Absolutely Panicked by Call from Westcott Credit Services

david39

My daughter had the same problem with Westcott and a mail order company they claimed she owed money to. The debt had been racked up by someone who took over her student flat after she left and they just used her name.

First thing to understand is that you never speak to these people, only deal in writing. Second, do not give them any personal information or let them have a copy of your signature - print your name at the end of any letters, so that they do not know what your signature looks like and cannot copy it.
Thirdly, look for similar threads to this on this board for a sample of a standard letter that can be used to get Westcotts to supply you with a copy of the Credit Loan Agreement - hopefully they won't have it, so the claim will be untenable. If they do supply it, check that the details are correct - if not, write back to them telling them which are wrong but don't tell them what the correct details should be. In my daughter's case, the signature was wrong, the date did not comply with the period she lived at the address and her married status was wrong.

End the letter to the effect that if you receive any more letters from them you will be appointing a solicitor and that any costs incurred will be charged back to them. That sorted them in our case.

Afterwards, call Virgin and settle up with them, otherwise you may be going through the same scary experience again except the accusations would be true, though.