Letter received from Debt Collection Agency.........looking for my neighbour ??

shaneym

ElizabethJH wrote: »

You don't know the circumstance of his debt and am presuming you are lucky enough to never have been in debt.. I would feel sorry for him.. he's likely had more then one sleepless night!!

Dont get me wrong, Im not saying its wrong to be in debt by any means. I understand why you feel sorry for him, but by the same token, do you feel sorry for me any my neighbours who have recieved these letters when we have nothing to do with it ?

Tibbledom

They are acting in contravention of the OFT debt collection guidance in my opinion see the guidance at

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

or go to the oft site above www.oft.gov.uk and search for "debt collectioin guidance".

For example in my view it is against 2.2c and 2.6j of the guidance.

Suggest you complain to the OFT. They have an on line form you can use.

A debt collection agency contacted me about someone else's debt asking me to call them on an 0870 number and I complained to the OFT and they looked into it.

If nobody complains about these things then nothing gets done about it.

rog2

shaneym wrote: »

Anyway, my question is, can I complain to anyone about this ? Im outraged that a debt collection company can send letters to ramdom people who have nothing to do with the debt, especially as the letter does'nt say WHY they have contacted you, which means you have to go through the worry that I have just been though.

You can, and should, most definitely, complain, shaney.

A DCA should NOT send 'random' letters to people in the hope of 'netting' the debtor that they are looking for.

First Credit are well known for their blatant disregard of the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidelines - http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf - to which they should, but often don't, adhere in order to retain their licence.

You can complain, in the first instance, to your local Trading Standards Department.

They have also broken the terms of the Data Protection Act by discussing the affairs of a neighbour with you. For this you can report them to the Information Commissioner - http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx

The Financial Ombudsman may also be able to give you some advice - http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/contact/index.html

And, if you are on good terms with him, you could tell your neighbour as he will also have the right to complain that First Credit are discussing his affairs with a totally non connected third party.

And you have no obligation whatsoever to talk to First Credit.

shaneym

Thanks a lot for that info guys. Has definelty helped me a lot.

Cheers.

shaneym

Have talked to my other neighbours and they are just as angry as me as they have received letters too looking for this man. The man in question, has not been seen for a few days.

RAS

Oh Boy

Both the Information Commisioner and the OFT need to know about this.

1. They have upset you all by making you panic about the possibility that you are in debt.

2. They have divulged priveleged information about your neighbour's debts to multiple people which breaks both the Data protection Act and the terms under which the DCa are given their licence and which the OFT consider as regards to suitablity.

Has any one checked if the neightbour has done a bunk, it just away or is hanging from the rafters (and I am NOT being funny about the last matter).

Primrose

I'd certainly send a photocopy of the letter to the Trading Standards Department at your local Council. I would have been furious if that had happened to me. Can you imagine what effect it might have on some poor elderly man or woman living alone on a tight income. They would be worried sick. It's completely unacceptable and I would try and get all your neighbours to also complain to Trading Standards too.

itsnever2lateisit?

From the DCA's website

All processes and activities are carried out in full compliance of all the current relevant legislation to the Collections industry.
Additionally, we fully conform with the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidelines and the Credit Services Association Code of Practice.

Yeah right:rolleyes:

RAS

Please

it is really important - this is a major breach of the data protection act for which they can be fined £1000s of pounds. So you must speak to the IO.

Jesthar

They did WHAT?!? :eek:

I'm with RAS - report 'em and encourage all your neighbours to do the same. No matter what the attitude of the original debtor, they've caused serious distress to you AND broken the Data Protection Act in spectacular fashion. They deserve everything they get...:mad: