Received strange DEBT collecting letter with Natwest logo and stating WESTCOT CREDIT SERVICES

debtcollecting

Guys, my parents, both of them have received 2 individual letters this morning from a paper with the heading of Natwest logo.

It's asking in 1 letter for 11K

And in another letter for 3.5K

Under their individual names. It says they have been trying to contact us (which they have not) and now the account details have been passed to Wescot Credit Services Ltd to act as collection agent.

It says Westcot will contact us during the next 14 days to discuss repayment options. It also writes a phone number you can contact Westcot on.

It's signed by someone called J GLOVER / MANAGER ...

First thing, the logo and the position of the stamps on this so called Natwest letter looks suspect.

Secondly, my parents have never had a Natwest account or Credit Card ... ever.

The letter that came, came in a white envelope. No logo, no text, nothing.

My Dad rang up the Westcot number to say what this letter is about, the lady said she has all my Dad's details just for security purposes needs my Dads DOB before she can look into this. My Dad refused to give it.

Anyone can give any advice on this? Is this a scam? How do we know what this letter is about? As mentioned none of my parents have had credit cars or accounts with Natwest. We plan to go into Natwest tomorrow to show them this letter, a branch near our home.

debtcollecting

I have a suspicion about something but I don't see how this has come under my parents name.

My sister with a different name but same surname lived at our address she had debt problems. I asked her if she had a Natwest account, she said yes. She lives abroad for the last 2 years.

I've asked her to look into this.

However as mentioned I don't see how this has got my Mum and Dads name, both who are retired, and 2 individual letters have come to both of them asking them for the stated amounts.

sourcrates

Hi,

Wescot are a well known debt collection agency who manage debts on behalf of the major banks.

You should not phone these people, if you do not recognise the debts in question, then send them the provit letter.

This asks them to provide evidence of liability, which they must send you when asked to do so :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter

debtcollecting

Thanks so much

My Dad rang them and they asked my Dad for his DOB - he refused to give it. If they are genuine then as they have named my Dad that should have his personal information like DOB so, it's strange Westcot on phone asked my Dad for DOB. I've told my parents not to reply to them.

worried_jim

debtcollecting wrote: »

Thanks so much

My Dad rang them and they asked my Dad for his DOB - he refused to give it. If they are genuine then as they have named my Dad that should have his personal information like DOB so, it's strange Westcot on phone asked my Dad for DOB. I've told my parents not to reply to them.

It's so they can confirm they are talking to the right person, rather than some oik who has opened their mail. Standard procedure.

sourcrates

debtcollecting wrote: »

Thanks so much

My Dad rang them and they asked my Dad for his DOB - he refused to give it. If they are genuine then as they have named my Dad that should have his personal information like DOB so, it's strange Westcot on phone asked my Dad for DOB. I've told my parents not to reply to them.

It’s standard practice for data protection purposes.

Any time you call a business to discuss matters of a personal nature, you must pass security first, otherwise how do you determine a persons identity on the phone ?

That’s why is best to keep everything in writing only.

fatbelly

I would not give Wescot any information they do not already have.

I agree with sourcrates - send the prove-it.

FCA guidance comes into play here:

"A firm must not ignore or disregard a customer's claim that a debt has been settled or is disputed and must not continue to make demands for payment without providing clear justification and/or evidence as to why the customer's claim is not valid." 7.5.3

"A firm must suspend any steps it takes or its agent takes in the recovery of a debt from a customer where the customer disputes the debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds." 7.14.1

"Where a customer disputes a debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds, the firm must investigate the dispute and provide details of the debt to the customer in a timely manner." 7.14.3

"Where there is a dispute as to the identity of the borrower or hirer or as to the amount of the debt, it is for the firm (and not the customer) to establish, as the case may be, that the customer is the correct person in relation to the debt or that the amount is the correct amount owed under the agreement." 7.14.4

debtcollecting

Hey guys, so today my parents went to Natwest. Showed the letter.

They got told by the clerk to go in a room and phone the fraud department and the card security department. They said they would investigate it all to confirm whats going on but there and then they didn't say anything to my parents like it is fraud etc

So my parents went in a room, trying to reach this security team sitting there for 30 mins - no one picks up from this so called Natwest security card team

Then the lady comes in and says she will take the letter and send it into them herself...

And that was really the end of the story but now my parents have to wait to hear back which is off. So it wasn't resolved by going into Natwest.

Anyone have any tips what to do next with this madness?

Just_Di

Have your parents kept a copy of the letter which they each received?

Di

debtcollecting

Yes we kept copies. What do you advise in this case?

sourcrates

Debts are sold/and/or managed in large portfolios, staff at branch level will have no more clue than you do about this, these decisions get taken whey higher up.


If the phone numbers and contact details tally with whats on the wescot website, then it is genuine, although its not unknown for details to become blurred.


You mentioned before you may know what this is all about, can you elaborate on that at all ?