Ebay Commerce UK Limited and identify fraud

Sterlingtimes

RFW said: That's so unlikely, especially for £300, it's not worth their time and resources, that's why they use debt collectors.

Neither my wife nor I have ever dealt with a debt collector. Moorcroft displays an air of hostility and nastiness: guilty until innocence is proven.

RFW

Sterlingtimes said:

RFW said: That's so unlikely, especially for £300, it's not worth their time and resources, that's why they use debt collectors.

Neither my wife nor I have ever dealt with a debt collector. Moorcroft displays an air of hostility and nastiness: guilty until innocence is proven.

They don't care about guilt or innocence, their job is to get the money their client is owed. You can get them to stop contacting you, in any way other than by post.
If you feel like they are causing you unnecessary distress you can contact Trading Standards via your local council.

forgotmyname

Had dealings with Moorcroft back in the day when they seemed to have free rein in the methods used to contact people they
claimed to owe them money.

Everything from spam emails offering items at bargain prices to we called but you were out cards which arrived via the postman
with a stamp.

Nightmare, when told they were not the people they are seeking it went to OK we cannot talk to you about the debt so when are you
going to pay.  You have to keep it simple making it clear you are not the person they seek.  Open all mail just in case they try and
sneak court papers in but after reading send them back with return to sender.

Sterlingtimes

forgotmyname said:

Had dealings with Moorcroft back in the day when they seemed to have free rein in the methods used to contact people they claimed to owe them money.

Their operatives are taught to be hostile or acquire a hostile approach through their dealings. I feel they do not know how to approach people who have been the subject of identity fraud. 

As for eBay, it should be able to go someway towards detecting the hallmarks of identity fraud before engaging debt collectors. 

RFW

forgotmyname said:

Everything from spam emails offering items at bargain prices to we called but you were out cards which arrived via the postman
with a stamp.

I don't know which debt collector it was but I had one call at our house not long after we'd moved in. Whoever it was would not believe that I wasn't the person they wanted. He asked me for ID and I declined to give it.

You can stop any debt collector from calling you or contacting you in any way other than by post by asking/telling them to. They aren't always happy about it but that's there problem. I think they're still allowed to call in person but you don't have to speak to them.

I know there are plenty of places, especially on this site, to find information but I'll add here that there are several debt charities that offer free advice, presumably even for those who don't consider the debt to be a valid one. Some will act on your behalf. https://www.stepchange.org/ is one of the most known.

Sterlingtimes

Moorcoft has now replied to my wife. Moorcroft has contacted eBay concerning the fraudulent account, and eBay has agreed not to pursue it. 

Hence, it appears that Moorcoft hasn't bought eBay's debts but rather acts as a debt collector on eBay's behalf.

The issue is closed. Thank you all.