Incorrect default registered - advice? (Lowell)

de_g.

Hi all

Some advice would be very much appreciated!

I've a default registered on my Noddle Credit report with (which I assume is also there on others - haven't yet paid for the statutory ones from Experian and Equifax). However, I have never defaulted on any credit agreement, nor have I ever had any mail order accounts on which to default. The date of birth on the file is incorrect (none of day, month or year of birth are correct), and the date of the account opening is more than a year after I left the address. I've never had any contact with Lowell about the debt which was apparently defaulted in May 2008.

How am I best to approach this? I don't really want to get into a dialogue with Lowell, but just to make it very clear to them that this debt has nothing to do with me and that it needs to be removed as soon as possible. However, we're hoping to buy a new house later in the year and as such I don't want a fraudulent default to affect any mortgage application.

Options would seem to be:
1) Send them a modified 'prove it' letter, and be prepared to enter into dialogue. This is possibly difficult as the report doesn't have the full reference number.

2a) Send them a letter instructing them to remove it, giving a reasonable time to do so with a vague threat of further action if they fail to action and acknowledge within a reasonable period.

2b) As 2a, but report via Action Fraud and include Crime Reference number.

3) Ignore it until May when it will be 6 years since Lowell defaulted it, then get in touch and point out the above and that it is over 6 years old in any case.

4) Just contact the CRAs and point out the error and ask them to put on a notice of correction and not bother with Lowell at all

If I were to follow option 1), is it worth also reporting to Action Fraud and including the Crime Ref, or do I wait until I've had the 'prove it' information back?

Thanks in advance!

CherlokHomes

Why don't you actually contact littlewoods and see what they say?

de_g.

I didn't realise it was Littlewoods! I've certainly never had an account with them, and they've nothing registered on my report.

fermi

Don't know where that came from. Lowell are NOT Littlewoods. They often collect debts from there, but the same can be said for many other mail order companies, so could originate from almost anywhere.

ALIBOBSY

Whatever you decide to do DO NOT RING LOWELL. Debt collectors will lie and threaten to try to get their money out of anyone. Frankly they don't care who you are or what your personal circs are or even if you owe the money or not.

I would start off by getting all your reports to find out if this is on all of them. Then I would raise it with the CRA's as its them that are holding incorrect information. But do any complaints in writing.

Otherwise it may just be as easy to ignore-especially if it only appears with one agency, just keep an eye out that it does drop off in May as lowell have been known to "amend" default dates ie, lie and break the law to get accounts to reappear on reports.

Just prior to doing any credit/mortgage applications it will be worth checking your files again just in case.

TBH I think I would chase it with the CRA's as it may be someone used your name fraudulently at your old address or just a simply error that they can fix straight away.

Good Luck
Ali x

de_g.

Ali - Thanks. I've picked up enough from reading on here not to contact any DRA by phone!

To be honest, contacting the CRAs seems the easiest thing to do, as it seems from the ICO guidance that if I challenge the accuracy then they should query it with the lender/DRA and suppress the information if the DRA cannot substantiate within a reasonable timeframe.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3172602

CherlokHomes

fermi wrote: »

Don't know where that came from. Lowell are NOT Littlewoods. They often collect debts from there, but the same can be said for many other mail order companies, so could originate from almost anywhere.

We know that Lowell is not Littlewoods but the OP's post here suggest Lowell's bought the debt.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4424537

de_g.

CherlokHomes wrote: »

We know that Lowell is not Littlewoods but the OP's post here suggest Lowell's bought the debt.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4424537

Ah indeed - it was actually on my wife's behalf. But the rest is correct, and she has never had an account with Littlewoods or any other mail order company. Decided to leave it last year, which is why I'm asking the question again!

Mokka

If I were you I would be worried about identity theft. How can you be sure it won't happen again? On the other hand having 'victim of impersonation' on your file isn't too good.
Having notice of correction isn't too good either.

fuzzgun19

Is it possible that someone who moved to your old address after you, opened a fraudulent account in your wifes name? A name could have been obtained from un-redirected mail, may explain a wrong DOB.

CherlokHomes

fuzzgun19 wrote: »

Is it possible that someone who moved to your old address after you, opened a fraudulent account in your wifes name? A name could have been obtained from un-redirected mail, may explain a wrong DOB.

I would say the chances of this are very slim indeed.

At a guess I'm going for the OP's missis did take out credit and didn't tell the OP.