AOL Demand and Debt Recovery

gimpee

I at no time recall siging up for and using an AOL service.

About a month ago I received a final demand from AOL Broadband requesting that I pay £120. I thought someone had fruadulently used my details to create an account. I rang the number and went through to the Indian Call Centre. I told the guy on the other end of the phone that I thought this was a fraudulent account as I had never used AOL. I gave him the account no. on the letter and he said it tallied with my phone number. I asked him for specific details of this account and he said he couldn't do that until I provided him with my AOL username. This became a bit farcical as I told him I couldnt do that because I didnt use AOL.

What he did finally tell me was that the bill went back to 2002. I told him I didnt even think that I had a computer at that time and if this was a kosher bill why hadnt payment details been taken at the time? And why had I not been written to in the previous 7 years for the payment?

The conversation petered out with him saying he understood my frustration and I asked that he log the details of this call.

I heard nothing further until I recieved a letter last week from a London based Debt Recovery Co. - I havent spoken to them yet, but doubt that they will have any details of the AOL account they are trying to charge me for. I am also worried that I will end up with a mark on my credit report and/or CCJ?

Is there any advice anyone can give me as I torn between fighting this and just caving an paying the bill?

Thanks

dollydo

Hi,

Quite new to this myself, but try posting this question on the debt free wanabee board. Really friendly and helpful bunch there !

I think if it was me, I would send a 'prove it letter' as you have no recollection of the account or maybe a statue barred letter as debts over 6 years old cannot be enforced.

Hopefully someone will let you know the best response.

Sorry I couldn't be anymore help !

alison999

First off keep ALL letters, my other half had this with ntl....

They started charging him one month for the services one month (dont know how they got his bank details and how the bank let them take the money when they had his last name spelt incorrectly!) after we realised what had happened we cancelled the direct debit and then they started chasing us as we were in a contract.

AT NO POINT DID WE EVER HAVE NTL INSTALLED.

After a few more months he got debt letters, and after his first call to them, where he pointed out they owed him money (around £200) since we were paying for NTL but not recieving it, they suddenly 'lost' his account.

Theres a whole big story but the bottom line is its only because we had paperwork to prove that he'd been paying and with his account number on it that we ever got it sorted so keep EVERYTHING!

louiser123

i have just had this with tiscali, i recieved a bill for 560 pounds in dec last year charging for internet dial up service. i actually had tiscali 5 and a half years ago i paid last bill by direct debit after cancelling and ging with virgin. never heard anything again till last dec, and i had to close my bank account too as they had reinstated the direct debit i no clue till i was chacking for another direct debit. on asking the bank about this as i had not given permission to reinstate and the last payment out was 2004 they said they can just reinstate if they wish!!! not happy. i am now dealing with it as it was sent to debt collection agency fredrickson international. who replied with a letter to my complaint and i do not acknowledge any debt letter to them with this reply " your account stands at 569 pounds we have given a customer refund of 510 pounds so just pay 59"!!! needless to say i told them no and it was up to them to prove i owed the debt not me to prove i didnt and also that they would find this impossible as i hadnt had the service and the phone number isnt mine and i have been with virgin 2 years and bt for the past 2 and a half!! not had reply yet, lol

soul619

just to let you no when it goes to a recovery agent you will already have several defaults on ur credit file which you can actually leave a note on ur own credit file stating that these are in dispute as they slammed ur bb line as this was not a product you took out an any future credit peovider should take this into acount when assesing you for credit

after you have got the matter resolved you can make them take the defaults of your credit file

louiser123

update,
i have recieved a letter today saying case closed!!! i dont have any entrys on my credit file by these idiots anyway never have. but it just shows if you fight them they have not got a leg to stand on. its appauling how some companys can just send debt letters for debts that dont exist and i expaect many will just pay up in fear that they will go to court but they should fight it its wholy unfair!! any way good result for me as i was never going to pay something i didnt owe!!