Being chased for a debt that isn't mine

SkyCube

Hello everyone

I'm looking for some advice regarding a letter I've received from 'Debt Managers (Services) Ltd' claiming they purchased a debt of £149.50 owed to Next Directory. No further info or dates, just the amount, creditor (Next) and reference numbers. This letter follows on from one I received a week ago, asking if I was the person they were looking for, but offering no info whatsoever. Assuming it was just a fishing trip, I ignored it.

Thing is, I'm quite certain I've never had an account with Next, ever. I've never bought anything from their website or catalogue, I don't even think I've ever stepped foot in one of their physical shops for that matter (except perhaps dragged in as a child). I don't buy clothes online, and even if I did I'd have payed immediately via debit card, just like all my other online purchases. In short, this is a load of nonsense.

It's got me pretty scared though. Aside from student loans, I have no debt so I'm not used to dealing with this sort of thing at all, and I'm really unsure of what to do about it. Have they got the wrong person outright, or could it be identify theft?

My instinct is to call the Debt Collectors and try to sort it all out, but I know that's a rather bad idea and they'll likely just try to trick me into acknowledging the debt, so I'm not doing that. Is this the time to send a "prove it" letter? and if so what template should I use, I've seen several online but of various ages and I don't want to use something out of date.

I'm pretty frightened because I've no idea how far this could go. What if this is actually owed by someone with the same name or DoB as me (unlikely, but possible I suppose), will that be enough for them to "prove" I owe them? Likewise if it's Identity theft, I don't even know how to start dealing with that. Obviously, I'm not about to pay money I don't owe, but I'm paranoid about ending up in court, dealing with collection agents or having this ruin my credit rating and coming back to haunt me.

Any advice or reassurance you guy could give me would be very much appreciated as I'm really not sure how to get rid of this. Thanks in advance!

molerat

"Prove it" letter
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247

Don't phone them, keep it in writing. They will then only have your address.

sourcrates

It's what they term a "fishing exercise".

Sometimes debts are sold on with very little information, maybe a name, amount, partial address etc.

Debt collectors attempt to solve this "problem" by targeting everyone with similar details in a specific area, hoping for a hit.

The provit letter is the correct response as advised above.

Never, ever speak on the phone to them, do everything in writing.

StokieBecks

Check your credit files too with the three main providers and see if anything shows on there. Noddle and Clearscore are free and you can order a £2 statuory report fron Experian. I say check all three as different companies report to different ones. Some will report to all some to just one so whilst something may not appear on one it doesn't mean it isn't on another

SkyCube

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll send off the Prove it letter asap

SkyCube

Hi folks, just an update.

I sent off the prove-it letter based on the template as recommended, however I've now received a reply stating the following:

"We are in receipt of your recent letter and note your comments. However due to data protection please confirm your connection to Birch Close so we can discuss this further with you?"

Needless to say I have no connection to any Birch Close, and never have done.

How should I respond to this? Do I just write back stating I have no connection, or would that be a mistake?

rizla_king

dear scumbags, I have never had any connection with the address you mention or a similar one. if you continue to contact me I shall report you to the FCA and consider taking legal action for harassment

sourcrates

SkyCube wrote: »

How should I respond to this? Do I just write back stating I have no connection, or would that be a mistake?

So i was correct in thinking it was a fishing trip then.

Write back, with a slightly toned down version of what Riz has put, something like :


Dear Sirs,

Re : your recent letter.

For the avoidance of doubt, I have no connection with the address you mention, and have never lived there, nor am I the named debtor.

I am obviously not the person you are looking for.

Please do not contact me again regarding this matter.

If you do, i will deem your actions to be harassment, this will result in a written complaint to your compliance dept, which will then be forwarded to the financial ombudsman service.

On top of any recompense they may award, you are no doubt aware that it will cost your company your £550.00 referral fee to the FOS as well, for a debt of £149,00.

I trust i will not hear from you again.

SkyCube

Thanks guys, I'll do that

zippygeorgeandben

sourcrates - simply a credit to the DFW board.