Mobile contract taken out in my name

dan2010

HI,

I recently got a call from a debt collection agency, they stated i owed money for an unpaid orange mobile phone contract.

This contract was taken out in my old address 6 months after i had moved, plus my D.O.B was given incorrectly.

How could they of possibly got this in my name, especially with giving my incorrect D.O.B

I called orange and they stated there is nothing they can do, i must call the police and report it as a crime?

Dan

Jon_01

Report the fraud to the police and get a crime number.

Call Orange and give them the crime number and the account number for the contract (if you have it, it may be on the paper work you've received from the agency), if not the address where you were living and ask them to pass it on to the fraud dept. Then do the same for the collection agency.

As to how,
Was it the place you stayed a shared house ?
Did you cancel all the mail and have the rest redirected ?
Did you leave any kind of bill/statement ect behind (ie, did you have a clear out the day you moved out and bin lots of old papers ?).

dan2010

Hi,

Thanks for the above advice

I contacted the police and they gave me a log number, they informed me that as it was not myself who was at a financial loss they would not keep the case open but close it.

I have contacted orange and they insist that the account is mine according to there "security checks" it is my account.

The contract account was opened with my incorrect date of birth, i questioned them about this asking how can they possibly grant credit to an individual when the incorrect date of birth was given, they responded "There are many factors taken in to consideration on granting credit".

Now correct me if i'm wrong but isn't the correct date of birth quite high up on the list of factors for proving the individuals indentity? Plus i was on the electoral role for my new property at the time the account was taken out at my old address.

They advised me i must now communicate to them in writing.

I just need some advice as what do i put in writing, it is really frustrating they do not believe this is a fraudulent account.

Regards

Daniel

Jon_01

Date of birth isn't checked (someone took out a contract in my mother name with the wrong dob 2 days after she passed away).

You'd still have a credit file at the old address, the fact that you're on the electoral role at the new address doesn't cancel the info held on on old one. It sounds like you 'may' have left something behind, old bills, statements ect or stuff was delivered after you left which someone used to take out an account.

You'll need to write to them stating when you lived at the address and when you left, that you did not take out the account and that you know nothing about it and don't forget to sign it.

dan2010

HI Jon, thankyou for your response

Do you think i would have to post any supporting evidence with the letter?

The customer service rep i spoke to on the phone said to send me birth certificate to prove my correct D.O.B

Jon_01 wrote: »

Date of birth isn't checked (someone took out a contract in my mother name with the wrong dob 2 days after she passed away).

You'd still have a credit file at the old address, the fact that you're on the electoral role at the new address doesn't cancel the info held on on old one. It sounds like you 'may' have left something behind, old bills, statements ect or stuff was delivered after you left which someone used to take out an account.

You'll need to write to them stating when you lived at the address and when you left, that you did not take out the account and that you know nothing about it and don't forget to sign it.

Jon_01

I wouldn't send them anything other than the things they've asked for, its just more stuff the might get lost.

If you're sending your birth certificate, send it recorded post.

Have they given you the address for the fraud dept ?

dan2010

They gave me this one :

Customer security
st James Court
Great park road
Bristol
BS32 4QJ

I assume its the fraud department.

Jon_01 wrote: »

I wouldn't send them anything other than the things they've asked for, its just more stuff the might get lost.

If you're sending your birth certificate, send it recorded post.

Have they given you the address for the fraud dept ?

Jon_01

dan2010 wrote: »

They gave me this one :

Customer security
st James Court
Great park road
Bristol
BS32 4QJ

I assume its the fraud department.

That's the right one.

Let us know what response you get.

Guys_Dad

You might also ask the for the bank account/sort code that they were given when setting up the Direct Debit.

Furthermore, if you rented the house, ask the landlord for a statement confirming when you moved out. If you sold the house (i.e. you owned it) the Rightmove has a section that records the selling price of properties in any given post code so you can show that you actually sold some 6 months before.

The police may be technically correct that you have no financial loss, but you should obtain a copy of your Experian credit report to make sure that it is not affected. It will also help in proving, if you have any entries at the new address that pre-date the Orange contract at the old address, that you had, in fact, moved prior to the date in question.

dan2010

Hi,

Thanks for the advice

I rented so i will see if the letting agents will write me a letter confirming the date i moved.

Unfortunately i have no credit accounts at my new address.

I checked my experian credit report and it is showing up as 5 payments late, which is affecting my credit score, Experian have added a notice of correction to the account which states i am disputing the account.

Its not a huge amount only £31, but its frustrating that orange basically said on the phone that there "security checks" confirm that it was my account and i am liable for payment.

Guys_Dad wrote: »

You might also ask the for the bank account/sort code that they were given when setting up the Direct Debit.

Furthermore, if you rented the house, ask the landlord for a statement confirming when you moved out. If you sold the house (i.e. you owned it) the Rightmove has a section that records the selling price of properties in any given post code so you can show that you actually sold some 6 months before.

The police may be technically correct that you have no financial loss, but you should obtain a copy of your Experian credit report to make sure that it is not affected. It will also help in proving, if you have any entries at the new address that pre-date the Orange contract at the old address, that you had, in fact, moved prior to the date in question.

Jon_01

Guys_Dad wrote: »

You might also ask the for the bank account/sort code that they were given when setting up the Direct Debit.

They won't supply that info, its covered by the DPA, supplying it would be a breach...