Debt collector chasing me from old house ???

buckster

I am not entirely sure my title above is correct to be honest but I have a bad feeling about something.

Around 3 or 4 months ago I kept getting calls from a Pakistani/Indian sounding man telling me he was from British Gas and he wanted me to go through security checks with him. I kept telling him to take a long walk off a short pier as I wouldn't dream of giving any security details to someone that phones me and asks me to confirm who I am. I told him that he was obviously a scammer and he told me I can ring British Gas back and get put through to him, I didn't bother because of all of the well known (stay on the line scams)

On one particular day I got a call from him and I thought I would just go along with it and see what details he wants me to divulge for a laugh. He asked me to complete my postcode if he gave me the first 4 digits, I told him that I would do this one thing but I will not give him any more info. I told him my postcode and he told me that it was incorrect. I said it is correct and he went on to tell me the full postcode that he has on file, the postcode he told me was from a property I sold over 10 years ago! I told him that I now know he is a scammer because he has old records for me and if it was the real British Gas, they would know we sold that property 10 years ago. I then hung up and blocked his number as I knew it was a scam.

Today I had an answerphone message left on my home number telling me by name to call a number ASAP. The lady left a company name which I googled and found out that it is a debt collector. I have no debts at all, I have no mortgage and no bank loans etc so I thought this is another wind up scam call. After sitting in the bath for the last half hour, stewing on it, I have had a horrible thought. What if the original British Gas caller was genuinely British Gas and they are chasing me for 10 years of gas bills from my last house or has someone else that lives there now used my name and old letters to open a British Gas account there in my name. When we sold the house we did cancel the Gas and electric and phone etc and we cancelled all direct debits but it is worrying me that this is a genuine debt collector.

I haven't been able to call the debt collector as they were shut when I got the message but I don't know if I should. I haven't had a letter from anyone regarding any unpaid bills but if someone is using my ID, the letters would be going to the address from 10 years ago wouldn't they.

I can't imagine it is an unpaid bill from 10 years ago because we paid all bills and they wouldn't chase it after 10 years anyway so it makes me think that someone has opened a Gas account in my name.

If I do call them I am not going to give them my current address because I know whatever they are chasing is nothing to do with me and I can't be bothered with the stress.

Should I call them? If they say I owe money for a bill that is nothing to do with me, how do I stop it? I do have proof that I sold the house 10 years ago.

If there are any experts or people that know a lot about debt in false names I would really like to get your advice.

princeofpounds

first people I would be calling would be British Gas, frankly.

The debt collector will write to you if required, little point discussing things over the phone. They have limited powers anyway (although they often pretend they have more).

I'm sure a few people with more specific knowledge will be along to help more. It may be there is a better subgroup for you (debt free wannabe?)

Hoploz

The British gas thing is probably a red herring. If British gas had a debt on file from 10 years earlier they would have handed it over to debt collectors years ago, so they themselves would not have been calling you. If you check your file (you can get a free trial from the credit reference companies) you will see whether a ccj exists on your file. That would tell you if there is a debt in your name, and who from.

If the debt company wants to get in touch and they have your number they will call back.

Try not to worry.

Running_Horse

Check on the debt board, but instinct says what on earth are you doing even talking to these people? Someone phones up asking if that is Mr R Horse, the first thing I ask before giving any information is "who wants to know?" Genuine callers will volunteer the information freely.

If there is a debt you may be acknowledging them by having dealings. Many debts can be written off after six years if you have never acknowledged it. If there is a debt then it is up to them to prove it or stop harassing you.

theartfullodger

buckster wrote: »

.... Today I had an answerphone message left on my home number telling me by name to call a number ASAP. The lady left a company name which I googled and found out that it is a debt collector. I have no debts at all, I have no mortgage and no bank loans etc so I thought this is another wind up scam call. ..

Errr... you have a debt: it may be incorrect but from what you say it sounds like there is a debt in your name: You need this sorted: Contact, then confirm IN WRITING (keep copies) both BG & the debt collector. Debt collectors appear to hire people who have no ability to be polite or considerate.

DO NOT LET THEM IN and keep doors & windows shut.

SeduLOUs

Running_Horse wrote: »

If there is a debt you may be acknowledging them by having dealings. Many debts can be written off after six years if you have never acknowledged it. If there is a debt then it is up to them to prove it or stop harassing you.

Just want to clarify that answering a call or discussing an account does not acknowledge a debt. To restart a statute barred clock the acknowledgement has to be in writing or in the form of a payment made.

If the debt was already statute barred, then it cannot become 'un' statute barred, even if you do then go on to acknowledge the original debt.

If it is a 10 year old unacknowledged debt then no real harm can come of finding out more info if genuinely concerned about a fraudulent account having been set up. The main issue OP may have is if a debt collector gets hold of current address/tel number (although they already have a number) as they may continue to bombard with calls and letters even if they have no way to enforce the alleged debt.

G_M

Options:

1) call British Gas and see if you have an outstanding account

2) check ALL your credit files. Experian, Equifax, and Callcredit. They will all send you postal records for £3.00
There are ways to get them free if you sign up to online free trial subscriptions and cancel within one month. See here.

3) do not discuss with strangers on the phone. Wait for letters. Most you should do is tell the caller on the phone to write to you with all the details for you to pass to your solicitor (no need to do this!). Do NOT give your address if they don't have it!

buckster

They can't turn up to my current house and take things can they? I havent had any letters so they can't have my address or they would have sent me something. I am very confident that it is not a debt I forgot to pay because when we sold the house we paid for 6 months of mail redirection to our new house in case we had forgotten to cancel any bills etc. all bills like Gas, electric etc were cancelled on the day of the house sale.

Regarding the credit check, I have not lived at that house for 10 years so would I have to put that old address into experian to check if I have a debt? If I do this, they will then be able to trace me.

I am actually starting to feel like a criminal myself now talking about 'keeping my address from the debt collectors'. I haven't even done anything wrong but I don't want them to start giving me grief at my home.

SeduLOUs

They won't trace you by you checking your history against two addresses.

If they had a valid reason to trace where you are then they can do this by other means and would have already done so.

It sounds to me like someone just trying it on. Check your files to make sure nothing untoward going on (also checking against old address in case there is an active account set up there) and if nothing showing, then just ignore and forget about it. As you say you redirected post for 6 months it's highly unlikely you genuinely missed anything from your old address.

buckster

Just done equifax and although it hasn't got that old address, it says my report is excellent and well over 500. I think I will ignore the phone calls and turn my answerphone off. I don't want to add that old address to my record in case someone has used my ID over the last few years to get a British Gas account there without me knowing. Should I add it and find out because my report is excellent at the moment ?

princeofpounds

Debt collectors are not bailiffs! Don't confuse them.