Just had a strange call

VanillaDelia

One of my debtors called to offer me a settlement figure, thing is, they wanted my husband not me. It is definitely my debt though, not joint and not his, just mine. They did speak to me though when I told them it was my debt. I am just concerned why they want my husband and not me.

Seems very strange, so I wondered if any experts here had any ideas?

Thanks

fermi

Did they just ask for Mr rather than Mrs?

If so, then probably just simple human error somewhere.

VanillaDelia

No they asked for him by his full name. Its a mystery, spoken to CCCS and they have told me not to worry about it.

Hannah_10

Being of a suspicious nature I would wonder about a few things.

Firstly this has got to be a breach of the Data Protection Act. Not that I can immediately see how you would use that point of information yet, but make a note about the call with the time and date before it gets too far away to remember just in case you want to refer to it any time.

Secondly, it could be underhand tactics to get you to admit to a debt they had otherwise not managed to make stick maybe?

Thirdly, perhaps they think your husband is more likely to pay it than you are and are targetting him as a bit of a soft option?

Fourthly if it's a council tax debt they could go after him for your debt quite legitimately, but as a rule settlements are offered on credit debts, not so much on taxes. Not sure if there are any other debts where they could legitimately chase your husband for your debt but I would guess they would be pretty limited. Could be an avenue to look at?

I don't know, I'm certainly not an expert, but as a fully-trained and highly experienced cynic I think there is more to this than meets the eye for sure.

EDIT: Oh another one- if the repayments to date have ever been paid from his card or account then they may have come to the conclusion to call him because of that perhaps?

fermi

VanillaDelia wrote: »

No they asked for him by his full name.

Can you prove this?

Disclosing private info (even debts) would a breach of data protection.

VanillaDelia

fermi wrote: »

Can you prove this?

Disclosing private info (even debts) would a breach of data protection.

Yes an answering machine message including the ref number to the debt. It was a Payday loan which is on my CCCS file and now with a debt collectors, husband also had one which also went to a debt collectors, but a different company and ref, also the balance is different so I know I have not mixed them up. Maybe it could be to do with info sent from the CCCS and them seeing mine and his name on the info, and they just put 2 and 2 together and got 6.

CCCS did mention they were breaching the data protection act.

Hannah_10

I don't trust for one minute that they're breaking the law by accident. I think they're doing it purposely. It'd be nice to think that DCA's who spend so much of thier time and effort quoting the law ould actually observe it wouldn't it... Ha! They're a sector of prefessional liars, harassers and intimidators and they get away with it because people expect to be kicked when they're down and don't know they ever had a right not to be.

That you owe them money doesn't mean they can commit a criminal offence against you. Don't stand for it.

Mikeone

If you're not linked to your husband with them, how did they have his full name?