Family member taken out phone contract in my name and not paid it

elbarto4

Hi all,
I've recently received a letter and relentless phone calls from a debt collection agency regarding a fee I knew nothing about. After getting in touch with them via email I was told that it was for a GiffGaff account opened back in 2015 in my name that hasn't been paid since and I am not expected to pay over £100. I has no clue about this account and have never had anything on contract with GiffGaff in my life so after asking a few questions they provided me with the account details. It seems that my sister had taken this account out in my name without my knowledge, using her email address and date of birth, but since I still live at the family home she has used that address and my name instead. Another thing is, I was 17 at the time of this happening therefore I don't understand how this has even happened if I proper security and credit checks were conducted by GiffGaff?

I've got in contact with the debt agency and have explained what has happened, however I'm not sure they will believe me since the name and address match. I am also waiting for a response from GiffGaff themselves.

Could anyone please give me some advice as to what to do here because I can't afford to pay this debt as I'm currently out of work and am waiting to go back to uni and get my student loan. Plus it's not my debt to pay anyway.

Any help would be really appreciated!

[Deleted User]

You'll normally need to report it as fraud (via Action Fraud) for it to be taken seriously.

Shakin_Steve

People are often reluctant to report family members for fraud, but that's what it is. You could ask your sister to stump up, under threat of a report of fraud which would do her future credit prospects no good at all. You should also take a look at your credit reports. At 23, you may not yet thinking about a mortgage, but your chances of getting any credit with a default on your report will be close to zero.

Mickey666

Only two options really because it’s a genuine debt and should therefore be paid.
1. Tell the sister to pay her debt
2. Report the sister for fraud

Obviously try option 1 first but tell the sister that if she doesn’t pay the debt then you’ll have no option to go with option 2.

The other issue is that however the debt is paid off, it’s actually in the name of the OP and so will have created a black mark on their credit record.  Perhaps option 2 is the only way to clear that?

sourcrates

How exactly do you get into debt with Giff Gaff ?

They provide free PAYG sim cards, which require the purchase of a "goodybag" and/or credit, in order to use them, this is payable upfront, so how can you possibly be in debt to them ?

They also provide phones on credit, yet you say the debt is £100, so was it a phone she purchased ?

elbarto4

sourcrates said:

How exactly do you get into debt with Giff Gaff ?

They provide free PAYG sim cards, which require the purchase of a "goodybag" and/or credit, in order to use them, this is payable upfront, so how can you possibly be in debt to them ?

They also provide phones on credit, yet you say the debt is £100, so was it a phone she purchased ?

I was confused about this too as the only time I have had anything from GiffGaff was one of those goody bags (which isn't connected to the account in my original post) so I do believe it was for a phone contract. However when I asked about this the agency didn't tell me what was purchased they just told me when the account was opened and how much was owed (which is around £111)

elbarto4

Mickey666 said:

Only two options really because it’s a genuine debt and should therefore be paid.
1. Tell the sister to pay her debt
2. Report the sister for fraud

Obviously try option 1 first but tell the sister that if she doesn’t pay the debt then you’ll have no option to go with option 2.

The other issue is that however the debt is paid off, it’s actually in the name of the OP and so will have created a black mark on their credit record.  Perhaps option 2 is the only way to clear that?

I think I can only do option 2 as she is refusing to admit it was her, even when the email address used for the account is her email. So It's in my best interests to flag it as fraud. Thank you for the help.

DCFC79

elbarto4 said:

Mickey666 said:

Only two options really because it’s a genuine debt and should therefore be paid.
1. Tell the sister to pay her debt
2. Report the sister for fraud

Obviously try option 1 first but tell the sister that if she doesn’t pay the debt then you’ll have no option to go with option 2.

The other issue is that however the debt is paid off, it’s actually in the name of the OP and so will have created a black mark on their credit record.  Perhaps option 2 is the only way to clear that?

I think I can only do option 2 as she is refusing to admit it was her, even when the email address used for the account is her email. So It's in my best interests to flag it as fraud. Thank you for the help.

Is she wanting to get a mortgage ?

Id try this first, explain to her your going to report it as fraud which will mean the police involved and it will mean her credit history will be seriously affected and he chances (if answer to above question is yes) of a mortgage will be zero.

Neil49

Are you sure that the claim is genuine? I would request more information from them/giffgaff and do your own investigation into the matter. Given that the account is in your name they can hardly refuse to provide the details. 

elbarto4

Neil49 said:

Are you sure that the claim is genuine? I would request more information from them/giffgaff and do your own investigation into the matter. Given that the account is in your name they can hardly refuse to provide the details. 

I am looking into the legitimacy of it because a few things aren't adding up. I'd appreciate if yourself or anyone else could tell me if any of the following could be easily explained?
They've said the account was opened in 2015 but I have never received any letters, emails or calls from GiffGaff, this debt agency or the one they have said they've bought the account from until this month.
I've asked them how they've gotten my email and my phone number if they aren't the information that's registered to this account (they've dodged answering this when I have asked several times).
I'm not even sure if 5 years ago you could get contract phone off of GiffGaff.

I'm going to look into it some more and I have contacted GiffGaff about it directly and am waiting a response. However, like I said previously when I asked for more info on the debt they did provide an email address I know my sister uses.

elbarto4

elbarto4 said:

Neil49 said:

Are you sure that the claim is genuine? I would request more information from them/giffgaff and do your own investigation into the matter. Given that the account is in your name they can hardly refuse to provide the details. 

I am looking into the legitimacy of it because a few things aren't adding up. I'd appreciate if yourself or anyone else could tell me if any of the following could be easily explained?
They've said the account was opened in 2015 but I have never received any letters, emails or calls from GiffGaff, this debt agency or the one they have said they've bought the account from until this month.
I've asked them how they've gotten my email and my phone number if they aren't the information that's registered to this account (they've dodged answering this when I have asked several times).
I'm not even sure if 5 years ago you could get contract phone off of GiffGaff.

I'm going to look into it some more and I have contacted GiffGaff about it directly and am waiting a response. However, like I said previously when I asked for more info on the debt they did provide an email address I know my sister uses.

Also another thing to add here:
I've just checked the email they have sent me and it says that ID would have been needed to open this account, however they have said previously that the DOB on the account was wrong, and again I was 17 at the time and wouldn't have been able to have opened a credit account so I am even more confused by this.