Strange Letter from Debt Managers Ltd

dmd22

Hi there,

Firstly apologies if this post is in the wrong place...

I have received a strange letter from Debt Managers Limited. It says the following:

Dear DMD22,

Our Client: Barclaycard-Goldfish
Our ref: xxxxxx
Client ref xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Contains same number of digits as a credit card)

Our recent investigations have resulted in your details being obtained from a credit reference agency, due to a link with the data we hold regarding the account shown above.

To verify that you are responsible for the account shown above or if you believe that this is not the case, please contact us urgently on 0844 225 3048.

If we do not receive a response to this letter within 7 days, we will assume that you are responsible for the account shown above, and debt recovery proceedings will commence.

Your sincerely
Debt Managers Ltd



My first instinct is to not call these people and to get in touch with GoldFish? I don't believe I have any outstanding debts with them whatsoever and they certainly haven't contacted me in the last 5 years with regard to a debt. I have not had a chance to check my paperwork (At my Mums) but I believe I had a credit card with them c.10 years ago that was definitely paid off in full.

Is it possible that this old card has been cloned or someone has used my identity to gain a new card and run up a debt?

I'm rather worried as up to now I have an excellent credit rating and am hoping to buy a flat in the next few years so really don't want any thing damaging this.

Any help would be much appreciated
dmd22

Jesthar

Hi dmd, welcome to the DFW board

Sounds like a typical DCA (Debt Collection Agency) 'fishing expedition' to me. Does the credit card number match the one you had? Even if it does, if the card has been inactive for almost 10 years any debt owed on it would be statued barred and illegal to collect anyway - but they DO so hope you don't know that and pay them money anyway!

DCAs are notorious bullies, especially on the phone, so you are are correct in not wanting to call them. The golden rules for dealing with DCAs are ALWAYS in writing, send ALL letters by recorded delivery so they can't deny receiving them, and NEVER sign your name on the letters as some of them are not above forging documents. Incidentally, if they ever tell you 'sorry, we can't deal with your request because you didn't sign the letter', then unless you are doing a Subject Access Request, they are lying.

Anyway, if you take a look at the second post of this thread:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=963087

you will find a template 'prove it' letter to send to them (you may need to change 'We' to 'I' in a few places too); insert the relevant details (but don't supply any contact details), print your name instead of signing, and send it by recorded delivery - it should shut them up. If not, come back and tell us what they have said, and we'll take it from there.

It is probably also very worthwhile checking your credit report - you can get free trials of the major ones plus cashback if you go through some of the cashback sites.

~Jes

dmd22

Thanks so much Jes, I'll send the letter today as signed for special delivery to arrive tomorrow (Letter is dated 20th Aug so the 7 days runs out tomorrow). I will also ensure I don't sign it.

As advised I will also look into getting a credit report today.

Will keep you posted...

Thanks very much again
dmd22

immoral_angeluk

Wow.. makes a change for them to actually be honest that they're searching credit reference agencies to try and find the debtor...

dmd22

So sorry Jes I just have a quick Q re. the "Prove It" letter, the 2nd line of the letter states:

I would point out that I have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to The Loan Company.

Should that be "Debt Managers Ltd" or "Barclaycard - GoldFish"?

Sorry to ask I just want to make sure I'm sending everything completed 100% correctly.

Many thanks!
dmd22

immoral_angeluk

Send it to debt managers as they currently have the account.

Jesthar

Hey dmd - don't worry about asking questions! That's what we're here for!

Although, i have to confess to not being 100% sure of the answer to this one - I'm technically a Mortgage Free Wannabee, not a DFW, so I've never personally dealt with a DCA (thank goodness!), I've just hang out here and help out where I can.

I'd think it would be 'Debt Managers Ltd', looking at the address also refering to 'The Loan Company', but I may be wrong - can someone else please respond to this one?

~Jes

Edit: Ah, i_a has beaten me to it - thanks!

dmd22

Thanks immoral_angeluk - I am sending the letter to Debt Managers Ltd but wanted to check who to reference the debt to within the letter? As they have mentioned Barclaycard-GoldFish.

Many thanks
dmd22

fermi

dmd22 wrote: »

So sorry Jes I just have a quick Q re. the "Prove It" letter, the 2nd line of the letter states:

I would point out that I have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to The Loan Company.

Should that be "Debt Managers Ltd" or "Barclaycard - GoldFish"?

Sorry to ask I just want to make sure I'm sending everything completed 100% correctly.

Many thanks!
dmd22

The letter should go to debt managers.

They refer to Barclays Goldfish as their "clients", so in the actual letter I would put.....

"I would point out that I have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to Debt Managers Ltd or Barclaycard - GoldFish."

dmd22

Thanks v much Fermi.

I'm afraid I have a worrying update - Have just been on Credit Expert and there is a c.£2k with Barclaycard with 6 late payments in the last 36mths.

I am now really (really) worried - they have the card registered to my old address which is rather suspicious... I moved 2.5 years ago.

Am I ok to call Barclays to discuss?

(Scared) dmd22

immoral_angeluk

So the debt was taken out approx 6 months before you moved?