A slight concern...

Morglin

I would really appreciate a bit of advice here.

Background:

My dad is 86, ok in health, and as he is on his own, we help him budget by having set up all of his bills on DD, he draws out cash every Friday for his shopping, spending money etc., and I have Power if Attorney, but haven't needed to use it (we did it, as a precaution, after my mum got Alzheimer's), and realising the problems with no one having it. He has lived at his current address for 50 years.

He gives all letters to us, to deal with.

He cannot use a PC, and owes no one anything. He had an HSBC credit card years ago, but that was cancelled about 8 years ago, as he never used it. He now just uses a debit card to draw out his cash.

Anyway, today when I got to him, he had received a letter from BOS credit cards, addressed to a foreign person, but his address, thanking him for taking out a credit card, hoping he's enjoying the benefits of it, and telling him how he could pay by DD. The envelope hid the name, do Dad opened it, thinking it was for him.

I phoned them (took me ages to get through, as I didn't have the full number of this CC,) but finally got through menus and queues, and spoke to a person.

I told her that he had never applied for a card, had not received a card, or a PIN, and it wasn't his name anyway, and could she put me through to whatever department I needed.

She said cards were often collected from branches of BOS, and that the address and card must be in the system, for it to send out letters, but without the full number she couldn't see.

I reiterated that it wasn't Dad who had applied for their credit card, and she said "oh well, just shred the letter then' I said that seemed a bit casual, and I was concerned about some sort of scam, so can I write in to someone?

She said, no need, a waste of time to write in, just shred the letter and forget it, as it's not in Dads name, there's no problem.

She may be right, but I still feel wary, and just wonder if I should actually be putting this in writing somewhere, despite her telling me it would be a waste of time?

Sorry, I know this is trivial, but I would just like someone to advise what the best course of action is?

Cheers, guys

Lin

FireWyrm

Yes, you should be putting it in writing. It is your fathers' address that will be hassled when they dont get payment. If he is slightly vulnerable, he will be frightened and unsure by the high pressure bullying tactics that the debt collectors will employ. Clearly, his address has been used fraudulently and you want them to do something about it. I would also demand a letter of acknowledgement of them stating that they agree this is fraud, their customer does not live at his address and a clear undertaking to remove his address from their database.

In the meantime, buy him a shredder. I'm not saying that he is to blame for the misuse of the address, but better shred paperwork anyway to be sure.

Morglin

Thanks for that - he does shred everything, but he was cold called, endlessly, about a year ago, by charities (he gave to one and it snowballed) and people trying to sell stuff.

I don't know what info he gas given them (although he does have more sense than to give bank details!)

I will write to them now.

Cheers again.

Lin

eddddy

Hi Lin

It probably makes sense to put it in writing.

But don't be misled by the BOS person's manner. They probably found the details from the address, stopped the card, and flagged it up for the fraud team.

They wont give you any hint of what they're doing, just in case you're the fraudster. (E.g. you or your Dad applied for the card in a false name, and now you are phoning to pretend you didn't.)


By coincidence, BOS once sent a letter to a name I didn't know at my address saying "Thank you for opening an account online". When I phoned, they appeared unconcerned and just thanked me for letting them know. I never heard any more about it.

Morglin

She didn't ask me for any details - nothing. I offered what I had, she just said, waste of time, just shred the letter.

That is what worried me.

Lin

giblet10

Try not to worry and to be sure, do write to them. Their response does sound a bit soft.

It could just be bank error.

Morglin

Thanks, yes, I have written them a letter, and attached their letter, so they can amend their records, and get Dad's address off of their database.


Lin

Morglin

Hi,

I did send back the letter, sent it RD, and confirmed with them they had received it.

I got to Dads today, and there were 3 letters from them, all in today's post - one containing a credit card (£7500 limit), one containing a PIN, and one containing an access code and other details to activate this card online. :eek:

DH phoned them, took 20 minutes to get a person, they refused to put DH through to lost/stolen/fraud dept and they were completely disinterested, they first of all suggested we find a local branch of BOS, take it all in there and explain it to them (er, no, I don't think I am going to run around everywhere!), then just suggested we put the card, PIN, and access codes into one envelope and post it back to them......:doh:

No, I don't think so, as my security procedures are not about doing that. However, I did say I would cut the card, not send the PIN, and return their access code.

To put 3 letters etc., into one envelope struck me as pretty slapdash. :mad:

They, again, said they wouldn't take the details as we weren't the "official cardholders".......:wall:

They said, well perhaps he has lived there (nope, Dad has lived there for many years, not this bloke lol), and said that the applicant must have given that address (well, ok, but it's not the right address).....:wall:

They further alarmed me by saying that if he (whose name is on the letters) phoned about where his card is, he could pick it up at a branch, completely missing the point, that they either have a mistaken address or a scam......:wall:

To be honest, I am fed up with this, as it will be two long phone calls, two postage costs, having to be weighed at the PO (as the letters are over the normal size, due to enclosing their bumph) and the time!

Is there anything else I should be doing?

Dealing with BOS is like being on a parallel universe.....:whistle:

Cheers guys

Lin

triple_choc_chip

Well, one thing you shouldn't be doing is paying any postage!

Just put it in a post box and the bank will have to pay the postage and a fine at their end.