Data Protection Act letter

[killieminogue]

Hi,
After sending a Prove It letter to a DCA recently, I received this reply.

"Dear xxxxxx,
Further to your recent communication. In order for us to prevent a breach of the Data Protection Act and also continue with your enquiry,it would be most helpful if you could confirm your DOB and the last address that you have resided together with date vacated.
We look forward to receiving this information within the next 10 days.
Yours etc"

How should I respond to this letter?

Thank you

[bluebottle]

Re: Data Protection Act letter

What did they say in the letter they originally sent to you and which DCA is involved? From what you've posted up, they could be in breach of the DPA themselves. It certainly looks like they are on a fishing expedition.

[enquirer]

Re: Data Protection Act letter

It sounds very much as if they can't prove it.

If however they can trick you into providing that information, then in a perfectly circular argument, they will throw it back at you as 'proof'. They might even use it to stitch you up for something of which you know nothing at all.

As Bluebottle says, this is a fishing expedition. Tell them nothing.

[killieminogue]

Re: Data Protection Act letter

What did they say in the letter they originally sent to you and which DCA is involved? From what you've posted up, they could be in breach of the DPA themselves. It certainly looks like they are on a fishing expedition.

The original letter was from Wescot Credit Services acting on behalf of Arden Credit Management. I had never heard of either of them so just ignored the letter.
About a week later a further letter arrived from Wescot headed" Final Notice. Our latest enquiries have now confirmed that you are still resident at this address but we have not received a reply to our previous correspondence.
Unless you contact us to agree repayment of £xxxxxx within the next 10 days, further collection activity will be taken to recover the full outstanding balance".

At this point I sent of the prove it letter from CurlyBen's post, & the reply I received was my original post asking for DOB & previous address.

My question is; Do I have to provide this information? How should I reply if at all.

Thank you

[MIKE770]

Re: Data Protection Act letter

No No No the same template letter goes to all peeps from Wetcloths! they are only a downgraded DCA to my mind!/ dealings with that shower.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Data Protection Act letter

The original letter was from Wescot Credit Services acting on behalf of Arden Credit Management. I had never heard of either of them so just ignored the letter.
About a week later a further letter arrived from Wescot headed" Final Notice. Our latest enquiries have now confirmed that you are still resident at this address but we have not received a reply to our previous correspondence.
Unless you contact us to agree repayment of £xxxxxx within the next 10 days, further collection activity will be taken to recover the full outstanding balance".

At this point I sent of the prove it letter from CurlyBen's post, & the reply I received was my original post asking for DOB & previous address.

My question is; Do I have to provide this information? How should I reply if at all.

Thank you

No, you don't have to provide any information to wetclothes, who seem to be on a fishing expedition as is customary. :rant: It's up to them to contact you providing proper information regarding any alleged debt, anyone can write to you claiming you owe them something, I could whip up a letterhead and ask you to pay into my bank account, would you?

I would just sit and wait for more concrete proof.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Data Protection Act letter

No, you don't have to provide any information to wetclothes, who seem to be on a fishing expedition as is customary. It's up to them to contact you providing proper information regarding any alleged debt, anyone can write to you claiming you owe them something, I could whip up a letterhead and ask you to pay into my bank account, would you?

I would just sit and wait for more concrete proof.

Alternatively, one might ask them why it is only now that they are concerned about Data Protection when they were not so coy when they were merrily issuing demands for payment.

But don't give the buggers any more information.

[killieminogue]

Re: Data Protection Act letter

Hi,
I replied saying that I had no knowledge of them or their client & declined to supply them with any personal information.
A few days later I received another letter asking for the same DOB & previous address information.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Data Protection Act letter

Hi,
I replied saying that I had no knowledge of them or their client & declined to supply them with any personal information.
A few days later I received another letter asking for the same DOB & previous address information.

Wetclothes are at the top of the DCA League of Inefficiency, for example, they keep ringing the wrong number (a work number), asking for someone who's never been known there, after more than 2 dozen times, they still haven't removed the number from their database! :rant: :rant: :rant: