BPO Collections Lts demanding payment of debt - that we do NOT owe!

the_tired_one

Hope someone can advise further.

A couple months ago a relative received a letter from the above organisation (see below) saying she owed £454.34.  We'd never heard of them, so looked online and noticed it was a genuine collection agency and followed the advice given to contact them, basically asking them to prove the debt was actually owed by my relative, making sure we didn't sign any letter (as advised).



The have now replied stating we owe this outstanding balance and attached a letter on headed note paper from some company called 'The Bradford Exchange' and  some items that were purchase with dates/amounts.

Confusingly it states these amounts and then says 'not paid' and 'declined' after each entry.  They all go back to July-Oct 2019.





None of these purchases were ever made by my relative.  Nothing was ever posted or received to my relative.  She has no accounts with ANY instore or online company, and never has.  She has no current/valid debit or credit card and has not used her bank account for a few years.

No idea what has happened - maybe the debt collection company has just looked at the name and written to everyone of that name hoping they'll get the corect person?  Or it is a form of identity theft/scam?

What should be her next response?  There is no way we are going to pay someone elses invoices!

Appreciate any replies & advice, thanks.

molerat

Bradford Exchange often advertise in women's magazines selling ornaments, collectible plates and that sort of thing and offer monthly payments on more expensive items.  If she is certain she has never purchased from them then send another letter stating such and that the matter be closed. If they wish to take it further ask that they submit documented proof of order and delivery of said items.  As you said it could simply be a scatter gun fishing exercise to any "Mrs Joan Smith" they could find.

the_tired_one

molerat said:

Bradford Exchange often advertise in women's magazines selling ornaments, collectible plates and that sort of thing and offer monthly payments on more expensive items.  If she is certain she has never purchased from them then send another letter stating such and that the matter be closed. If they wish to take it further ask that they submit documented proof of order and delivery of said items.  As you said it could simply be a scatter gun fishing exercise to any "Mrs Joan Smith" they could find.

Great!  Will do that tomorrow

cx6

Try not to worry - there is nothing that they can do until / unless they go to court and get a judgement against you. Needless to say, if they go to court, you can put your side of the case.

Thrugelmir

Any monkey dolls in the house? 

TELLIT01

Just to add, if anything is received regarding court dates do not ignore them or judgement may be awarded in your absence.

Keep_pedalling

They should write back denying the debt. State that they have never purchased any items from BE and they do not have an account with the company.

Aylesbury_Duck

Thrugelmir said:

Any monkey dolls in the house? 

Or an Elvis Presley Dambusters Clock Plate of Tutenkahmun?  That's the ultimate collector's item.

knightstyle

If I were the person named on the claim I would send a SAR with proof of my name and address to both the Bradford exchange and BPO collections and see what evidence they send.

Thrugelmir

Should be easy enough to ascertain whether a payment was made on the 16th July 2019 of £37.98. 

Declined payment sounds like a bounced direct debit. 

When did you close your relative's bank accounts etc? Assume that you now hold a LPA for them.  Will your relative be able to recall their actions at that time? 

the_tired_one

Just an update, the address on the Bradford Exchange invoice from July 2019 is their old address, which was temporary council accomodation.

They had moved out in June 2019 and into a new property and they have a new signed tenancy agreement showing the date  moved in (June 2019).

This leads me to think that whoever moved into their old address simply picked up one of their letters and made an account from my relatives name, placed orders and then disappeared themselves from that property without ever paying Bradford Exchange.

How to proceed from here? Thanks again