Has anyone dealt with LCS debt collection before?

kaloki_2

New here and could do with some advice.

We used to live in Brighton on a road which I will call Oldhome Road, and we were there for 6 months, then we moved temporarily to my partner's mum's house in a totally different town. Now we are living in another town again.

Since we moved to Oldhome Rd we had E-on as our suppliers for gas and electric. And I believe they took over from npower.

We have just received a letter (at my partner's mum's house) from LCS claiming that not only do we owe debts to British Gas, but that the debts were incurred for a property in Randomplace Street. Which is in a different part of Brighton to where we lived.

Which is bizarre on so many levels.

Are they a legitimate company? Why would they have our names under a false address with a company we have never used? Then why would they send a letter to an address we were only at very temporarily rather than our home now?

And more importantly, what is our best course of action now?

WRINKLES

kaloki wrote: »

New here and could do with some advice.

We used to live in Brighton on a road which I will call Oldhome Road, and we were there for 6 months, then we moved temporarily to my partner's mum's house in a totally different town. Now we are living in another town again.

Since we moved to Oldhome Rd we had E-on as our suppliers for gas and electric. And I believe they took over from npower.

We have just received a letter (at my partner's mum's house) from LCS claiming that not only do we owe debts to British Gas, but that the debts were incurred for a property in Randomplace Street. Which is in a different part of Brighton to where we lived.

Which is bizarre on so many levels.

Are they a legitimate company? Why would they have our names under a false address with a company we have never used? Then why would they send a letter to an address we were only at very temporarily rather than our home now?

And more importantly, what is our best course of action now?

As with anyone who sends a demand for money , your first action should be send a prove it letter , this can be found on the forum , do not sign the letter print your name , send this recorded delivery , keep a copy , keep all letters from them including envelopes , DO NOT PHONE THEM ,, when you get a reply post back here , Stop worrying , we are here to help .

bottleofred

Hi,

It could be that they have contacted you by mistake instead of someone with a similar name or perhaps they are just chancers. I'd ignore it for now, but if they keep sending you letters for the debt and you are sure you don't owe it, then send the prove it letter that I'll post below. Never ever try to phone debt collection agencies though, as they'll try to bully you into paying, even if you were not responsible for the original debt.How long ago was this so called debt?

1 High Street,
Newtown,
Kent
R21 4RH
October 9, 2007

The Loan Company
Company House,
Church Street,
Newtown,
Kent,
R1 7HG

Dear Sir/Madam

Ref: xxxxxxxxxxx

You have contacted us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by ourselves.

We would point out that we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to The Loan Company.

We are familiar with the ‘Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance’ which states that it is unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

We would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore, ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

We would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above accounts unless you can provide evidence as to our liability for the debt in question.

We await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise we will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

We look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully





Mrs A N Other

kaloki_2

The date is from June 09 to Apr 10, and we've been in our present home since Feb 10. It can't be accidental with the names as both of our names are on the letter (not married yet), so seems a bit odd. Even odder as I was never registered as living at my partner's mum's house.

kaloki_2

Also, thankyou for the letter

tinpoo

I am also a victim of LCS bully tactics.They are chasing me for a debt I don't owe and their latest tactic is to send a calling card that they are going to pay me a visit. I must admit I am a bit scared but since reading those recent threads I am a bit more reassured now. Thanks everyone.

femistico

Sorry i am posting this again on this thread.

These guys are ridiculous. They sent me a letter saying i was responsible for the bill payment at my last address. After telling them I left the property before the dates mentioned, they asked i send them my tenancy agreement before they remove my name from their records.
After this they changed the dates on their letters to reflect when i was at the property. I found this very amusing so I asked them to send me proof that i was responsible for the bill. They replied saying they contacted credit reference agencies and it showed I was at the property. I replied saying there were 4 other people living at that property and I was not responsible for the bill and they said:

Please consult the Utility Act 2000 in reference to your comments and please make yourself familiar that all joint tenants can be held liable both separately and jointly.I would advise you to send in your tenancy agreement as this is legal proof.

They now say its a legal requirement to send in my tenancy agreement to "remove my name". I wonder what they want this for.

I then contacted EDF Energy and asked them why i was getting these letters. They said my name was not on there system dont understand why and I should contact LCS to remove my name. I have sent them an email and im waiting for a reply. Would be funny to see what they say.

tezlewis1988

Sorry to interupt , i also have been getting these letters, quiet worrying as it's for a debt of 830 odd pounds from a previous address, i think it's for rent, but the letter don't state what it's for, it was in lowestoft and me and my partner had split up and i moved back to blackpool and left all my belonging there so i don't have any proof who the debt is for as i don't have access to the tenancy agreement so far as i know, she was still living there and she had the keys. so i'm not really sure where i stand, it's really stressful because it's an ex aswell, the only thing i have is to go and see a solicitor about it, because surely it aint all my debt and i had alot of things that belonged to me, which i left.

Widelats

I would like to know the ongoings on this please if you can update it. I know you fell for the bait but i'd still like to see what happens.

That is their usual method, threats, lies, fraud, anything for cash whether you are responsible or not.

PAulhooligan

tinpoo wrote: »

I am also a victim of LCS bully tactics.They are chasing me for a debt I don't owe and their latest tactic is to send a calling card that they are going to pay me a visit. I must admit I am a bit scared but since reading those recent threads I am a bit more reassured now. Thanks everyone.

They sent me one of these "we will visit in the next 7 days" card thingies. I'm still waiting 2 months on:rotfl: