Letter from Debt collectors
Discussion
I've had a letter through the post from a debt collection agency chasing payment of a small debt to a large organisation.
But the debt isn't anything to do with me. I've never owed the company money, nor do I have any method of accruing a debt (all payments are taken at time of purchase)
I've contacted the company, who claim they don't know anything about the debt, and that my records show no monies owing.
What's the best course of action now? Ignore the letter, or do I need to go through the rigmarole of trying to prove to a bunch of money-grabbing shysters that they have go the wrong man? I get the feeling that once I ring and they have a confirmed name and address it will be a nightmare of trying to prove that it is nothing to do with me.
But the debt isn't anything to do with me. I've never owed the company money, nor do I have any method of accruing a debt (all payments are taken at time of purchase)
I've contacted the company, who claim they don't know anything about the debt, and that my records show no monies owing.
What's the best course of action now? Ignore the letter, or do I need to go through the rigmarole of trying to prove to a bunch of money-grabbing shysters that they have go the wrong man? I get the feeling that once I ring and they have a confirmed name and address it will be a nightmare of trying to prove that it is nothing to do with me.
Something that has achieved results for me in the past. (Assuming it is an error rather than an actual debt)
Write to the DCA telling them you dispute the debt and they need to refer to the originator.
If they write again, send them the same reply. Once they see you aren't an easy target they'll move on to easier stuff.
Meanwhile this will give you time to deal with it at source.
ETA. They have to prove the debt, it's not for you to prove you don't, though it may be easier to do this.
Write to the DCA telling them you dispute the debt and they need to refer to the originator.
If they write again, send them the same reply. Once they see you aren't an easy target they'll move on to easier stuff.
Meanwhile this will give you time to deal with it at source.
ETA. They have to prove the debt, it's not for you to prove you don't, though it may be easier to do this.
boyse7en said:
Amused2death said:
Meanwhile this will give you time to deal with it at source.
What do you mean by that? I'm not sure how I can prove that the debt isn't mine, other than contacting the company (which I have already done) and asking them to confirmAmused2death said:
Something that has achieved results for me in the past. (Assuming it is an error rather than an actual debt)
Write to the DCA telling them you dispute the debt and they need to refer to the originator.
If they write again, send them the same reply. Once they see you aren't an easy target they'll move on to easier stuff.
Meanwhile this will give you time to deal with it at source.
ETA. They have to prove the debt, it's not for you to prove you don't, though it may be easier to do this.
Exactly this. Write to the DCA telling them you dispute the debt and they need to refer to the originator.
If they write again, send them the same reply. Once they see you aren't an easy target they'll move on to easier stuff.
Meanwhile this will give you time to deal with it at source.
ETA. They have to prove the debt, it's not for you to prove you don't, though it may be easier to do this.
When I rented I used to get debt collection letters quite frequently for old water, electricity, gas bills etc. Ask them to prove their case first before you go to the trouble of proving that it isn't you. I don't think one ever came back apart from to say that they were "discontinuing enforcement" or some other quasi-legal terminology.
Don't ignore it though.
I've been having a similar problem with a debt collection agency for over 6 months. Apparently I owe £1900 for a student loan. I do have a student loan, taken out a couple of years ago. At first, I thought it was just a statement, didn't check closely as I earn under the lower limit where repayments start.
I started getting letters asking for repayment. It wasn't immediately clear they were being sent by a collection agency, but I realised it wasn't for my loan.
I started a dispute with them once it became clear that I was dealing with a collection agency (no the student loans company), and that the debt wasn't mine.
Eventually they sent a copy of the original loan agreement. Same name, same birthdate, but different are of the country to where I was living at the time. several long phone calls later, and they admitted that it was a "wrong trace". They had just searched for the name and date of birth, and picked on me.
I think it's been sorted now, but I haven't had it acknowledged in writing, just verbally.
I started getting letters asking for repayment. It wasn't immediately clear they were being sent by a collection agency, but I realised it wasn't for my loan.
I started a dispute with them once it became clear that I was dealing with a collection agency (no the student loans company), and that the debt wasn't mine.
Eventually they sent a copy of the original loan agreement. Same name, same birthdate, but different are of the country to where I was living at the time. several long phone calls later, and they admitted that it was a "wrong trace". They had just searched for the name and date of birth, and picked on me.
I think it's been sorted now, but I haven't had it acknowledged in writing, just verbally.
Amused2death said:
Write to the DCA telling them you dispute deny the debt and they need to refer to the originator.
If they write again, send them the same reply. Once they see you aren't an easy target they'll move on to easier stuff.
Meanwhile this will give you time to deal with it at source.
ETA. They have to prove the debt, it's not for you to prove you don't, though it may be easier to do this.
^^^This^^If they write again, send them the same reply. Once they see you aren't an easy target they'll move on to easier stuff.
Meanwhile this will give you time to deal with it at source.
ETA. They have to prove the debt, it's not for you to prove you don't, though it may be easier to do this.
With one minor change.
boyse7en said:
Amused2death said:
Meanwhile this will give you time to deal with it at source.
What do you mean by that? I'm not sure how I can prove that the debt isn't mine, other than contacting the company (which I have already done) and asking them to confirmIt's a very simple rule: 'He who asserts must prove'.
http://www.straffordkentlaw.co.uk/burden-of-proof/
clockworks said:
I've been having a similar problem with a debt collection agency for over 6 months. Apparently I owe £1900 for a student loan. I do have a student loan, taken out a couple of years ago. At first, I thought it was just a statement, didn't check closely as I earn under the lower limit where repayments start.
I started getting letters asking for repayment. It wasn't immediately clear they were being sent by a collection agency, but I realised it wasn't for my loan.
I started a dispute with them once it became clear that I was dealing with a collection agency (no the student loans company), and that the debt wasn't mine.
Eventually they sent a copy of the original loan agreement. Same name, same birthdate, but different are of the country to where I was living at the time. several long phone calls later, and they admitted that it was a "wrong trace". They had just searched for the name and date of birth, and picked on me.
I think it's been sorted now, but I haven't had it acknowledged in writing, just verbally.
Now go back to them and inform them of their breach of DPA and see how much they offer you to keep quiet I started getting letters asking for repayment. It wasn't immediately clear they were being sent by a collection agency, but I realised it wasn't for my loan.
I started a dispute with them once it became clear that I was dealing with a collection agency (no the student loans company), and that the debt wasn't mine.
Eventually they sent a copy of the original loan agreement. Same name, same birthdate, but different are of the country to where I was living at the time. several long phone calls later, and they admitted that it was a "wrong trace". They had just searched for the name and date of birth, and picked on me.
I think it's been sorted now, but I haven't had it acknowledged in writing, just verbally.
Wind me up these sort of people, but now you have responded to them ,if you do not owe the money contact the people that have instructed the debt company , clear yourself with them, Ask for some sort of remuneration for your time , and stress , and then demand the debt collection agency send you written confirmation your not on any debt list that could effect your credit score in future
So this issue finally got sorted about a week ago. Had a letter from the Debt Collectors saying that they had been instructed by their client to no longer continue pursuing payment and that any record of it on my credit score etc will be removed.
However...
I've now got another bunch of Debt Collectors chasing me for €1300 that I apparently owe Amazon in Germany (Amazon.de).
This is getting to be a real PITA.
This bunch have sent me a list of invoices for the goods they claim I have bought (obviously I haven't bought any of them - its a random collection of expensive books and Audio books). I keep sending them letters but so far I just keep getting renewed demands for payment.
However...
I've now got another bunch of Debt Collectors chasing me for €1300 that I apparently owe Amazon in Germany (Amazon.de).
This is getting to be a real PITA.
This bunch have sent me a list of invoices for the goods they claim I have bought (obviously I haven't bought any of them - its a random collection of expensive books and Audio books). I keep sending them letters but so far I just keep getting renewed demands for payment.
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