DCA linking addresses

swoosh597

hi,

i'm hoping someone can help, i'm in a dispute with a debt collection agency who have been sending mail to my house for a person who has never lived there.

they have admitted that after i spoke to them my address never got removed from their system, however this is not deemed tobe harrasment by them as the letters were addressed to somebody else, even though i have letters stating they are about to take legal action and send their heavies round.

however thye have said that my address has been linked by a credit bureau and used by tracing agents (but they wont say who they are) I have checked my credit file and as i thought no one is linked to my file. i believe that another party (a bank) has linked my address with this person as i had the misfortune to be brought up with him

i seem to remeber a while back something coming in that addresses couldn't be linked to find debtors but i may be wrong.

the facts are we both had accounts with the same bank and credit card when i bought my home I had to put my parents address as a last known address as i hadn't been in my rented property for 3 years and since then i have had letters between evey week and 6 months for a person who has never set foot in my house.

i have complained to the FOS, OFT and ICO, I dont think there is much point complianing to the CSA as its an old boys club, but i dont want to leave it there. i have been offered a derogatory amount of compensation from the DCA for having to post the letters back, well i'm sorry but it wasn't enouugh for the panic and distress of recieving the letters, the thought of coming home one night to find heavies there, i live on my own, not a nice thought, the emabarrasment when they (said they didn't but its my word against theres) sent a postcard and it got stuck to my front door (communal flat enterance).

if anyone knows which step to take next i'd be grateful

dancingfairy

So someone you used to live with has had a credit issue and you are getting letters addressed to them but at your new address (where they don't live)? Is this correct?
Have you checked all 3 credit reference agencies - Experian, Call Credit and Equifax? I believe there is also some sort of searchable register called National Hunter but I don't know much about that.
Is the electoral role correct?
Do you think there may have been an address fraud or is it merely an incorrect link on a database somewhere?
Have you complained in writing to the DCA? I'm not too sure there is much more that you can do. They are not looking for you. Hopefully it will die a death soon.
df

swoosh597

Hi,

Yes I've complained in writing to the DCA, I received a letter back written in riddles basically tapping me on the head and telling me to go away. Ha!

As it stands they have told me the credit bureaus linked my address which u have the reports to prove they didn't, they also tried the electoral roll but again I'm the only one on it. I don't want to believe it is address fraud, however someone is purposely using my address and I've waited since 2007 for it yo go away, however it culminated in July in the collection agents threatening a home visit within 72 hours.

I live on my own without most of my support network, it's not easy going home after a stressful day wondering if tonight when you get home you find the bailiffs outside. I don't think I should scuttle away, I think they should suffer for their inappropriate use and disregard of my personal data.

I'll have a look at the national hunter but it looks like I'm gonna have to go find a solicitor

ValHaller

A home visit from Debt Collectors is virtually meaningless. They are not bailiffs regardless of whether they say they are. And even if they are bailiffs, without a court order against YOU, they cannot take YOUR stuff. I suggest you write to them and invite them to visit so you can show them that this person does not live with you.

They will not visit.

arcon5

You've told them already - now just ignore them. If court paperwork comes through then advise the courts. If the DCA come round then tell them to f*off

Starsandstripes_2

When they say they they have been notified by credit reference agencies it means that the person in question has used that address to gain credit.

It has no affect on you personally, or your property, and were they to visit you can tell them the person doesn't live there and they can do no more. I don't think you will get very far if you are to take this legal as they have to rely on information given to them, so will use that as evidence

Your best hope is to ignore it, carry on with return to sender or dispose of it, but be assured it has no affect on your credit file.

swoosh597

Hi Stars and Stripes, the problem lies in that he doesn't know my address to take credit out against my address. I'm aware it has no reflection on my credit rating, I'm just fed up with their lies.

earthstorm

swoosh597 wrote: »

Hi Stars and Stripes, the problem lies in that he doesn't know my address to take credit out against my address. I'm aware it has no reflection on my credit rating, I'm just fed up with their lies.

If you are on the edited version of the electoral register then he could easily get you address from that and then use that to gain credit as otherwise how are you getting letters addressed to him

ValHaller

earthstorm wrote: »

If you are on the edited version of the electoral register then he could easily get you address from that and then use that to gain credit as otherwise how are you getting letters addressed to him

Easy. Credit Referencing Agency has established a financial link between OP and the debtor at the old address, tracked OP to the current address and sent letters off the back of a spurious financial association.

MothballsWallet

dancingfairy wrote: »

So someone you used to live with has had a credit issue and you are getting letters addressed to them but at your new address (where they don't live)? Is this correct?
Have you checked all 3 credit reference agencies - Experian, Call Credit and Equifax? I believe there is also some sort of searchable register called National Hunter but I don't know much about that.

National Hunter is more associated with checking mortgage applications for lenders - they're quite happy to be in the shadows and for the general public to know little to nothing about them.