phome down on me!!!!

 

What is the OFT?

 

Jay

[silverfox1961]

If you look at the top left of this (and every) page you will see 'library' (in green) click on that and the letters are there.

 

The OFT is the Office of Fair Trading and this is their guidance

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/OFT664Rev.pdf

 

It is in your best interest to send letters by trackable means as we have seen many,many times where a DCA (Debt Collection Agency) say they never received a letter.

 

Never sign a letter as it has been alleged that some unscrupulous companies are willing to photoshop signatures. Better safe than sorry eh!

[dx100uk]

sorry not your debt.

 

return the letters

 

not at this address

 

and STOP phoning the mupets

 

they have NO LEGAL POWERS to do anything anyhow.

 

they are a DCA not bailiffss!!!

 

dx

[sallypotter]

Thanks Silver Fox and DX.

 

Silver Fox

 

I had a look and found the library you mention.

 

First time here so not very with it! And the OFT is Office of Fair Trading.

 

I will also take your advice and not sign any letters. They are certainly not to be trusted that is for sure.

 

DX

 

I will have to open any letters addressed to Mr..... as that is also me but i will return any future ones that relate to this nonsense.

 

I didn't think they had much legal power. I wish they would take Mr....... to court as i would turn up and show them up to have got it completely wrong.

 

Is there any way i can put a stop to receiving any more demands?

 

Jay

[citizenB]

Obviously you have to open the letters if they are not specific which Mr Surname you are.. however, for a while, I suggest you start opening the envelopes a bit more carefully.. once you have established they arent for you.. just return them to sender!

 

If they continue, then contact the OFT.

 

You do not have to send them any documents - in fact it is probably better that you dont.

[sallypotter]

Thanks Citizen

 

Will take your advice and return the letters in future.

 

This nonsense is costing me time i could be doing better things with and money in phone calls for someone elses problem!!!!

 

Jay

[citizenB]

Once you have warned them off, officially - if they still continue, thene you should make a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman - They do have the power to award compensation.

 

The OFT are just number crunchers/data collectors - once they obtain sufficient complaints or if they think it will be for the greater good, only then will they act. It does require people to make a complaint to them though.

[sallypotter]

Thanks Citizen, Silver Fox and DX for your valuable help.

 

I will be doing all you've said.

 

Here's hoping for an end to the matter soon, though not holding my breath!

 

Jay

[sallypotter]

Hello there,

 

Little update, have emailed one of the "managers" and also the general email address with a letter from the library.

 

Will come back here if i have any more grief.

 

I don't expect it to be the end of the matter by any means.

 

Until then folks'

 

Jay