Misuse of my address etc

alanrp123

Just recently, we have received letters addressed to a female, who does not live at my address, and never has done.
One of these letters was from a government department, benefits.
We have also been receiving phone calls asking to speak to this person, the latest one benig late this afternoon from a loan company.
I am sure this is some kind some scam, but how did she get hold of my phone number, we are ex directory.
I contacted the local council, re the electoral roll and no-one has been added to our address.
Any advice on how to combat this??.
Thanks in advance.

hairy_g

Just a thought.....Have you thown out anything with those details on it?
if so can anyone get access to your rubbish (bags)?.

alanrp123

Everything we throw away is shredded first.

Shelldean

this won't explain the letter but when a neighbour had her phone installed the engineer gave her our number instead of a new one. She had a simliar name and surname to myself, so when we started getting calls for counsilling after death ( we'd ust lost f-i-l) and then for help when you leave prison!!! we did wonder if someone was winding us up.
Did finally managed to get to the bottom of it, after several weeks of hassle.
But that doesn't explain the letters

Anthillmob

where i used to live some one was claiming tax credits fro m that address and id never heard of them, wasnt the previous tenant.

eventually after a year and a half of sending the post back to HMRC they finallt ook notice and stopped sending the letters when i wrote on an evenlope that if i received any more i would seek legal advice. i was laiin in m own right @ that addess so cant get to this day how she could have been also.

alanrp123

There is no previous tenant, my partner is the first tenant.

CasparBone

I've had this and have just returned all letters etc to sender stating "not known at this address" and carried out a credit cheque via experian or equifax to make sure there are no linked names to the address which are not recognised. If there are, contact the relevant institution.

Regarding the phone calls, I know it's inconvenient but your phone service provider should change your number for free if you explain what's happened. Other than that, perhaps if they call again, tell them the telephone number has nothing to do with their debtor and request it be removed from their file so you are not bothered again. If they do call again, I'm sure they can be reported to someone, perhaps the FSA? Just an idea anyway.

bills_2

Dont know about the telephone number but does this person live nearby and the house number may be incorrect. May have been a typing error on a form done. hmmmm odd, I would be cautious though. Try contacting the benfits dept to see if they can shed any light on it

Justicia

bills wrote: »

Try contacting the benfits dept to see if they can shed any light on it

I imagine that as the OP is not the benefit claimant, the DPA will kick in...