Being chased for a debt which isn't mine

wotsthat

Hi

My son is being chased by a debt collection agency in relation to a mobile phone contract.

He left home at 17 but has returned on a few occasion to stay for months at a time. He's now 21 and has started a college course. He used this address to sign up for an Orange 'phone contract but never paid a single payment and is now being chased by a debt collection agency (NCO). This is not the first time he has been in this situation having previously been chased on behalf of Vodaphone.

I have no sympathy for these companies - there is nothing in his financial history to suggest he will do other than default on any debt - I can't believe Orange even gave him a contract with his credit history.

He is no longer at this address.

NCO now 'phone here every week asking for his contact details which we have no intention of doing.

How can I stop these people hassling us? The debt isn't, and never was, ours.

Thanks

elona

Could you write back to them saying that your son does not live with you and that you have no financial responsibility for his debts.

If you continue to be pestered by them them say you will complain about their harassment.

arrowsmith

Perhaps in the long term in would be far better for your son if you told NCO his contact details.

He took out the contract and should pay what he owes them, blaming Orange for giving him the contract doesn't make the current situation any better.

gizmoleeds

arrowsmith wrote:

Perhaps in the long term in would be far better for your son if you told NCO his contact details.

I completely agree - what have Orange done wrong? Your son asked for a phone contract then signed an agreement that he would pay for it, and took away a shiney new phone. He then provided them with your address - he is the only one at fault here. They have every right to persue him for this money.

Justicia

I agree with the previous posts.

At 21 years of age, I think that your son should improve on his feeling of responsibilities ASAP.

He signed the agreement to Orange confirming that he was prepared to pay them the amount owed as required. He appears to have chosen to ignore that agreement.

I don't personally think that you should be allowing (and perhaps by your actions encouraging?) him to continue using your address to build up debts and for credit agreements that he is not prepared to be responsible and adult enough to fulfil.

Supply his details to his creditors... Let him (as a 21 YEAR OLD adult) deal with his debts and not leave them to you to deal with (a lack of respect for his parents then perhaps?).

If you want to just ignore all of the above (and the previous posts), then write his creditors a formal letter advising them that he is not located at your address any more and as previously suggested warn them that legal action may be taken if they continue contacting you. Send it by a trackable and recorded method so you can prove that they have received it.

I do hope that you give him the opportunity to gain some RESPONSIBILITY to face up to his unacceptable behaviour though...

Harassed_2

How can I stop these people hassling us? The debt isn't, and never was, ours.

Have a chat with your local Trading Standards office and make a formal complaint about NCO. Well known for bending the law.

Dumbledore55

I agree with some of the other posts. Tell your son to contact them and give them his details - why should you have hassle for his debts.

He doesn't dispute he owes them money so tell him to be a man and sort it out. Orange haven't done anything wrong, they are contacting the number he gave them.

intel

The funny thing is if you have opened the letter and dont reply there is no proof
the letter was actioned upon, if you reply to them they will do yer head in.

wotsthat

Thanks for all the replies.

I completely agree about taking responsibility etc. but that wasn't the main thrust of the post.

I am surprised by the number of people that would pass contact details for their family to a debt collection agency to 'teach them a lesson' - nice people!

Percy_Vere

wotsthat wrote:

Thanks for all the replies.

I completely agree about taking responsibility etc. but that wasn't the main thrust of the post.

I am surprised by the number of people that would pass contact details for their family to a debt collection agency to 'teach them a lesson' - nice people!

It's about teaching your son about responsibility, clearly he hasn't learned that lesson yet.

rchddap1

If he signed up for the contract, then he should pay what he owes. Orange have done nothing wrong in this case. If he had made the payments that he promised to when he signed the contract there would have been no need for anyone to come chasing the debt.

You can either tell the debt collector that the debt isn't yours and you don't know where the other party is...hard to do this particularly if they realise that you are his parents. Or get him to face up to his debts and contact the agency.