Parents debt. Am I screwed?

[MajoritySeven]

My mum has severe mental health difficulties, which have a big effect on her financially.

 

She's incapable of working but also of not spending money, so she had trashed her own credit rating long before she had kids.

 

When I turned 18, I got my credit file for the first time and realised that she'd taken out a lot of debt in my name.

I managed to get most of this written off, as I wasn't 16 at the time. I don't know how she managed it.

She was even using a main bank account in my name, with an overdraft.

 

My uni financial advisor recommended using an account like Littlewoods to build up credit.

I applied online, and was accepted with a £500 limit.

 

I got into the habit of buying things and paying them back, to build up my rating.

 

Long story short, I got hospitalised with illness and my mother started using the account.

 

I've no idea how she got the details.

 

Littlewoods increased my credit limit to £10,000, and my mother spent £7,000.

 

She's sectioned now, and the owing amount is a little less than £5,000. I've paid the rest off.

 

I can't afford to keep this up.

 

t's £500 a month minimum, or a settlement figure that I just don't have.

 

I explained the situation to Littlewoods on the phone a few months back, and that I'm not working at present and therefore cannot pay.

 

It seems that they've lost patience today, and have marked several missed payments on my credit file. They are now writing to me demanding payment.

 

The police have been useless, because my mum is sectioned. There is no realistic chance of conviction.

 

She's done this to neighbours and friends, too, so it's not new to them.

 

I was looking at getting a mortgage this year but I'm guessing that won't be possible with such a trashed rating.

 

Is there anything I can do?

[BankFodder]

It seems to me that you are the victim of identity theft and you need to proceed on that basis. It won't be easy - but of course, if your mother is sectioned - at least from what you say, she is probably protected from any trouble.

[citizenB]

So you reported this to the Police.. Would your neighbours be prepared to provide witness statements if necessary ?

 

If the account has been used fraudulently, then I would consider you have been treated unfairly by the creditor. I will try and find someone to help.

[MajoritySeven]

I gave a statement to the police, along with two of my parents' neighbours.

 

My mum had taken out overdrafts and the Littlewoods account in my name, and phone contracts and payday loans for the neighbours.

 

It's all recorded, but the police expect the CPS to reject the claim on the basis that my mother

is incapable of both appearing in court or defending herself, and is likely to be for the foreseeable future.

 

She isn't expected to get better, and her mental health team have said that court proceedings would likely drive her to suicide if she did understand.

 

They advised me to speak to Littlewoods directly and get them to move the debt over to my mums' name,

but they're obviously not going to do that just on my say so...

 

I feel so lost with this.

 

Thanks for the replies so far.

[citizenB]

Whilst I can understand that the Police might not want to pursue charges, you have reported this and I am at a loss to understand why Littlewoods will not accept that you have been a victim of fraud !

 

Have you made an official complaint to Littlewoods Head office - if not, I would do this and if they still wont help, then perhaps escalate your complaint to the Ombudsman.

[MajoritySeven]

I will write to Littlewoods Head Office now.

 

Shall I just explain the story in full? Do I need to include anything specific to be taken seriously?

 

It had been suggested that I request a CCA, but the account was opened online around 2009, I think, so that's probably all legit.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I will write to Littlewoods Head Office now.

 

Shall I just explain the story in full? Do I need to include anything specific to be taken seriously?

 

It had been suggested that I request a CCA, but the account was opened online around 2009, I think, so that's probably all legit.

 

 

It would be best to explain in full, chronologically list the events that caused the current situation.

 

 

Is there a specific name on the Littlewoods letters if so address your letter to them marked private and confidential.

[MajoritySeven]

Just a quick update.

 

I sent the letter to Littlewoods, and they responded quickly via email to say that they were sorry that this had occurred, thank me for letting them know and stating that the fraud team would be in touch within 2 days.

 

Yesterday I forwarded them evidence that T-Mobile have already recorded a CIFAS alert on my credit file, for the same crime.

 

I've spoken to ActionFraud and Victim Support today, but neither really knows what to do until Littlewoods have investigated. It feels like this will be tough, because at the time my mother was using my computer, living in my house and apparently pretending to be me all round. Still, I'll do what I can to help the case.

 

No contact from the fraud team so far.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Just a quick update.

 

I sent the letter to Littlewoods, and they responded quickly via email to say that they were sorry that this had occurred, thank me for letting them know and stating that the fraud team would be in touch within 2 days.

 

Yesterday I forwarded them evidence that T-Mobile have already recorded a CIFAS alert on my credit file, for the same crime.

 

I've spoken to ActionFraud and Victim Support today, but neither really knows what to do until Littlewoods have investigated. It feels like this will be tough, because at the time my mother was using my computer, living in my house and apparently pretending to be me all round. Still, I'll do what I can to help the case.

 

No contact from the fraud team so far.

 

 

I would expect the investigation and response to take a considerable time in a situation like this.

If you have not heard from the FIT I the middle of next week contact them again.

[MajoritySeven]

I've had a few calls today, but I was busy and didn't answer. No voicemails.

 

Littlewoods have just emailed that they've been urgently trying to contact me, and could I please call back tomorrow.

 

I'm guessing I should ask them to put this in writing?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Yes indeed, call back and tell them in writing only!

[MajoritySeven]

I did just that - couldn't speak to the actual lady who sent the letter, but left her a message and followed up via email asking them to contact me via email or in writing.

 

Nothing, yet.

[*RainbowTears*]

My mum has severe mental health difficulties, which have a big effect on her financially.

 

She's incapable of working but also of not spending money, so she had trashed her own credit rating long before she had kids.

 

When I turned 18, I got my credit file for the first time and realised that she'd taken out a lot of debt in my name.

I managed to get most of this written off, as I wasn't 16 at the time. I don't know how she managed it.

She was even using a main bank account in my name, with an overdraft.

 

My uni financial advisor recommended using an account like Littlewoods to build up credit.

I applied online, and was accepted with a £500 limit.

 

I got into the habit of buying things and paying them back, to build up my rating.

 

Long story short, I got hospitalised with illness and my mother started using the account.

 

I've no idea how she got the details.

 

Littlewoods increased my credit limit to £10,000, and my mother spent £7,000.

 

She's sectioned now, and the owing amount is a little less than £5,000. I've paid the rest off.

 

I can't afford to keep this up.

 

t's £500 a month minimum, or a settlement figure that I just don't have.

 

I explained the situation to Littlewoods on the phone a few months back, and that I'm not working at present and therefore cannot pay.

 

It seems that they've lost patience today, and have marked several missed payments on my credit file. They are now writing to me demanding payment.

 

The police have been useless, because my mum is sectioned. There is no realistic chance of conviction.

 

She's done this to neighbours and friends, too, so it's not new to them.

 

I was looking at getting a mortgage this year but I'm guessing that won't be possible with such a trashed rating.

 

Is there anything I can do?

 

 

On reading your post above I see that you did actually open the Littlewoods account where upon you was given a £500 limit. This was done based on your University Financial Advisors advice to help you build up your credit worthiness.

 

To which you made payments & over a (however long) time period, Littlewoods increased your credit to £10.000.

 

So being Devils Advocate as these are questions Littlewoods will require answers too as they investigate your claim.

 

How did your mum get your Account number & password information?

 

Did you receive the email/text notifications that they do send to say "your delivery is on its way"?

 

Did you not check any of your paper/online statements as you made your payments? (As when you log in & click on "my account" in here it displays your credit limit/what your balance is etc & every 4 weeks a message says "your minimum payment due by 20/06/14 for £23.00 etc & you are then able to click pay now)

 

I ask the above as I've been a Very/Littlewoods customer for over 15+ years! And in all that time I've had regular statements showing my balance/payment to be made/items I've ordered/items returned etc. Both online & post.

 

And both companies send confirmation emails of any orders placed, which is then followed up by other emails & text to say your orders on its way & your orders been delivered.

 

The most important thing is to identify how your Account details & passwords were known to "another" as this is also linked to your email address.

 

I'm sorry to put you on the spot, but these are the type of things that Littlewoods will investigate.

 

I know this because someone I knew personally opened a Littlewoods account but using the previous tenants name. (so her account was fraudulent from the get go).

 

She then used it for approx 18 mths in which time she used it properly & made payments etc. During this time period Littlewoods increased her credit limit several times until there was around £4000.

 

Then she ordered items to the value off just under the £4000 limit.

 

Not too long after Littlewoods then required payment! She then claimed the account had nothing to do with her, as obviously it was not in her name! *it was at this point she panicked & came clean to 2 of us, we were shocked as she always seemed so timid!

 

So Littlewoods Fraud team investigated her "fraudulent account claims" there were lots of questions similar to those of mine & a lot more besides. (such as card details used for payments & a whole heap of other info) Upshot was she got caught out!

 

She then disappeared by doing a moonlight flit from her address & we have never heard from her since!

 

Please do not take what I've written as though I'm accusing you of anything at all. I'm trying to help you as I saw first hand how my long gone friend was affected!

[MajoritySeven]

Thanks for your thoughts, *RainbowTears*.

 

I did open the account originally, yes. I also used it. My mum gained access because she lived with me at the time, and she hacked my emails and my laptop. Unfortunately, she has a history of doing this kind of thing, that I was unaware of at the time.

 

As for statements - As I explained, I was suffering from a bad relapse of bipolar depression and was simply automatically making the payment through DD. That bit is my fault, and I fully expect them to question it.

 

I still believe that it's worth asking them to investigate, even if they then say that I'm liable because I didn't notice quickly enough.

[MajoritySeven]

Well, as some of you expected, they've rejected the claim.

 

They wrote to me acknowledging that I had asked them to remove this from my credit file whilst investigating, but stating that there was no evidence to support my claims and therefore they'd be closing the case. They thanked me for allowing them to investigate.

 

They didn't mention my crime reference number at all.

 

Where do I go now?

[*RainbowTears*]

Well, as some of you expected, they've rejected the claim.

 

They wrote to me acknowledging that I had asked them to remove this from my credit file whilst investigating, but stating that there was no evidence to support my claims and therefore they'd be closing the case. They thanked me for allowing them to investigate.

 

They didn't mention my crime reference number at all.

 

Where do I go now?

 

I am so sorry the news isn't what you hoped for.

 

I do believe I tried to clarify in my previous post as to what Littlewoods would investigate.

 

As in my long gone friends case, the Fraud team investigated not just into how the account was run but they also looked into the account as a whole.

 

They investigated every aspect!

 

 

Also in your instance with Littlewoods, it wasn't just a case of, for example;

 

Joe & Jane Bloggs who lives 2 doors up signing for an order & your not getting it.

 

 

With your case there were various orders that added up to the value of £7000 & these orders were placed by Another & confirmed in writing, then followed up by receipts showing orders were delivered & signed for.

And ultimately were paid for by yourself.

 

So I am not sure if there is anything further you can actually do now...

 

Otherwise there is the avenue of trying to agree a payment plan that's affordable to you.

 

Maybe someone else on here can advise you further.

 

I do hope your able to resolve this one way or another. Good luck!

[MajoritySeven]

Yes, that's what I'm worried about.

 

Unfortunately, if it's a family member committing fraud, it's not hard for them to access your account. I'd obviously hoped that my family weren't like that, but that's the way it is.

 

There are a lot of orders, mostly for clothing. It adds up to £4000 in total. Email replies were sent for those orders (but deleted before I could see them) and they will have been signed for, usually either by the delivery man or by one of my family members.

 

It's difficult, because I can't prove that I didn't order them...I can't prove a negative. So my credit rating gets destroyed for six years, and I end up having to pay £4000. I can pay it back at £10 a month, but it'll be owed forever, and at the end of the day, who can afford to pay back £4000 that they don't owe?

 

I am absolutely distraught at this. I'll never be able to get a mortgage, and my good credit file has been trashed. It's the only account in default.