Please Help!!!!!

rainbowsandflowers

I'm totally at my wits end! I have been receiving letters from debt collection agencies lately for 3 large accounts with catalogue companies. I know nothing about these debts as I only have my current account and credit card with my bank, my car and nothing else.

These company's are adamant that I am responsible for these accounts. I have asked them for proof of documentation that I may have signed etc but the catalogue company's are stating that the accounts were opened up online and are saying that I agreed to terms and conditions by ticking a box online. They are totalling approx £5000. I have no idea what to do.

I split up with my ex recently and I think that it is more than likely that he is behind this as he had real difficulties with money. But he moved out at the beginning of this year and I have no idea where he is and his family won't tell me how I can get hold of him. Please help, I really don't know what to do.

ajaney

Hello

Welcome to the boards.

This is not an area I know much about but i just wanted to say 'Don't Worry' as a more experienced member will be along soon.

Can you tell us a little more - which companies they are & have they supplied you with any documentation apart from money demands?

epsilondraconis

Have you contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau?

Also if your ex is responsible for opening up these accounts in your name then it is fraud and I assume the police will ultimately be involved.

bathgatebuyer

Send them something in writing - recorded delivery - telling them that these accounts are not yours and they you believe you have been a victim of identity theft. It is their responsibility to investigate. Thereafter, they can and should pass things to the Police.

If you speak to them over the phone they will lose record of your conversations, and any letter sent 'normal' port will go missing, so make sure you keep a record of everything you send to them.

You could also ask for a copy of agreement which is your right under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and they are obliged to provide this. Even if this is an online application, they must still have a record of when this was taken out and possibly also things like email addresses.

There is a website set up which offers advice to people who are victims of identity theft who are better placed to offer you advice than I am.

Sorry you're having to experience this right now. It's certianly not a nice experience.

rainbowsandflowers

Thanks for the advice. It all just so scary. They have threatened me with court action, they also said someone will be visiting my home and that I could have my possessions taken from me. It also worries me because I require to have criminal record checks carried out for my job and I am scared that this will have an effect on my employment.

Ajaney, It is 2 x moorcroft and scotcall that are sending the letters. They are really nasty on the phone. I will type up some letters this afternoon although not entirely sure what to say. My mum did contact the police for me to notify them of the situation but they said it is a tricky area, if there is no proof that a crime has been comitted then there is not much that they can do. They also said it is more of a civil matter as it would be my word against my ex-parner's?!?!?!?! If I am to ask for a copy of the signed agreements in writing is there a specific template that I can use?

Thanks again for any advice and help, I really appreciate it.

Deep_In_Debt

Hi
If someone does visit your home, they have no legal rights and cannot take your stuff without a court order. Do not let them in and don't speak to them, just tell them to bog off or you will call the police.

MrsTinks

Ok they can't come and take anything - they are naughty fibbers And well known for it This would all have to go through court and a CCJ would need to be put in place and then not paid before it can be passed to a bailiff who are THE ONLY people with power to remove items from your home. And if you didn't take out these accounts then it won't get to this stage

I've unfortunately lost all my links as I recently upgraded my laptop but I'm sure someone will be along to post the letter format for you in a second.

The gist however is that you contest this debt is yours and that you ever held an account with them. The why and so on is secondary right now. You're only speculating it might be your ex...
It is up to THEM to prove that you are in fact the person owing this money and not you to prove you don't. In the real world they should tell you what address they believe you lived at (ie where were the goods delivered and bills sent) - it was obviously not your address or you'd have seen bills eventually
Then proving you didn't live at that address during that time period should be fairly easy and enough to get them to !!!!!! off
If it turns out it's your ex's address then you can ofcourse advise them that to your knowledge the person at that address was X and known to you.

You'll be fine - just don't panic and don't phone them

It might even be an entirely different person and they just have a similar name to you - won't be the first time the debt recovery companies have done that

cat4772

rainbowsandflowers

Poor you. This is terrible. As bathgate buyer says, please write to them and also state that all further communication must be in writing.

I would also go to the police about this and visit the CAB for help & advice.

Good luck

Cat.x

MrsTinks

Oh and if they call again tell them you will only communicate in writing with them and if they call you again you will consider this harrassment and you will take legal action against the company and any persons as an individual who phones you for any purpose other than to call and appologise and advise you that they have now resolved the matter and found who ACTUALLY owes the money. That usually stops them in their tracks. If they DO call again make a big show of writing the time and date down, ask them for their name and if they ask why say "on x date a representative from your company was made aware that any further calls from yourself would be viewed as harassment and any such contact would result in legal action against the company AND the person who calls me - that is YOU and therefor I'd like your full name so that I can take the appropriate legal action regarding harassment by you and your company"... I will bet you a whole shiny £1 coin they will hang that phone up SO quick they will break new speed records hanging up the phone...

Did I mention I am a nasty horrid vindictive person really

cat4772

MrsTine - I like your style!!!

rainbowsandflowers

Thank so much for all your help and assistance. I feel slighty better unlike before where I was scared out of my skin. The only thing that does worry me is that it is at my address that they are claiming (me and partner lived together), which makes me think that it was my ex. He did make a lot of large purchases, mainly for electrical equipment but he told me he had put them on his card and I am wondering if these are the items that they are talking about. He tok all this stuff however when he moved out. I never saw any statements or letters however, but then I leave for work long before the mail arrives. It has only been recently that I have started getting letters and as I now live on my own I get all mail.