Urgent Help on a Debt that's not mine

pinchez

I have just received a debt notification letter this morning from Wescot Credit Services LTD on the behalf of E.On. Threatening to take me to court and all sorts unless i pay the Debt in a weeks time.

The letter was addressed to me by surname only. So I rang them and quoted the reference number and explained to them that i'm not with E.On and never have been so how could i owe this debt, I'm with scottish power and my bills are paid on time.

He just seem to brush my explanation to one side and said are you the person on the letter i said i am the same surname and said what name do you have and he said what is your name? So i said again what name do you have to which he replied i can't continue with this conversation without your name and put the phone down.

I have not been in any sort of debt for 15 years and have a clean credit rating which i checked a couple of years ago before taking out a couple of credit cards.

But i did get in to money troubles and left a few unpaid debts about 17 years ago and one of them might be a british gas bill but i can't honestly remember or how much it would have been if i did. I was in a bad place back then but i left that address 15 years ago and since have had a few addresses being in my present one debt free and on top of bills for the last 8 years.

I honestly don't think this is my debt if it is it as to be from around 17 years ago. Where should go from here? Should I ring Wescot again and give them my full name?

I'm assuming the only possible way this could be my debt is if Wescot got old of a record from British gas that as some connection with E.On from 17 years ago.

Please help me I'm at a loss what to do, also will this now give me a bad credit record?

RAS

Hi

it is for wescot to prove what the debt is about, not for you to prove that you do not owe it. it is not unusual for DCas to send out fishing leters to everyone with the same surname etc.

if it is a very old debt, you do not have to pay if you do not want to (after 6 years the Statute of Limitiations Act comes into force). Once you tell them you are not paying, they have to stop trying to collect the debt and they cannot enforce it or amke any reference to the debt on your credit record. Some DCas specialise in buying very old debts and trying to collect them.

rather than a CCa, you need the standard letter which basically says - I do not acknowledge this debt - what the hell is it about. Do not sign your name and I would be inclined not to put your initials.

rayday2

You could also take this up with the power regulator. I saw Watchdog this week and they were talking about Npower and there was a man there who had never changed his power supplier and yet Npower had billed him they reckoned after an enquiry despite the fact he never went over to Npower.

In fact if you went on the Watchdog site they may be of some help seeing as its a recent storyline and now a different power company they do like to do follow ups.

fermi

I saw that watchdog report.

You can read about it, and even watch the report here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/reports/homes/homes_20080310.shtml

Might be worth contacting e.on to complain, but if Wescot have bought the debt instead of acting on e.on's behalf then it's likely to be a case of them mis-tracing the debt to you.

National Debtline have a generic "bog-off until you prove that I owe you anything letter".

Can be adapted to suit.

1 High Street,
Newtown,
Kent
R21 4RH
October 9, 2007

The Loan Company
Company House,
Church Street,
Newtown,
Kent,
R1 7HG

Dear Sir/Madam

Account No: 4563210025897412

You have contacted us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by ourselves.

We would point out that we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to The Loan Company.

We are familiar with the ‘Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance’ which states that it is unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

We would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore, ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

We would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above accounts unless you can provide evidence as to our liability for the debt in question.

We await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise we will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

We look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully





Mr A N Other

fermi

pinchez wrote: »

I have just received a debt notification letter this morning from Wescot Credit Services LTD on the behalf of E.On.

Ah.. Missed the "behalf" bit.

I would do some serious ear-bending with E.On as well then. They are responsible for the actions of the people they instruct to collect their debts, and are responsible for the correctness of the information that they pass to any debt collectors.

E.On have nothing to do with British Gas.

pinchez

fermi wrote: »

Ah.. Missed the "behalf" bit.

I would do some serious ear-bending with E.On as well then. They are responsible for the actions of the people they instruct to collect their debts, and are responsible for the correctness of the information that they pass to any debt collectors.

E.On have nothing to do with British Gas.

Thanks for the help, I'll edit and send that letter to Wescot, Should I wait to here back from Wescot before contacting E.On and should i give them my full name if I do. Also should I send the letter by recorded post ?

I have not been with Powergen or E.on at this address (been here for 8 years) and I've always paid my bills. I was originally with British Gas then switched to Scottish Power.

Thanks again

fermi

On reflection yes, I would wait to see if you hear anything back.

It's most likely to be a mistake where your details/name are similar to the person they are really after.

It's always best to send these letters recorded/signed for delivery if you can. Lots of things (except payments to them:rolleyes:) that you send to a Debt Collection Agency seem to get lost in the post if you don't.

If they still try to claim that you owe anything after they have received that letter, then you can start making some serious complaints.;)