Darned fraudsters
Discussion
On Thursday last week a letter arrived from Experian (credit agency) saying "thank you for your application and welcome to your 30 day free trial". I phoned them and said I had no knowledge of this. They said they would lock the account.
On Friday a letter arrived from Orange saying "thank you for setting up a Direct Debit for payment of your bill" and referring to a bank account by its 6 digit sort code and 8 digit account number shown as ****9887 (in other words not showing the full account number). Hmmmmm, that's fishy - the number wasn't any account I recognised.
So I Googled the sort code and it turned out to be a branch of Barclays somewhere up North. Googled for a branch phone number but such things appear not to exist, just a central Barclays number. Phoned Barclays and made very clear to them that whoever was running that account it certainly wasn't me. They said they'd pass it to their fraud dep't (couldn't connect me straight away as they were too busy).
Haven't heard a word since. Anyway, I took the precaution of writing to both Orange (who of course don't have a phone number) and Barclays saying "it ain't me guv".
What happens next?
On Friday a letter arrived from Orange saying "thank you for setting up a Direct Debit for payment of your bill" and referring to a bank account by its 6 digit sort code and 8 digit account number shown as ****9887 (in other words not showing the full account number). Hmmmmm, that's fishy - the number wasn't any account I recognised.
So I Googled the sort code and it turned out to be a branch of Barclays somewhere up North. Googled for a branch phone number but such things appear not to exist, just a central Barclays number. Phoned Barclays and made very clear to them that whoever was running that account it certainly wasn't me. They said they'd pass it to their fraud dep't (couldn't connect me straight away as they were too busy).
Haven't heard a word since. Anyway, I took the precaution of writing to both Orange (who of course don't have a phone number) and Barclays saying "it ain't me guv".
What happens next?
Probably nothing going by my recent experience.
Using my name and address someone took out 2 mobile contracts with a well known company. I called them and they did absolutely damn all, although assured me it was taken care of.
Started getting debt collection letters so called back and they confirmed nothing had been done.
Roll on 3 months and I see my credit record has been impaired. I spoke to them again on Friday and they assured me it will be sorted, but I'll not hold my breath.
Using my name and address someone took out 2 mobile contracts with a well known company. I called them and they did absolutely damn all, although assured me it was taken care of.
Started getting debt collection letters so called back and they confirmed nothing had been done.
Roll on 3 months and I see my credit record has been impaired. I spoke to them again on Friday and they assured me it will be sorted, but I'll not hold my breath.
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