Westcot & lowell conern

MoneySavingAndy2014

In January I received a letter from Westcot referring to a non payment on a COMET account. I knew not of owing any money to them. The original letter had an account number and an amount owed from Santander Cards, which since has been moved on by Santander to a company called New Day.
I called Westcot to request the details of the account, which they initially refused to give me, then told me that they didn't know who the debt was being collected for. Obviously I told them to get stuffed.
On February 3rd another letter arrived, it had a signed direct debit agreement by myself and COMET, they said this was proof that the account was not settled?! I had used COMET services but settled any account before the promotion had ended. I called Westcot again, this time I had a payment reference that I had written down after paying off the COMET account. They were very pretty unwilling to listen to me but they took it eventually.
Since then I have had 2 letters stating that they would suspend the account while investigating the situation. It was the start of March since they last wrote to me.
Then, yesterday my Experian account had a credit search by Lowell Financial Portfolio 1. I was quite concerned so I googled them (to my horror as my credit rating is above 950) that they potentially could be black marking my credit profile.
I have received no communications (yet) from Lowell.
Is this COMET chancing to reclaim any money from before they went into administration?
or
Is it the case that Westcot have given up and sold the details on?

My Experian profile had 2 New Day 'settled' accounts listed. Surely I have proof that there is no default account?

What should I do next?

Thanks.

fermi

The search should not impact your credit file as debt collection searches are only seen by you. Any company you apply for credit with who does a search won't see them so it won't have an impact.

If you have proof you settled the accounts and there is nothing else bad put on your report as yet, then maybe sit and wait to see what happens?

If you are chased again, then make a formal complaint in writing and ask the FOS to write to them as well. http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumer/complaints.htm

GingerBob_3

MoneySavingAndy2014 wrote: »

Then, yesterday my Experian account had a credit search by Lowell Financial Portfolio...

Perhaps someone can explain regarding this point: it seems a credit file is an open book for anyone to dip into. What restrictions, if any, are there to prevent nosey, or disreputable, companies, perhaps with whom you have no dealings, accessing your so-called private fianancial details?

fermi

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/questions/askjames227.html

GingerBob_3

fermi wrote: »

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/questions/askjames227.html

From the Experian spin doctor:

If it isn’t your debt then the debt collection firm should certainly not be checking your credit report. ...

Implying that although they shouldn't, they can. So yes, a credit file is basically an open book.

MoneySavingAndy2014

GingerBob wrote: »

Perhaps someone can explain regarding this point: it seems a credit file is an open book for anyone to dip into. What restrictions, if any, are there to prevent nosey, or disreputable, companies, perhaps with whom you have no dealings, accessing your so-called private fianancial details?

Apparently you can email Experian stating that a company had made an unauthorised search of your credit and you can have any further searches blocked.
It's still not a very good situation that any company can ruin your hard earned credit score.

[Deleted User]

But your credit score is only a made up number that no one sees, so it doesn't really matter.

JamieW24

If they searched your file, they would be searching for a reason as they would need several details to get that far, not just your name.

In my opinion, a call to them would not hurt you. If you manage to catch something before they send you a letter or add anything negative to your credit report, then it can only help I think.

Gordon_Hose

Here comes the tin foil hat brigade. Where's a4a? The loon.

GingerBob_3

MoneySavingAndy2014 wrote: »

Apparently you can email Experian stating that a company had made an unauthorised search of your credit and you can have any further searches blocked.
It's still not a very good situation that any company can ruin your hard earned credit score.

Again, "unauthorised search", implying anyone can do this. Experian, and others of their ilk, can only act after the event. It seems they don't, or can't, check that someone grubbing around in your financial data has your agreement to do so.

Of course another problem is that, despite those laughable Experian adverts on the TV, most people know nothing of credit reference agencies and what they are about.

MoneySavingAndy2014

Am I correct in assuming that Westcot will have sold this 'account' to Lowell now?