Westcot & lowell conern

Gordon_Hose

GingerBob wrote: »

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.

Why would companies waste their time just randomly searching peoples credit files?

GingerBob_3

MoneySavingAndy2014 wrote: »

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

Seems like that's what's happened. Comet don't now exist, but their debts still do, owned now by the likes of Lowell - whoever they might be!

The worst aspect of this sort of thing is the time and energy you have to invest it in it, through no fault of your own. If you are certain you have no liability to these scroungers one wonders if the best approach might be to ignore it. Let them take you to court and prove their case. Only CCJs against you should put a black on a credit file. But then again, in the murky world of CRAs it seems just about anything goes.

ALIBOBSY

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

Why would companies waste their time just randomly searching peoples credit files?

If they are searching for someone on an old debt they have bought they often search for the name/simular names and will send a batch of letters "fishing" for the correct debtor. They have been told off about this by the ombudsman, but it still goes on.

You are talking about people who work in a very grey area and are happy to flout the law and directly lie to alleged debtors over the phone.

The credit reference agencies and the debt collectors are in effect "in bed" with each other-One of the CRA was/still is owned by one of the larger debt collectors.

As I understand it the debt collectors have direct computer links to the credit files (like the banks) and there are NO checks on what info is accessed.

Basically a bunch of cowboys, the lot of them.

But for the OP's POV the thing to watch for is if a proper default entry appears for the alleged debt. I suspect if the original debt collector thought they could insert a default they would have done already. Wescot will have marked this debt uncollectable and sold it on cheap, probably on a big list of debts.

Firstly never call them, they lie and threaten over the phone and aren't interested in if the debt is correct or not, they simply want cash from anyone.

I would sit tight, hold onto your proof and keep an eye on your credit file. The direct debit form proves absolutely nothing and they know that.

Ali x

Gordon_Hose

So they're actually looking for someone, they aren't randomly searching peoples credit files to steal all your infos.

ALIBOBSY

BTW from what you say OP I assume this was one of those offers where there is an interest free period and if you settle before a certain date thats it. BUT if you don't it rolls over onto a direct debit and interest is added.

The direct debit is filled in and signed at the start so they have it in case, so it means nothing. I suspect you paid close to the end date and someone cocked up putting it on the system. This may well have incorrectly added interest and then this incorrect "debt" has been sold on with a load of others when comet went to the wall.

If they keep pushing this I would ask for more proof, ie signed credit agreement and statements. I suspect if they had any more proof they would have sent it when you asked.

Ali x

ALIBOBSY

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

So they're actually looking for someone, they aren't randomly searching peoples credit files to steal all your infos.

They shouldn't look at ANYONE's file unless they KNOW that person owes the debt and there are no controls to stop them trolling through any files they fancy. They are scum and no better than loan sharks.

Ali x

Gordon_Hose

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

They shouldn't look at ANYONE's file unless they KNOW that person owes the debt and there are no controls to stop them trolling through any files they fancy. They are scum and no better than loan sharks.

Ali x

As pointed out, they would need more than just a name to search.

GingerBob_3

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

As pointed out, they would need more than just a name to search.

Do you have a source to verify this? I suspect they can carry out fuzzy searches if they want.

A bit of a generalisation here, but people should assume that everything on credit files is available to just about any organisation that cares to look. Of course there are certain, ill-defined 'restrictions', which can be ignored by the likes of debt collectors, but it's safer to assume that everything is visible.

BillJones

GingerBob wrote: »

It seems they don't, or can't, check that someone grubbing around in your financial data has your agreement to do so.

Well yes, the system wouldn't be much good if people had to give their permission for checks to be done.

The whole point of a credit file is that it exists to allow people to check your financial activity.

rizla_king

Debt collection search can be done on just name and date of birth and address as far as I remember.