I keep getting emails from BPO/Lantern for a debt I don't owe

lilibex88

Hi, 
New here and a little worried, hopefully it's just someone trying their luck. 

I have been getting emails from Lantern/BPO for a few months now stating that I owe £1300 on a New Day/Aqua credit card.

At first I asked for an itemized statement (without admitting any liability) and when I looked at the dates it was absolutely *not* me who has run up this debt). 

I have an IVA in place that covers a previous debt with Aqua and this has been in place for over a year now. Since then I have not taken any credit out whatsoever. 

It's making me crazy because I'm doubting myself (I struggle with ADHD and these emails have made me doubt my memory), but these dates are from when I moved into my new flat and I haven't used a credit card at all while living in this flat. 

Any help is appreciated 👍🏻

Brie

Have you asked for an SAR (subject access request)?  This should include something that is "your" application for the card. 

Assuming you are not actually the person that took out the card then there should be clues there to give you a case to prove it wasn't you.  I would have thought that along the line Aqua would have written to "you" with statements, requests for payment, advising you of outstanding debt, that the debt was being passed to Lantern/BPO for collection.  If you didn't get these then they would have been going to the wrong address and if you have an IVA with Aqua already then they should be aware of your current address and should have been sending things there.  And yet somehow they have given Lantern/BPO your email address.

sourcrates

Right, first things first, you are under no obligation to respond to emails/texts or phone calls.

If Lantern are serious, they will write to you asking for payment.

If or when that happens, you respond with the provit letter, available from here -

Letter when you know nothing about about the debt - AKA "Prove it" letter — MoneySavingExpert Forum

There response to that should be a letter containing the following information -

How much is owed,
Who the original creditor was,
Date the account was opened,
Proof the debt is yours.

The "proof" would consist of a copy of the original credit agreement that you allegedly signed for this account.

Once this information is received, you can then determine your position, failure to provide it, renders the account unenforceable, and so they won`t be able to force you to pay, if indeed the debt is yours.

The fact that they haven`t yet written to you suggests they do not hold an address for the debtor they are looking for, so have initiated a fishing trip to see who bites.

Are you certain this debt is not the Aqua debt included in your IVA ?
Its quite common for creditors to sell insolvency debts, and Lantern are one of the bottom feeders who buy up such accounts.

lilibex88

Thanks for all your responses. 

It isn't the Aqua credit that is included in my IVA, that is for a different amount over a different timeframe. 

I think they have written to me but again, my memory is really bad. I'd have to have a look when I get home. 

When I asked for an itemised bill they just gave me a list of transactions, there wasn't any information about *where* the money had been spent. There's a few Forex fees on there but I do occasionally buy international items. However, none of the Forex fees match up with dates that I bought things from abroad. That has put my mind at rest a bit, because there's no way it can be mine.

Thanks again.