Credit Agreements

Goatee

I'm helping a relative sort out their poor credit rating.
Essentially he has been seperated from his wife for some time, went to apply for finance and found he had a poor credit rating due to overdue online shopping accounts that were in his name. The accounts were opened when he was still with his wife but he had no knowledge of them
We have been in contact with them to try and resolve the issue but my main question is does anyone know his legal liability if he hasn't actually signed anything?
Now they have his new address the overdue demand letters have started arriving and they all quote that he is in "breach of the agreement you made" but I do not see how that can be?

Tixy

Hi

With online shopping accounts you don't actually have to sign any paperwork anymore. Legally a tick in an online box is enough to say you agree to the terms & conditions.

In cases of fraud like this it can be difficult to convince the creditor that the person named is not the person who set up the accounts.
If his wife used his name and address and financial details and intercepted any post/parcels etc the lenders will likely not have any idea that this fraud has been committed or any way of knowing it has until he informs them.

Is he prepared to report his ex wife for the fraud?

happy_bunny_2

What accounts are they? Who with.

When taken out?

If he sends them a CCA request, that will say when and how taken out. E.g online

I would say in the request that he does not recognise the account and wants proof it's his.

Goatee

Hi and thanks for answers

There's Next & kalidascope and Isme, K&Co, Very (which are all part of one group - Home Shopping)

He is prepared to accuse her of fraud and in fact we are dealing with the fraud department for one of the companies

I always thought you could open an account online but a hard copy credit agreement would follow in the post for you to sign? I was hoping to ask for a copy of these to check signatures as it is always possible she pushed a copy under his nose and he signed it without even remembering it, in which event we obviously have no case and he has to pay up

I also hope the fact that purchases were being made on the accounts up to 6 months after he was thrown out will go in his favour

So far we're dealing quite amicably with the companies to try and sort this out but I would like to know if it comes to the crunch and after exploing all avenues they say he has to pay up are there legal grounds to refuse AND have his credit rating restored?