Debt not mine

Hazelangel62658

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, if it isn't I'm sorry. Me and my cousin have the same name and date of birth, until I was 21 I lived my Aunt and cousin (I'm now 26). In the last few months my cousin has racked up a lot of debt. I've started getting a few letters and phone calls from debt collectors. I've tried explaining that it's my cousin and that we have the same name and date of birth. I've sent them copies of my previous addresses and my work details, so that they can see it isn't me, but now her debts are showing on my credit file. Please help as I don't know what else I can do.

System

You have the same first (middle?), last name and date of birth as someone who shares your address??

I mean that is remarkable. As that has probably never happened before I guess you are setting a precedent here and I think this will be quite the mess to clear up. I wouldn't even know where to start. sorry.

D_M_E

I know a family group in a similar situation - 2 boys born on same day and given same name, lived together for years then moved apart, still keep in touch but still getting each other's mail.

It's the credit reference agencies linking you together so you need to write to each of them and head your letter COMPLAINT and detail the fact that they are erroneously connecting you with your cousin and ask them to stop.

Could also be worth getting CIFAS protection for yourself as well.

dealer_wins

I blame the parents :rotfl::rotfl:

cattie

I wonder would it be any good getting hold of a copy of your cousin's birth certificate & sending a copy of that, along with one of yours so they can see that what you are telling them is correct?

jimbo26

I do wonder at the stupidity of some parents, they really don't realise the issues they are going to cause their kids later on in life.

Good luck in sorting this mess out. Even if you do sort it out, it will most likely raise its head again a year or so on. You may wish to consider changing your name to prevent further problems.

sourcrates

Written complaint to companies concerned, is first step.

Depending on the response you get, if your still not happy, then escalate to the information commissioners office (ICO) they deal with all data protection issues.

You could ask there opinion first, this link takes you to there contact details:

https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/

System

cattie wrote: »

I wonder would it be any good getting hold of a copy of your cousin's birth certificate & sending a copy of that, along with one of yours so they can see that what you are telling them is correct?

But then the lenders and collection agencies are just relying on you telling them whos debt it whos? seems very open for abuse and not very binding.

Hazelangel62658

Thank you for all your replies. I've booked an appointment at my local citizens advice bureau to see what can be done. I've also written to the 3 credit reference agencies, to see if there is anything I can do, at the moment the only way to distinguish her accounts from mine is the bank records, as we don't bank with the same bank and I have a mortgage where as she doesn't. My parents died when I was three, hence why I lived with my aunt. Also there is 2 of us listed on the electoral register, that in itself was problematic, we actually had to take both our birth certificates with different parents to actually register to vote the first time.

fatbelly

Might be worth your cousin seeing CAB if she's the one with the debts.

Mind you, I can see your records getting mixed up on the CAB database.

This is going to be a recurring problem unless you can distinguish yourselves. Do you fancy adding a middle name?

PixelPound

cattie wrote: »

I wonder would it be any good getting hold of a copy of your cousin's birth certificate & sending a copy of that, along with one of yours so they can see that what you are telling them is correct?

But their mothers are sisters, as they are cousins, and its the fathers that are unrelated but have a common surname. The birth certificates will both show same name, same DOB, same mothers maiden name ... possible


It;'s a case of writing complaints to CRA to unlink names and addresses, but difficult to show as you both lived at same address until 21.