T Mobile Phone Bill Scam - Old Mum :(

pid2004

Hi everyone,
I have just spoken to my this evening and told me that she has received a T mobile bill in her name for £285. She has a t mobile pay as you go sim but no contract and never had a contract! I thought the bill was a scam and they wanted some money into some false account. She read the details of the phone bill out to me and they are all correct...ie the bank payment details for t mobile etc. So the bill has really come from T mobile. Its too late to call them but it seems to us that someone may have got a contract in her name etc. I didnt want to worry her and said I will sort it out (she is in her 70s) and this might effect her health in some way if she fully understood that her details had been used fraudulantly. Has anyone else had this at all or any advice what to do. I feel so angry that this has been done and cant wait to call T mobile tomorrow. But where so I start??? help.:mad::eek:

LeeSouthEast

Due to Data Protection you won't get anywhere with T-Mobile. Your mother will need to be jointly involved in any efforts you make.

pid2004

Yes you are right. I didnt think of that. Guess I will be having a sleepless night!! Just dont know where to begin with all this.

chattychappy

Consider a power of attorney so you can act on her behalf. Since you're worried about her health, it may be worth considering a "lasting power of attorney"...

If she's a wealthy lady, she could appoint a solicitor to handle this matter and authorise the solicitor to liaise with you. Yep expensive perhaps, but if she has the cash and her health is at stake...

LeeSouthEast

Hell with that last idea. It'd be cheaper to pay the bill and close the account

mountainofdebt

Why not get your mum to ring them so that she can confirm her ID and then ask them to discuss the situation with you.

DarkConvict

Get your name added to her account as a note, stating you have permission to act on her behalf. Once you have some details, get back in touch with us here.

chattychappy

LeeSouthEast wrote: »

Hell with that last idea. It'd be cheaper to pay the bill and close the account

Yep, great stuff! But it depends how many more of these bills come in and how much time the OP has to deal with his mother's affairs. If it's ID theft there could be more on the way from a variety of organisations. Firms will always deal with a solicitor acting for someone - and there is better credibility too.

Bear in mind that solicitors often supervise trainees at CABs, law centres etc. Doesn't necessarily have to cost.

As to the LPA... worth organising now. I think the fee is £120. If the OP's mother loses capacity for some reason and the OP needs to deal with her affairs then getting court authority is much more expensive later.

greyster

Dont worry, this stuff happens every now and then with all the networks. Phone them and it will be handled. You will get your money back and if as one of the posters said, you can handle the issue, your mum may just need to confirm her ID.

pid2004

Hi everyone, just an update. thank you for all your replies. I managed to speak to a helpful t mobile person (yes there is one ). They have taken all the details. Thankfully they had already suspended the account for some reason. Someone has taken my mothers ID but made themselves into a 21 year old man. They are going to look into the matter and come back to us. What is worrying that the phone order was made over the phone. No one went into a store. So how the hell they do the credit check is beyond me. They might have a false credit card in my mums name buit we have no idea yet. The phone parecl was sent recorded/registed post and was signed for at my mums address. Looks like some inside dealing at post office perhaps?

DarkConvict

Glad things are rolling on, good luck in sorting it out. Now they recognised it as fraud it should be easier to handle. They should have made better checks. I dont know why they would skip a credit check, as its a new customer just at an existing address.