Chased for debts that are not ours

welshie38

Hi
We are a company based in Bucks and are averaging a letter per week in the last 3 months from companies and debt collectors who are chasing us for another company. We have one letter different in our company name and it seems that the debt collectors have so little between their ears that they cannot understand the mix up in the name. I know the company they are after has gone into liquidation. It isridiculous but the letters keep on coming how can I get them stopped? One lanscaping company took us so far that we had to threaten them with legal proceedings for harrassment. LCS in Leeds have treated me with suspicion even when I spell it out to them. Any advice appreciated.

Timalay

I would issue them with one final (recorded) letter outlining you are not the company they are after, also state the other company's name as a comparison. Then state any further letter's will result in legal proceedings for harassment.

ThumbRemote

In addition, if both you and they have company numbers, you can point out the difference and include a printout showing the basic companies house information from their website.

Pollycat

I don't know if this would be of any help:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3558031

It's a lot of reading and if you look at post #18 section 1 iii it does say

iii. Consumer –v-Commercial debt

The OFT‟s role under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is primarily concerned about consumer protection and therefore the collection of commercial debt will largely fall outside of the DCG and other consumer regulation. However, commercial debt often includes small traders, partnerships and directors who may have given personal guarantees. In these cases, many of these individuals
need to be treated in the same way as “regular” consumers and this Guidance will need to be considered.

Also in that post is a pdf file that refers to 'debt collection letters guidance' so you may be able to find some wording for your letter.

arcon5

Personally i'd just bin the letters and ignore them. If they take it further more fool them for wasting their money. I wouldn't be wasting my time responding to them - at the very most would write 'not at address - return to sender' on the envelope and re-post them.

vax2002

Buy a shredder, they will continue as long as they get an answer, a bite is a bite.

micflair_2

I had some guys like this after me once, well not me - someone who they claimed lived at my address. I ignored the letters for ages, then got sick of it so gave them a call to straighten it out. I was accused of lying to them, they claimed they had spoke to my neighbours and they confirmed this mystery person lived in the house and they would send people round to visit me.. I actually found it pretty funny as this person did not live with me, just laughed at them for wasting time and money to keep bothering me.

I wouldn't even waste my time bothering with em, throw the letters straight in the bin and have a laugh while doing so.

Pollycat

The OP is posting on behalf of a company that he works for (or possibly owns) which is getting debt letters.

I think that is different to individuals who may be happy to ignore letters from debt collectors if they know that the debt isn't theirs - but I can understand why a company would want to stop letters rather than binning them, especially as the company they are being confused with have gone into liquidation.

arcon5

Pollycat wrote: »

The OP is posting on behalf of a company that he works for (or possibly owns) which is getting debt letters.

I think that is different to individuals who may be happy to ignore letters from debt collectors if they know that the debt isn't theirs - but I can understand why a company would want to stop letters rather than binning them, especially as the company they are being confused with have gone into liquidation.

Not really.

If the letters are for a company with a similar but clearly different name/company number, then ignoring them will have no more consequences than an individual ignoring them.

If the letters are incorrectly addressed and in the companies name an they are refusing to update their records, then there's no point wasting precious time dealing with it and subsequently going round in circles when in reality they do not have a right to do anything without it first going to a court.

Pollycat

arcon5
Fair enough, that's your opinion.

But it seems to be bothering the OP enough for him to come on here and ask for advice.

Up to him what he does about it now, I guess.

RobertoMoir

Pollycat wrote: »

arcon5
Fair enough, that's your opinion.

But it seems to be bothering the OP enough for him to come on here and ask for advice.

Up to him what he does about it now, I guess.

True enough, but "ignore them" is valid advice (which I accept may not be what everyone wants to do). I'd personally send them one polite letter pointing their mistake out to them, and telling them to address all future correspondence to "Mr T. Shredder" at companyname's address as that is who will be dealing with any future communications on the subject. And then ignore them.