mum and Cap One Claiming for debt poss fraud?

[shifnal]

Wondering if you could help please? My mother, who is disabled and elderly, has had a letter this morning (Monday 12th November) from Red debt collection services claiming that she owes Capital One £416.43 for an outstanding credit card debt.

 

The issue is this:

 

She has never had a Capitol One credit card and does not know where this debt has come from. Red claim that they have already contacted her and offered a "generous discount" on the debt, which is not true as this is the first she has heard from them.

 

She has only been in her home for a few months and is at a loss as to how they have connected her name and address with this debt, and is very anxious and worried.

 

The letter claims: "We will be sending your account to a field agent or one of our chosen debt collection specialist partners unless you arrange repayment." She is now very concerned that someone will come to her door demanding money for a debt she does not owe.

 

The letter does not state how long she has to contact them before they send an agent out, and she is therefore worried that unless she does something in the next 24 hours she will be in trouble.

 

I was therefore hoping that someone would be able to offer some advice as to what action to take please?

 

I state again that she has no knowledge of this debt; she has never had a Capitol One credit card; she has only been in her home a few months and does not know how Red have linked her name and address to this debt.

 

Thank you in advance.

[Old Cogger]

sounds like a phishing trip by them , wait and see if any other letters arrive in the next few weeks. might be other people with the same name no doubt have been sent the tracing letters? others will respond also no doubt for you on here?

 

Times must be hard if they are chasing anybody for a couple hundred quid, oh xmas is coming and bonuses time!! What **** bags the DCAs are. and people work for them, pathetic creatures.

[citizenB]

Red are part of Lowells who have been buying up reams of Capone debt. It would appear your Mother has fallen victim to either a "same name" trace or poor tracing.

 

You have 2 choices - ignore and see what happens next.

 

Or send a stern letter advising that this debt does not belong to your Mother and if Red continue to send these phishing letters you will report them to the Office of Fair Trading.

 

Under no circumstances sign the letter.

[i hate bailiffs]

 

 

 

The letter claims: "We will be sending your account to a field agent or one of our chosen debt collection specialist partners unless you arrange repayment." She is now very concerned that someone will come to her door demanding money for a debt she does not owe.

 

The letter does not state how long she has to contact them before they send an agent out, and she is therefore worried that unless she does something in the next 24 hours she will be in trouble.

 

.

 

IF there field monkey turn up , i doubt they will you can simply tell them to go away and bother someone else and close the door

 

they have no powers and can do nothing they are not bailiffs and never will be

[Old Cogger]

IF there field monkey turn up , i doubt they will you can simply tell them to go away and bother someone else and close the door

 

they have no powers and can do nothing they are not bailiffs and never will be

 

There again you could be polite and direct them to the local piggery in the nearest field with pigs.

[dx100uk]

check her cra file has not been trashed too

 

dx

[shifnal]

Update: My Mother has heard nothing for months, but this morning (Monday 18th February) had another letter from Red about the same debt. Should she write to them and if so, what does she say?

 

Thanks!

[citizenB]

Update: My Mother has heard nothing for months, but this morning (Monday 18th February) had another letter from Red about the same debt. Should she write to them and if so, what does she say?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Post 3 refers.. you should send the stern letter telling that your Mother does not have and never has had an account with Capone.

 

That you are now reporting them to the Office of Fair trading for their harassment.

[shifnal]

Thank you!

[shifnal]

Update: 18th March 2013. My Mother had a letter from Lowell this morning thanking her for her letter but saying that they have "looked at the information we have and believe that you are responsible for this debt." They then went on to say that they were passing it on to Capital One for verification before taking further action and have "temporarily suspended this account."

 

What does this actually mean, and what should my Mother do now? She is adamant that she has never had a Cap One card, and she has only lived at the address they are writing so since last May.

 

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[citizenB]

I will try and find someone who can advise further.

 

I think there is little you can do other than to make a complaint to the Office of Fair Trading and also the Financial Ombudsman.

 

I really dont see how your Mother can confirm that she has never had an account with this company.

 

The only way this could be settled is for Capone to provide a copy of the agreement with a signature on it - which of course if it isnt your Mother's then they breach Data Protection.

 

I would wait and see what happens now that Lowells have returned this to Capital One - what I do advise is that your Mother does not provide them with a copy of her signature !

[citizenB]

Did you check your Mother's credit files to ensure there has been no reporting of this on HER file ?

[citizenB]

The only other thing we can suggest is that you wait and see if they issue a claim against your Mother. Then you can put them to strict proof on disclosure.

[shifnal]

Thank you for the advice. Really appreciate it.

[citizenB]