How to complain about Lending Stream / Portfolio Recovery debt fraud

foomanchu

Back in 2010 I received a letter from Lending Stream about a debt in my name. I’ve never dealt with them & it wasn’t mine so I wrote to them, got a police crime number, they acknowledged the loan was fraudulent & I thought that was the end of it. Now it 2014 I receive a letter with the same reference, saying they have passed my details to Portfolio Recovery – possibly part of the same company – who are now going to pursue me.


I’m angry that I’ve got to deal with this incompetent company again, they may even be the ones perpetrating a fraud, where is the best place authority to complain to?

DCFC79

Well write to them stating the crime ref number and that you wrote to them in the past and thoguht the matter was sorted. If its not sorted within 8 weeks go to the FOS. When I say got to the FOS, I mean fill the form in and email it to the FOS (just google it ).

fermi

Yes the FOS if not resolved is probably best.

You can also complain to the OFT and trading standards, but they will not act specifically on an individual complaint. However, if they are building up a file on these people's practices then every complaint helps that and eventually may result in action, so if you really feel bothered enough you may want to do that.

holly_t

Please help!!

A similar thing has just happened to me, I paid off a debt months ago (I know I did, I keep records of everything) and I've just been contacted by the company I owed the money to telling me it had been passed on to portfolio recovery.

I called them and to pass security gave my address details. I have only EVER lived at 2 addresses so when one postcode failed I have the other, and that also failed. Which is bizarre considering I used to talk to these people weekly. They said as I didn't pass security they couldn't talk more. I was furious.

I called Portfolio Recovery and the exact same thing happened. No record of my postcode, mobile number or email address so I didn't pass security. I'm beyond angry that this debt is in my name still when i've paid it off, and no one will discuss with me.

Did you get to the bottom of this? If so, how?

Thanks

stevemLS

fermi wrote: »

Yes the FOS if not resolved is probably best.

You can also complain to the OFT and trading standards, but they will not act specifically on an individual complaint. However, if they are building up a file on these people's practices then every complaint helps that and eventually may result in action, so if you really feel bothered enough you may want to do that.

The OFT was abolished on 1st April - it's role so far as consumer finance is concerned was transferred to the Financial Conduct Authority.

fermi

stevemLS wrote: »

The OFT was abolished on 1st April - it's role so far as consumer finance is concerned was transferred to the Financial Conduct Authority.

Yes. I'm aware of that. Thanks

At the time of posting (Feb) the responsibility still rested with the OFT.

stevemLS

Beg your pardon Fermi, hadn't looked at posting dates.

Waggy1971

I got a letter this weekend from a debt collection agency reference a debt of over £7000 from Barclaycard masterloan.

I left the UK for 11 years (1999) and only returned 3 years ago.

I called the company (Portfolio recovery associates) and after finally asking them over and over they said the debt was from 1998 and that they took the debt from another company and that they have written before.

I no longer live at the address they sent it to (my parents house) and they always forward mail on and I have never received anything before. I have worked hard the last few years to be completely debt free. I have no debt whatsoever and managed to get a mortgage recently.

They gave me a number to report as possible fraud which I did, however after 16 years I honestly cannot remember any debts I may have inadvertantly left when I moved countries.

I have read a few threads here about the 6 year rule... as this letter is the first I have received and it is now 16 years later... if I do find out that the debt is mine am I protected under the 6 year rule??

Any and all advice/help given would be most appreciated as I really don't need this now that I have finally got my finances sorted

Thanks

eyeopener2

You might want to start your own thread but, the short answer is its statute barred. They really are scraping the barrel chasing debts from 1998.

Start your own thread though, you will get lots of advice and its easier to track.