Impact of erroneous direct debit

tr7phil

Yesterday I received a letter from Virgin Media confirming that a direct debit had been set up, it was correctly addressed to me but I don't and have never had an account with Virgin Media. I rang them on the number in the letter having confirmed it actually was Virgin Media (I was half expecting it to be a scam of some sort) but they were very unhelpful, I found out that "my" account number was the direct debit reference but they couldn't do anything as I couldn't tell them the password on the account! They didn't seem fussed that it was a potential fraud and kept hanging up on me (I tried 3 times).


After that I did a search of the bank account details online and discovered it was a Nationwide account, I only have a passbook savings account with them and it is not my account details. I rang their fraud department and they did take it seriously, they are going to contact the person whose account it is and sort it out.


Obviously I am not in any financial danger but I did wonder if there is a potential for issues with my credit file since this account with Virgin Media is in my name and the direct debits might fail, also the letter says there is a credit facility of £100. I'm worried that somebody might run up a debt in my name.


Any suggestions?

[Deleted User]

Check your three files and if there is anything there, tell them to remove it.

Uberior

Guaranteed next day deliver letter to Virgin Media advising that an account has been fraudulently set up in your name.


Lots of other little things you can do, but this will help protect you from inappropriate behaviours by Virgin Media.

PRAISETHESUN

You can cancel the direct debit instruction with your bank so it will be unable to debit any money, just make sure to cancel the correct mandate if you have a legitimate service with Virgin. Then, it would be highly recommended to check your credit files as mentioned above (from all three CRAs).

jimbo26

Good luck dealing with Virgin Media. I have never come across a more incompetent bunch of morons. Do not call them, you will only go through to a foreign call centre with someone going through a script.

tr7phil

Thanks for all the suggestions, Nationwide got back to me and told me that the person whose bank account it was knew nothing about it either so definitely a fraud rather than an error.


jimbo26, you're right about their call centre - useless. After I heard back from Nationwide I called Virgin again and they told me that the account had been closed, so I shouldn't think I'll have any problems.


I checked my credit file via this website (I'd never looked before) and there was nothing showing on there so all good I would imagine.

[Deleted User]

Check it again in a month or so's time