grrr! Callcredit - DCA has linked me to someone else and they're refusing to sort!

[gumbobriggs]

Well, it's been a while since I've been on here.

it was thanks to you guys on CAG that turned my life around in 2005/6

and stopped my stupid spending/credit splurge.

 

 

I sent the prove it letters to my creditors and that was that.

they screamed, shouted and yelled. threatened allsorts,

but I stood firm and in the end the debts have fallen off my file.

so they can 'nanas for it now.

(still get the occasional letter asking me to contact them to discuss payment terms - yeah right)

 

but anyways - hi everyone!

I posted this on the Facebook group, and after a few replies and digging a bit

, it was suggested I post it on the main forum pages for more thorough advice.

So here goes.

 

 

Once the date passed for the debts I talked about above to drop off my file,

I got on to Experian and Equifax and got hold of my file. at the time.

I thought to myself. heck. that'll be enough. Sure enough.

I was debt free (in the eyes of my file anyway) so I left it alone.

 

Few years ago (2012 ish) me and the OH decided we needed a loan to wrap up a few debts that she'd got before we met and to make life a bit easier.

I'd been knocked out of the work market by a broken ankle that didn't heal properly and was on DLA at the time.

 

 

She got refused as we'd had a few problems in the while I was off.

So I thought. let's use my nice fresh credit file!

result (ok so we embellished the application forms to make it look like I was earning) - refused

 

I put the refusal down to income, but it didn't help our financial problems.

So out came the payday loans.

Soon we were borrowing from one to pay the other.

And then my DLA stopped despite me not being able to work.

 

 

I wasn't eligible for benefits as the OH was earning too much. so we spiralled.

I've ended up with 4 defaults on my file again. and the OH had a handful too.

 

So here comes the kicker.

being the 'old hand' at the debt game that I am,

the DCA can't frighten me.

They keep hitting a dead end with their threato-grams

 

So I decided recently, out of curiosity, to sign up for Noddle,

since I could get my credit file for free. Of course, this would be the first time I've ever had my credit file from Callcredit.

I get my gile and what do I find?

 

In July 2011, 1st Credit created a link between me and someone else with the same forename, surname and DOB as me,

but they are from Romford Essex.

I'm from Sheffield - lived here all my life. never lived anywhere else.

 

The difference is, my middle initial is L and this guy's is P

 

on my file now is this other guys:

 

Full name, Address DOB

Mortgage and Mortgage account details + history

His personal bank account

A CCJ he received in January 2011

 

So no wonder I couldn't get credit.

 

I've asked Callcredit to remove the address, name and accounts but they have so far refused citing that there is a proven link.

 

I've sent a rather strongly worded email suggesting that I could report them to the ICO for a breach, not sure if that is right

 

so what now? any suggestions?

 

(sorry for the long rambling post!)

[Guest]

hi

note Section 159 Con Credit Act re 'Correction of Wrong Info'. Your first email could be regarded as the first notice.

the ICO can get involved.

you may also be looking for compensation

[dx100uk]

so its 1st crapits problem not the CRA providers...

 

 

no good targeting callcredit

it will be the same on all the others.

 

 

dx

[Guest]

true. but on receipt of statutory notification the cra has to respond accordingly, they'll refer back to 1stcredit. and, notice has already been done. it all adds up.

but yeah, also complain to 1st credit, and involve the ICO.

[gumbobriggs]

forgot to mention - when I spotted this I got my othe files from experian and equifax and it's not on either of them. it's just callcredit's file

[Guest]

assuming callcredit referred back to 1st, and 1st came back to them saying the info is correct, when its wrong, then its on record from 1st. data breach. otherwise, could be a breach by callcredit.

[gumbobriggs]

basically this is what's happened so far:

 

I raised a dispute through the website

 

got a reference number emailed, then a day later a reply saying something along the lines 'it's staying'

 

sent a reply to the email they supplied. got a reply telling me 'sorry to hear you've found something wrong, to raise a dispute through the website'

 

but I can't raise another. so replied again and just waiting for the reply from that.

 

I've a feeling I'll be going round in circles for a bit....

[Guest]

did you have a look at section 159? if your dispute is deemed as notice under, then they have replied 'no action'?

take things further now then, to 1st credit/ICO. have you contacted 1st credit/ICO?

[WindySock]

There is likely some fault on both sides here. 1st Crud for not recognising that their trace search had thrown up the wrong person with that name, and Callcredit for accepting and making the match or link when something such as the initials are wrong and refusing your dispute.

 

Need to complain to 1st Crud that it is their search that has caused the false link to be created, so you require them to contact Callcredit to tell them this. Make sure it's very clear to them that you have never lived where this person did, and that you cannot be the same person, and that unless they help you will be taking them to the FOS and reporting them to the ICO.

 

Need to complaint to Callcredit that they have allowed a clearly false link to be made, and you dispute their claim that it is a 'proven' link. Require them to remove it or you will be taking them to the FOS or ICO.

 

Giving both a kick up the bside from different directions should give the best change of someone somewhere pulling a finger out to sort it.

[dx100uk]

I hope the op has checked the other 2 major DRA file providers below

as if its on those too

callcredit are not the target.

 

 

dx

[dx100uk]

forgot to mention - when I spotted this I got my othe files from experian and equifax and it's not on either of them. it's just callcredit's file

good was on a small screen sorry

 

 

dx

[gumbobriggs]

Hi, sorry, I hadn't got back sooner.

 

thanks for all the replies and advice so far. Callcredit replied 2 days ago, here a the main bit quoted from the email:

 

"In regards to the address link to 26 XXXXXXXX XXXXX, Romford, XXX XXX this is registered to a few open accounts on your credit report, therefore this suggests to our disputes team that you have a financial connection to it and it cannot be removed. Please contact Halifax and Santander to discuss the information that is being shared with credit reference agencies."

 

So despite telling them the link was created by 1st Credit and telling them that I'm not the person that they belong to, they're telling me to talk to the Halifax and Santander - which won't talk to me as these accounts aren't mine to discuss.

 

Looks like I'm going to have to do what I didn't want to do and actually write a letter to 1st Credit. I hate talking to DCAs, moreover the fact that I will be confirming my actual address to them

 

I've also replied to Callcredit telling them I can't speak to these 2 about those accounts if they don't belong to me and reminding them that it also includes a CCJ in this guy's name.

 

Do i take the first date of dispute as the start of the 28 days or does it reset each reply?

[Guest]

further proof then that they are not yours if they're saying to contact halifax/santander when you've never had accounts with them? and halifax/sant wont speak to you. adding up

callcrud have responded, so can take things further. can do anyway.

perhaps give the ICO a call, see what they think they can do/suggest.

but, yes, prob need to contact 1stcrud now, in complaint, seeing they created the false link, which seems to have now widened.

seems you shld be looking for: correction of wrong info on credit files; compensation for inconvenience, and any damage to credit. (the ico doesnt award comp'n to individuals, but can fine companies/organisations...)