Debt that is not mine

[blip39]

HI. I am being chased by Lowell debt collection agency. I know the person that the debt belongs to but have never lived with her. I don't know how they connected me with her - through her phone records? I also don't know how they found my adress. They told me that she had given them my details but I don't know if that is true and I tend to think not. I have given them her (new) address in an attempt to clear it up (I have told her I have done this).

Clearly she has not paid it or taken responsibilty for it as I am still getting letters from them.

I cannot be completely sure that the debt is hers, though. She has denied it is to me but she has a history of fraud.

I feel out of my depth and stressed.

I think I need to write to Lowells but am not sure how to word the letter.

The letters I get from them are using my first name and her surname.

Thanks

[Kati]

Re: Debt that is not mine

Return all letters to sender with addressee not known on the envelope??

You could always write to Lowells (sending it recorded/signed for) stating categorically that you have no knowledge of the debt, that you are not the person they are looking for, and giving them the proper name and address of the lady in question. Say you are willing to sign a statutory declaration (costs approx £5) to this effect, and that any further contact will be classed as harassment and dealt with accordingly.

[blip39]

Re: Debt that is not mine

Thanks very much for your advice Kati, much appreciated.

[enquirer]

Re: Debt that is not mine

Do NOT ignore these letters.

I know the person that the debt belongs to but have never lived with her.

Was there ever any form of financial connection between you?

I have given them her (new) address in an attempt to clear it up (I have told her I have done this).

She is your enemy - tell her nothing.

What to do?

This is slightly odd, given that they are chasing someone who doesn't exist.

You can either complete an SD (Statutory Declaration), in which you state that the debt (give details) is not yours, and that you have no knowledge of the person named in their correspondence. Send a copy (not the original) to Lowells via Recorded Delivery (never telephone or email).

Or you can write, mentioning the Data Protection Act and stating that you are receiving confidential correspondence intended for an unknown third party not resident at that address, and that they should cease sending such correspondence immediately.

As she appears to have engaged in a fraud of some description, it might be wise to consider taking this up with the police. You would be wise to check your credit history too.

[blip39]

Re: Debt that is not mine

Thanks for replying. When I write to them, should I sign off using my full name, and should I not actually sign off with a signiture in case that is copied somehow?

[Kati]

Re: Debt that is not mine

If you are worried about them using your signature, you could always use an anti-tamper strip ?? Or just 'sign' in a different font

[Wombats]

Re: Debt that is not mine

You say in post 1 you cannot be sure the debt is hers. Are you 100% sure it is not yours?

If so the stat dec is a good and cheap option; if not, then signing a stat dec would not be wise.

It is not uncommon for names to get mixed up in these matters. I think sometimes they mix names up deliberately in the hope of eliciting a response from someone. Your priority is to clear your name if you are sure this is nothing to do with you. That is easily done via the stat dec.