Welcome Finance - Forgery and deception

RickfromHerts

Hi all

Thanks for taking the time to read my post. Unfortunately I was a bit of an idiot when I was younger and never saw the value of having an excellent credit rating; this has led to defaults and also a CCJ on behalf of an unpaid loan from Welcome Finance.

Recently I decided to take action (never too late I thought!) and started paying all debts off, with the long-term goal of significantly improving my credit score. Initially I contacted Welcome with a data request so that I could look at exactly what was borrowed, paid and left outstanding etc....Straight away I noticed that there were many irregularities within the agreements sent back to me.

Not only did I now have 2 contracts with them - 1 had been settled for £2,800 and then re-opened for £6,000. But the second contract had been completed by someone other than me. The handwriting is completely different, the signature is completely different and even the spelling of my surname is incorrect.

I am looking for advice on how to approach this, I have already raised the dispute to Welcome; they seem to have dropped off the face of the earth since doing so. My next step was to contact the Financial Ombudsman (this can take a while so I'm sitting tight). Seem to be quite stuck now and not too sure on whether to pursue on the grounds that the second loan has been forged or to wait etc....? Any advice and previous experience would be greatly appreciated.

Have seen that some people have attempted to "pretend" that signatures have been forged etc... in order to get out of a loan. That is 100% not the case, I take full responsibility for not paying the original loan off and pursued this to correct that; however, if this CCJ has been put through on the grounds of forged documentation then this is a game changer.

This was 2 months back (I don't know how to bump and re-comment on my original, sorry).

Since then, I have contacted the Financial Ombudsman who have reviewed all documentation and returned informing me that this isn't a case they can help with and referred me to another financial body. I decided to get the handwriting on both documents analysed by a fraud prevention expert who 100% supports the notion that the second credit agreement was not completed or signed by me - forged.

My issue is that looking at forums and previous cases similar to this; unless original documentation is provided then the court throw it out. Welcome will undoubtedly have lost all original copies so I have no idea where I stand. Making huge amounts of progress with all other debt and am close to being debt-free, just have this enormous default and CCJ on my file that rightfully shouldn't be there - how on earth do I resolve this? Welcome ignored all letters, recorded delivery proves they have been received etc....strangely not one person has ever attempted to reclaim this debt from Welcome.

Advice highly appreciated.

Tixy

Do you disagree with the amount of the CCJ? Have you a copy of the CCJ? and does it say if its for one or 2 loans? If you don't have a copy of the judgement then get one (from the court that issued the CCJ).

If the CCJ is for the loan you didn't sign or you believe you don't owe the money then the next step would be a set aside application to the court - if welcome don't have the correct documentation they might decide not to contest the set aside claim - http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=12_how_to_set_aside_a_judgment_in_the_county_court

Curr946

Well the question is, is the outstand amount yours. If so then make payment arrangements. If however the debt is not yours themmn take it further.

I assume FOS is declining to take up your case as you state the debt is not yours. Hence they are powerless to help. They are only able to take up complaint by the account holder. And as your claiming not to have signed the documtns then your not see as the account holder to them.

Curr946

Swipe not the best ;-)

Apples2

Not only did I now have 2 contracts with them - 1 had been settled for £2,800 and then re-opened for £6,000.

So what actually happened? did you take another loan of £6k or not?

Did you do all this over the phone or in writing?
Did the first loan fall into default incurring fees bringing the total owed to £6k?
How did you clear the £2.8k without further borrowing from them?

It sounds like you did it all over the phone and the guy the other end filled in the documentation. You could argue about the signatures but I can't see how the money will not still be owed.

PogoJones

I am new to this site and am not quite sure of how to use it however this is the closest I have come to my subject.

I recently applied for a loan of £1000 with Welcome Finance and they sent me a letter accepting me for the loan however I needed to send back the application form and a postal order for £69..something.
This was nearly 2 weeks ago. I haven't heard anything from them and I haven't recevied the loan.
When I call the telephone number it suggests twice to e mail them and then another voice comes on and terminates the call.

I have sent 3 e mails within this 2 week period and I have had no response. Is this something that happened with you when you got your loans or have a been mugged off?

Thanks

DCFC79

PogoJones wrote: »

I am new to this site and am not quite sure of how to use it however this is the closest I have come to my subject.

I recently applied for a loan of £1000 with Welcome Finance and they sent me a letter accepting me for the loan however I needed to send back the application form and a postal order for £69..something.
This was nearly 2 weeks ago. I haven't heard anything from them and I haven't recevied the loan.
When I call the telephone number it suggests twice to e mail them and then another voice comes on and terminates the call.

I have sent 3 e mails within this 2 week period and I have had no response. Is this something that happened with you when you got your loans or have a been mugged off?

Thanks

Should have started your own thread rather than drag up an old 1

muckybutt

Pogo you should start your own thread rather than drag an old one up, go here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=12 and click the NEW THREAD button near to the top of the page on the laft hand side.

phil80

Pogo Jones it will not have been Welcome Finance that you applied to for your loan as they have not been lending money for a long while now. I would guess that you have used Welcome Loans UK completely different company. From the sound of it they are a broker and what you have paid is an upfront fee for them to find you a loan company who will offer you a loan. I would write off the £69 as this will be very difficult to get back from them as you are finding out and dont expect to receive anything in return for it either. I would put it down to experince and dont make the same mistake again never pay an upfront fee.

PogoJones

Ok thank you! sorry for dragging up an old one! as I said I am new to this!

Thank you Phil for your answer, I think you may be right! Ah well, like you said.....put it down to experience!

DCFC79

PogoJones wrote: »

Ok thank you! sorry for dragging up an old one! as I said I am new to this!

There is a button on each forum sub section titled new thread which is near the top of the page so you can hardly miss it.