My Address has been used fraudulently for a loan

gwynfil

Hi
I opened some post today and found that one of the letters was not for me, but from a debt collection agency called Merligen in another person's name but using my postal and residential address. I have lived at my address for over 20 years and my husband's mother lived there before that for at least 20. No tenants or lodgers. It seems the original debt was from  Elevate Credit International Limited trading as Sunny, although on their website, they say 'Sunny Finance is a loan company, not a broker, we are a direct loan lender in the UK'. Now they must have checked the details originally. How come they didn't check electoral records or bank details?

I suspect this must be a fraud. Somebody using my address.

What should I do? I don't want to have my credit rating affected by fraudulent use of my address or continue receiving aggressive post.

Any tips greatly received. Thanks.  

[Deleted User]

Just return it to sender. 

Addresses don't have credit ratings so it will have no impact on you.

The lender will have made checks, but not everyone is on the ER and they can't check bank details (it would also serve no purpose) People who don't repay debts often have a habit of absconding without telling anyone and they're probably trying to track them down.

gwynfil

Thanks for your informative reply. I will send any others back. 

superbigal

You really should not have opened someone elses mail

robber2

Dont worry about opening someone elses mail.

The actual law is: "A person commits an offence if intending to act to a person’s detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him"

DCFC79

superbigal said:

You really should not have opened someone elses mail

Not this old chestnut again.

jacobevans

Deleted_User said:

Just return it to sender. 

Addresses don't have credit ratings so it will have no impact on you.

The lender will have made checks, but not everyone is on the ER and they can't check bank details (it would also serve no purpose) People who don't repay debts often have a habit of absconding without telling anyone and they're probably trying to track them down.

Yup I agree! One of my friends went through the same thing and he just sent it back and proved through personal information and other details how he wasn't involved
It took some time and the help of a lawyer but they worked it out

phillw

superbigal said:

You really should not have opened someone elses mail

 "A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person's detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."

I think a letter arriving correctly at your address, but with someone else's name that has no connection with your address is a reasonable excuse. Don't you?

When my sister worked at the local sorting office, they had a 6 month back log on return to sender items. Not opening the mail will be to the persons detriment.

[Deleted User]

phillw said:

superbigal said:

You really should not have opened someone elses mail

 "A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person's detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."

I think a letter arriving correctly at your address, but with someone else's name that has no connection with your address is a reasonable excuse. Don't you?

When my sister worked at the local sorting office, they had a 6 month back log on return to sender items. Not opening the mail will be to the persons detriment.

Quite correct, if there is a risk of debt collectors turning up and trying to seize goods, OP is not acting to the detriment of the debtor, it can simply be to ensure they can return the paperwork correctly

poppasmurf_bewdley

Deleted_User said:

phillw said:

superbigal said:

You really should not have opened someone elses mail

 "A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person's detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."

I think a letter arriving correctly at your address, but with someone else's name that has no connection with your address is a reasonable excuse. Don't you?

When my sister worked at the local sorting office, they had a 6 month back log on return to sender items. Not opening the mail will be to the persons detri

Quite correct, if there is a risk of debt collectors turning up and trying to seize goods, OP is not acting to the detriment of the debtor, it can simply be to ensure they can return the paperwork correctly

Debt collectors cannot "turn up and seize goods." Only bailiffs can do that after going through due court processes. Debt collectors have no more power than my pet budgie.

[Deleted User]

poppasmurf_bewdley said:

Deleted_User said:

phillw said:

superbigal said:

You really should not have opened someone elses mail

 "A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person's detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him."

I think a letter arriving correctly at your address, but with someone else's name that has no connection with your address is a reasonable excuse. Don't you?

When my sister worked at the local sorting office, they had a 6 month back log on return to sender items. Not opening the mail will be to the persons detri

Quite correct, if there is a risk of debt collectors turning up and trying to seize goods, OP is not acting to the detriment of the debtor, it can simply be to ensure they can return the paperwork correctly

Debt collectors cannot "turn up and seize goods." Only bailiffs can do that after going through due court processes. Debt collectors have no more power than my pet budgie.

OK I used the wrong word, you're correct, hurrah. Semantic arguments aside, the point is still valid - a bailiff could turn up to try and collect on the debt. If you watch those TV shows like Can't Pay? the person at the address has to prove goods are theirs which isn't always easy when they're convinced the address is the right place.