Does anyone know much about provident? (Fraud).

Sunflower49

My partner's ex partner has taken out a provident loan using my partner's details. We've just learned this after being contacted by a debt collection agency, although she's (ex partner) done this before. We emailed saying this was not taken out by my partner, but they've written back saying basically 'we don't believe you and will still pursue' .

I am going to try to help sort it out-but I am not sure where to begin.
I assume they have to carry out photo ID checks?

My partner (although both women) looks VERY, very different to her ex partner (20 year age gap, one is very 'girly' looking compared to the other, impossible to mistake for one another).

My partner and her ex lived together at the time too-she must have done it while partner was at work (she didn't work)
 We can't afford to pay this  ?


TIA. I am so annoyed!

Caz3121

Sunflower49 said:

My partner's ex partner has taken out a provident loan using my partner's details. We've just learned this after being contacted by a debt collection agency, although she's (ex partner) done this before. We emailed saying this was not taken out by my partner, and that she did not reside at the stated address at the time, but they've written back saying basically 'we don't believe you and will still pursue' .

I am going to try to help sort it out-but I am not sure where to begin.
I assume they have to carry out photo ID checks?

My partner (although both women) looks VERY, very different to her ex partner (20 year age gap, one is very 'girly' looking compared to the other, impossible to mistake for one another).

My partner and her ex lived together at the time too-she must have done it while partner was at work (she didn't work)
 We can't afford to pay this  ?


TIA. I am so annoyed!

To have any chance of this being dealt with your partner should report this fraud to the police.
was the 'stated address' a different one to the one they lived at together? (your post is unclear)

Sunflower49

It is unclear, sorry. I misunderstood what my partner said at the time of her telling me about it-they DID live at the same address at the time the account was opened I went back to edit the post accordingly and obviously failed-I will re-edit now. 

This isn't a police matter unfortunately

Lilly11a

You won't be able to claim it wasn't your partner without reporting to the police unfortunately.
How long ago was the loan taken out ? If over six years with no contact you may be able to use statute barred

Edi81

The only way that you have a chance of getting out of repaying the loan is to report the ex to the police. 

sourcrates

Action Fraud was set up to deal with matters such as this, but they only show any interest if its a large scale fraud and you know who is responsible, and can prove it, otherwise they just log it, and do no more.

I`m afraid its going to be down to you, or her, to keep denying the debt, and ultimately defend your position in court if it ventures that far, this type of fraud is so common, its impossible to deal with it any other way.

You could be in for a lot of letter tennis, so really you should set out your position in writing, and just leave it at that, should a court claim arise from this, you would defend it on the basis that it was not your debt.

Aside from that, there`s little else you can do.

[Deleted User]

Sunflower49 said:

It is unclear, sorry. I misunderstood what my partner said at the time of her telling me about it-they DID live at the same address at the time the account was opened I went back to edit the post accordingly and obviously failed-I will re-edit now. 

This isn't a police matter unfortunately

No, it very much IS a police matter, it's fraud
The company categorically will not remove the debt from your partner's name without involving the police. Think about it - if you could just say "oh that debt isn't mine" and the firm say "oh ok, we'll not chase you any more" people could run up huge amounts of fraud.
You have 2 choices and ONLY two choices:
1) Take the hit of the debt, arguing with bailiffs, debt collectors, court costs etc and try and argue it isn't yours (which has little chance of success given you are unwilling to involve the police)
2) Report this fraud to the police and then go back to the lender with the crime details and go from there

sourcrates

Farfetch, in my experience boys in blue don`t want to know about such things, unless its a major fraud and you have hard evidence, this case would not even register with them, you may get a crime ref number from action fraud, that may or may not be enough to keep the collectors at bay.

[Deleted User]

sourcrates said:

Farfetch, in my experience boys in blue don`t want to know about such things, unless its a major fraud and you have hard evidence, this case would not even register with them, you may get a crime ref number from action fraud, that may or may not be enough to keep the collectors at bay.

Police or AF, the point is to get a crime ref number to show you're taking it seriously, not just trying to dodge debt that is yours

Edi81

Anyone could just say it’s not their debt. The police will likely not do anything but by showing that you consider it a real crime is a small indication that it’s genuine. 

The_Real_Cheddar_Bob

I'd check the provident T's and C's and get someone you know to request details for a loan for them. See what checks they do etc and then request said information from provident to prove you took on the debt. 
Arm yourself first, then ask second.