Mr. Cow... Does Not Live Here

Valli

pendulum wrote: »

I said I thought he was a fantasist many posts back and his latest wacky posts just go to prove it in my opinion.
This is only happening in his head (IMO).
I haven't seen any proof that this extremely strange and far fetched story is taking place in real life, have you?

Since something similar, although not as serious, happened to us thanks to, in a small part, Abbey I will believe whomever I choose, thank you.
In my case when we moved here all institutions who needed to be informed were told our new address. It would appear, however, that one institution failed to update its records and sent mail to our previous address. It then became apparent that the new occupier of our former home opened an account with Abbey, using some mail as proof of identity. The Abbey account was then used to open a gambling account. A debt was built up and we were contacted here with a request to pay. This account had been opened in the name of my (then) husband.
After many phone calls we established how the Abbey account was opened and, most significantly WHEN, and the company to whom the debt was owed were satisfied that we were not the debtors. We also contacted the Police about this but, as it wasn't our debt they weren't interested.
It does happen. Although there are systems in place (re money laundering) to ensure that people are who they say they are and live where they say they do when opening bank accounts it is not a foolproof system. And innocent people get caught up in these situations - which has, of course, an impact on their financial history/credit record.
I now believe were were fortunate to establish that the debt was not ours before the company either sold the debt on or started legal proceedings.

Tiglet

I've just found this post on the DFW board. It links to a decision by the Financial Ombudsman that ordered a DCA to pay compensation to someone because they refused to accept she was not the debtor. This would appear to be a direct parallel to your case.

cjgoodsell

This has gone on so fast... I smell a rat somewhere not sure where yet!!

cjgoodsell

Have you ever thought that opening this persons mail, complaining to Abbey/Capquest in writing giving your details to them could of "implicated" you in all of this? I personally think if you had left well alone and only informed a debt collector knocking on your door and providing whatever proof they needed to show he didnt live there then you wouldnt of been "implicated". Thats my opinion.. From this saga you have written to them and done what you have felt best and you want to protect yourself and your property which I respect that... Now they have your details and a letter you have opened they could see it that your Mr Cowxxx but changed to your name via deed poll... So maybe (I dont know if they can do this legally or not) they decided to pursue you to try and get their money.

Any way majority of their letters are computer generated and would take a fair few of them before they took things further!!

I believe once a debt is in dispute then it should be put on hold while its investigated. I have had a mobile phone taken out in my old address because some mail went there and shouldnt of because the redirection failed, once I told the DCA I hadnt taken it up they got their fraud department onto it and I had to sign forms etc to say I never took it up!

Cant they help you this way at all??

Moo_2

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

Dear Sirs

Your Ref: DST xxxxxxx

I have, today, received a letter from Mrs Smith of Abbey saying there is no record of any mail being sent by Abbey to Mr. Cowxxx at my address, so I have attached a copy of mail sent to Mr. Cowxxx (by Abbey) to my address.

Unfortunately, Mrs Smith says I may like to contact CapQuest, suggesting it was CapQuest who was trying to make contact with Mr. Cowxxx.

Yes, I did receive correspondence from CapQuest (several weeks before Abbey wrote to Mr. Cowxxx, at my address) asking if I knew where Mr. Cowxxx lived as it was important for CapQuest (under the Data Protection Act) to have his correct address. On the day of receipt of that letter, I provided CapQuest with Mr. Cowxxx’s work address, as that was the only address I could find from my neighbours. Until receipt of that mail, I had no knowledge of Mr. Cowxxx whatsoever.

CapQuest told me today that they provided Abbey with Mr. Cowxxx’s current home address some weeks ago and that the address provided to Abbey was NOT my address. Despite this, Abbey records (today) still show my address as Mr. Cowxxx’s current address.

I require your written confirmation (within 14 days) that my address is no longer shown as Mr. Cowxxx’s current home address. I fully appreciate that Abbey’s records for Mr. Cowxxx will have to show my address as an historic address but to show it as a current address is NOT acceptable.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is NOT acceptable to only place a marker on Mr. Cowxxx’s record saying not to send mail to my address, if my address is still shown as Mr. Cowxxx’s current address.

I have attached a Statutory Declaration to ensure that I remain dissociated from Mr. Cowxxx.




Yours faithfully


Paul Varjak

Did you really send this letter to someone who has four guns? Mmmm, maybe not such a good move?

pendulum

Moo wrote: »

Did you really send this letter to someone who has four guns? Mmmm, maybe not such a good move?

Indeed, I know that if I had a gun I'd shoot him.