Vanquis/Lowell debt letter - possible fraud/scam

les_jordan

My parents called me yesterday saying that they had received a letter for me that they thought I should know about. It is extremely rare for me to get any mail sent to my parents’ address these days as I have not lived there since around 2006. At first they assumed it was junk mail but when they opened it found it to be from a bank asking me to clear an existing debt.



My first thought was that it must be a scam as I have no debt that I am aware of (apart from my student loan and a legitimate credit card which I pay off monthly) and I have not had any correspondence registered at my parents’ address since I left home. I have moved house several times (5 or 6 addresses) since 2006 and I have always taken all my “business” with me (banks, utilities, HMRC etc). However, my parents seemed very concerned so I asked them to send me pictures of the letters.



Having looked at the letters, I have to say that they strike me as being real and not scam letters – all of the addresses and numbers etc check out and it just doesn’t “feel” fake. It is a letter from Vanquis Bank saying that my debt has been sold to Lowell Portfolio Ltd. The debt is for £337.20. However, I am certain that I have never had any kind of account with Vanquis and that this is not my debt. What’s more this is the first time my parents have received any letter like this (it’s not like there is a big pile of statements from Vanquis that have been ignored).


There’s actually two letters (in one envelope):


The first is dated 12th Feb and is from Vanquis. There is an account number (that means nothing to me), an account type (literally just “Vanquis”), a new reference number, and then the letter says that on 26/01/2016 the account was sold to Lowell and that I should contact them in future, giving me an address and telephone no (PS BOX 1411, NORTHAMPTON, NN2 1BQ, 0333 556 5700).


The second letter is from Lowell, also dated 12th Feb, saying they now own the account sold to them from Vanquis, and they give lots of payment options and contact details that match the above. The “ways to pay” seem fairly legitimate and the letter points you towards places like Citizen Advice Bureau if you are having difficulty paying etc.


As far as I can see, there are two likely scenarios here. Either this is a bogus attempt from someone to get me to pay out for a debt that doesn’t exist. Or it’s a legitimate attempt to recover a genuine debt that isn’t mine (i.e. some kind of I.D. theft). My first reaction was the former, but now I am worried it could be the latter. Searching around on-line, there are stories of both – people have been hit with letters for debts they know nothing about, but also people have been chased for real debts. Either way, both Vanquis and Lowell have fairly bad reputations and seem a bit amateurish.



I would really appreciate any advice here. Part of me thinks it would be best to just ignore it. The fact that no letters have been sent before this one strikes me as a bit odd. Also, the letter provides no details of the type of account, how the £337.20 is accounted for, or when it comes from. I would like to think that it wouldn’t be possible to set up an account using somebody else’s name and address and be able to withdraw credit (without the stolen identity knowing), but maybe it is. Another option would be to do something about it, which would involve revealing that they have successfully contacted the person they are hoping to get. It just so happens that this is my parents’ address – had this just been a previous address from 10 years ago, I would never have known about it. The last thing I want to do is actually contact Vanquis or Lowell as I don’t want really want them to know that they have reached me or put myself in a situation where they can hassle me further. That having been said, if I can clear something up that might come back to haunt me, I would rather do so. My worry about ignoring it is that it might actually affect my credit rating (which they obviously threat in the letter). Is this possible?


All advice welcome.


Carl

grumbler

Start with checking your credit files.

How common is your name?

Debt collectors are notorious for sending 'fishing' letters to random people remotely similar to the person they try to track.

Ben8282

At this stage, DO NOT contact Lowells either by phone or in writing. Ignore the letter totally.
Do not worry or loose sleep over this. There is nothing that I can immediately think of that Lowells could do at this stage to affect your credit rating.
Next do as grumbler suggests and check your credit files.
Is there anything there relating to this account?
If no, then this will indicate one of three possibilities. 1. The account never existed or is somebody else's account. 2. The account existed but was settled and closed more than 6 years ago. 3. The debt existed and the account existed but was defaulted more than 6 years ago and the default has dropped off. (There is another possibility that the account existed but was not being reported to credit reference agencies but somehow I can't see this as being a realistic possibility with an alleged Vanquis credit card debt).
In possibilities 1 and 2 you obviously have no problem. In possibility 3 the debt is almost certainly statute barred so again you have no problem. Continue to ignore letters and do not respond.
If a default is showing in your credit reports, then you will have to consider how to proceed, contacting Lowells and paying it not necessarily being the best course of action.

les_jordan

Thank you both for your replies. Sorry to show my ignorance here but how exactly do I check my credit files? Am I right in thinking I have to apply for a credit report somewhere?

I'm certainly not about to contact Lowell about this. I wouldn't dream of paying a penny unless I thought this was my debt (I have no problem paying what I owe).

grumbler

• Credit Report Tricks How to check your credit score and get paid

Anthorn

Personally, I do not in any way endorse any advice to avoid repayment of debts.

My experience and that of my neighbours in a small block of flats is relevant here. Every householder got the same letter from a debt collector. They were obviously fishing letters in which they got the addresses completely wrong.

Lastly be extremely careful to ascertain that the default date of the debt in question is in fact over six years old and is therfore statute barred. If it isn't ignoring it will be the quickest route to the county court.

gunsandbanjos

My main concern would be identity theft, definitely check your credit report as mentioned above.