Debt collection company chasing me for Debt I didn't do.

James1978

Evening all first time poster after some advice, a debt collection company has tracked me down for a debt on a house I've not lived in since 2004 for a transaction/agreement I've never made.

The debt is to a catalogue company I have never used for £600 but in my name and at my address from a house 2 'old houses ago' from what i am told. I have spoke to the EOS Solutions (the debt collection company) and told them I did not buy anything from that company and want to go to the police. They have said to wait till they get the formal details for the order, etc and if I'm 100% sure it's not me then (which I am now anyway) to then go the police.

They had no details when I phoned for when the transaction was made and what it was. I'm concerned i be chased for this payment or have to work hardto prove its not me. However I've not lived there since 2004. The debt management company said they have only just tracked me down as been sending letters to the address in question for last 4 years. Does this make sense, though it would have taken less time to find me and resolve this.

I have also spoken to the catalogue company close of play today who confirm there is an account in my name at my old address but they cannot view. I again told them I wanted to go to police but they have asked me to phone back Monday and speak to their fraud investigation dept.

Shall I go I go to police now or is there another agency I can contact to clear this as concerned I'm now being chased for a debt I didn't do.

freddy911

I had a similar thing where someone opened a very account in my name and ordered stuff to lots of different address, the only thing that was actually ordered to my address was an item on 6 weeks back order. They do this for the first order to not rouse suspicion then order what they like to wherever. In my case the first I knew of this was when the very fraud department contacted me, I think they realised themselfs that the orders were dodgy. The account was closed and taken off my credit file, but they did put a notice on there to say I had been the victim of online fraud.

I wouldnt rush to the police I think after 4 years they wont be interest as there is no way they could track down who commited the fraud, just bear with the fraud department at the catalogue company they see this all the time and im sure they will have records of what items where sent where, which should clear things up.

James1978

Thanks, hopefully fraud investigation dept will see its not me. I'm not going to pay for something I never got or wanted. Hoping the dates are outside when I lived at property or as you say to another address.

I've had some advice, does the debt collection company have to prove 100% it was me or do I need to prove it wasn't me? The debt collection company told me I would need a crime reference number if I believed it was fraud?? However if the police don't care that doesn't sound good.

If the police won't help and fraud dept at catalogue company are useless what do I need to do (if anything?) the letter I got talks of debt collectors coming round the house, I don't want this but concerned I've not protection to help against this false claim.

vax2002

The police wont help, in fact they will want to know why you are reporting a crime you are not a victim of.
If someone has falsified your details then who lent them the money is the victim not you.
However, Debt companies are Lying ****** you need to stop running around to orders they bark.
If you are 100% certain this is not your debt stop communicating with them, if they catch you off guard, tell them to provide some proof or go away.
If they come back with any proof come back here and we will shoot it full of big holes.
Whilst every you are communicating you are a target.
If you want my opinion, this is a debt by someone with a similar name and they are trying to frighten you in to paying it, it is what they do.
Now, calm down, they wont come to the house and if they do there is nothing they can do, just ask them to leave immediately, if they refuse call the police and ask them to remove an aggravated trespasser.
Until they can provide a signed credit agreement with your signature on, ignore them, dont go to the police, or investigate anything for the debt sharks, thats their problem not yours.
Ignore, enjoy life.
do not send or SIGN any letters they can use to get your signature.

This will be a back bedroom stale debt shark and the Fraud investigation department will be the next desk along, they will just use it as an excuse to trick more details from you and frighten you more than you already are.

James1978

Thanks for the information. I'm sure it's not me so guess leave it for them to prove, I take the advice and contact the fraud reference company but leave it at that.

vax2002

What fraud reference company ?
You have not committed fraud nor are you the victim.
I have looked at this firm and they operate from a fake mail drop office in Warrington shared with about 20 other firms, so it looks like they are debt sharks who have bought an old credit file that is statute bared that means can not be enforced as the debt is over 6 years, the name is similar to yours and they are trying to hoodwink you in to admitting it.
If they can not offer any proof that stands the test on here, just ignore them.
Certainly dont provide them with details such as your new address, letters and signatures or fall for the "fraud department" they use a mail box drop office, how can they afford a fraud department.
They are having you on.
If they call back, tell them straight, send a signed credit agreement to your address, which is they are that good they will know, signed by you or get stuffed ! Repeat as necessary .
Your signature is what they are after, guard it with your life, do not send them any documents, they are not the slightest bit interested in proving it was not you, they already know !.

inmypocketnottheirs

Any debt that is over six years old is statute barred. That means that it cannot be enforced in court. This debt collection agency has probably bought this debt as part of a number of transactions and they nw rely on naive victims to be intimidated into making payments.

They will not be able to take any action against you. Just ignore them.

James1978

Thanks for the information. Sounds like the stupid thing I have done is speak to them so far so that they know the address where they sent the debt collection letter is correct for me. Should have come on here first and just ignored it.

As I've never bought anything from the mail order catalogue firm in question should I speak with their fraud investigation team or leave it? I dont think this is the EOS Debt Solutions but who knows?

Any signed credit agreement in my name will be a forgery. Do you guys think it is identity theft or do you think the debt collection firm are trying to place my name on this debt?

If a forged credit agreement can be shown and I cannot go to the police do I ignore it as if the dates when I lived there mean its statute barred or if it's after I moved out and my parents sold the house, that just confirms it wasn't me?

Also to debt company wanted a crime reference number if I believe it's not me to close matter down. If the police won't be interested is this a tactic to try and put pressure on me as I wont be able to do this. They have said to wait till they send paperwork of the alleged transaction. However based on what you guys have said I shouldn't listen to them.

Vax2002, thanks for the advice if they know it's not me, are they aware they have bought a dodgy transaction in my name or is it someone else's debt they are trying to put on me?

Cheers.

nottoolate

James1978 wrote: »

Shall I go I go to police now or is there another agency I can contact to clear this as concerned I'm now being chased for a debt I didn't do.

id fraud is just fraud. no matter what it is against. you can report id fraud if it is your id being used

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud_protection/identity_fraud

"If fraud has been committed, report it to Action Fraud."

report it there and get a crime number through them. the catalogue and collectors will think you are just trying to con them until you do

nottoolate

vax2002 wrote: »

This will be a back bedroom stale debt shark

really?

http://www.eos-solutions.uk.com/en/the-company/the-eos-group/

how do they fit 8,500 employees in one back bedroom? :rotfl::rotfl:

James1978

Thanks for that link. I give them a call today.