Chasing Debt Never Taken Out

hagler

Hi Everyone,

One of my elderly neighbours, in his late 60's has been contacted by both lowells and moorcroft chasing outstanding debts for two mobile phone contracts, hes worked hard all his life, never took out the contracts and has no idea what is happening, ive said to him ill help him out, does anyone know how to move forward in such circumstances, any help would be really appreciated

thanks in advance

steve

gloriouslyhappy

I’d start by doing a credit check for him, see if there’s an issue with identity theft. If there is, report it to the police.

If it’s all clear, it can be shown to the companies chasing him, with a demand for them to show their paperwork which makes them think he owes them.

If that doesn’t make them go away, I’d go to the ombudsman.

Age Concern have got good advice on their website.

Brie

Yes - basically it's a case of "proveit" letters to be sent.  It's up to them that there's a debt to be proved rather than down to the individual.  The fact that it's with Lowell and Moorcroft means it's from a year or two back to get to that stage.  

Keep things simple of the first approach.  Say nothing about fraud or liability.  Just say "prove I owe this".  When they send things back (if they bother) you (aka your neighbour) can then take the next step and state "that's not my signature" etc and then state this is fraud if that seems an appropriate response.  

hagler

thanks alot for the help!

fatbelly

There's a prove-it letter in the stickies- those threads that always stay at the start of the list in debt free wannabe

Flugelhorn

Have they any children or other relatives who may have taken it out in their name?

fatbelly

It's probably a mis-trace.

In any event he shouldn't pay this without proper evidence, which Lowell won't have. 

It's always a good idea to keep an eye on credit files. Thre are 3 CRAs and you don' pay them. In fact if you go through quidco/topcashback they pay you

hagler

thanks alot everyone for the help, he was quite stressed out but i told him we will send them off a prove it letter which should put an end to the whole charade, he does have family but his kids are moved out and have their own family lives

thanks again everyone!