Email from BWlegal for a random debt

[Chris2070]

Hey everybody,

I just received an alarming email from noreply@bwlegal.co.uk claiming they're handling a debt of £500 for PRAC and the original creditor being Instant Cash Loans Payday UK.
I have never had a loan in my entire life, and I have nothing on my credit file related to this nor any letters regarding this matter.

How do I proceed with something like this?

FYI, the email seems fairly legitimate off the bat though I am on mobile so cannot check the headers to verify it is actually.

Copy of the email is below.
https://pastebin.com/9q7AqMYy

Best regards.

[jaguarsuk]

Write back to them stating "I have never had a loan in my entire life, and I have nothing on my credit file related to this nor any letters regarding this matter. "

And asking that they substantiate the claim of the debt being owed by sending you all documents relating to it.

[Kati]

Personally I'd be blocking their email address so they have to write a proper letter instead ... how are you meant to know if this email is legit or not??

[Amethyst]

I would ignore the email for the moment, although it could be a useful warning that further action may be on its way so use the time to find out more information. I would keep an eye on your Credit File , accounts and searches for anything dodgy coming up.

I think I might also be inclined to send a SAR (Subject Access Request Letter ) to PRAC to try and find out where this is coming from. That has a 40 days response time so hopefully will shed some light before any further action so you will be in a position to head it off at the pass, or indeed, if it seems like there is something ID fraud wise going on can take necessary action.

The numbers on the email and email addresses seem right, and these instant loan debts have a 'service by email is okay' type clause in, so when you do have information and respond to BW Legal you can state that you withdraw any permission for contact electronically and require anything hard copy in the mail.

[Chris2070]

Thanks for the replies.

As far as I know it takes a while for debt to get to the point where it is in recovery stage such as this. My credit file is updated on Experian every month on the 1st, and with that being recent I know there is nothing out of order on it.

I will ignore it for now, couldn't really care for their clauses since I haven't signed anything. What is baffling is if someone used my name and email address for whatever reason then I would have seen emails from this Payday UK place regarding the usual things like registration, confirmation and applications.

I will look into the SAR.

Thanks again.

[jaguarsuk]

Thanks for the replies.

As far as I know it takes a while for debt to get to the point where it is in recovery stage such as this. My credit file is updated on Experian every month on the 1st, and with that being recent I know there is nothing out of order on it.

I will ignore it for now, couldn't really care for their clauses since I haven't signed anything. What is baffling is if someone used my name and email address for whatever reason then I would have seen emails from this Payday UK place regarding the usual things like registration, confirmation and applications.

I will look into the SAR.

Thanks again.

Not all creditors report to all 3 credit reference agencies and they do not share what it reported to each other for accuracy.

The creditor may report only to Equifax or Call Credit.

You shoild check those to see if there is any adverse reporting with them.

its likely that the person whom did this took the loan out using another email address and that BW have traced this email address after receiving no response from the one used to obtain the loan.

SAR Payday UK too, this will allow you to see what info they have and it may be different to PRAC.

SAR’s have a 40 day turnaround, there could be important documents you need if they launch a claim and if they do file you’ll only have 33 days at most from them filing to you getting a Defence into the court.

[Chris2070]

Not all creditors report to all 3 credit reference agencies and they do not share what it reported to each other for accuracy.

The creditor may report only to Equifax or Call Credit.

You shoild check those to see if there is any adverse reporting with them.

its likely that the person whom did this took the loan out using another email address and that BW have traced this email address after receiving no response from the one used to obtain the loan.

SAR Payday UK too, this will allow you to see what info they have and it may be different to PRAC.

SAR’s have a 40 day turnaround, there could be important documents you need if they launch a claim and if they do file you’ll only have 33 days at most from them filing to you getting a Defence into the court.

Thank you. I just acquired my statutory report from CallCredit, nothing different compared to Experian except it is more in depth in regards to search history though still nothing I don't recognize. Just various credit monitors I have used in the past (now closed) and accounts I do have, of course.

Awaiting Equifax to approve my documents for ID purposes, we shall see.

The main agencies are Equifax, Call Credit and Experian then?

I'm assuming just how the system here works (yay for the UK) but it's rather ridiculous how I'm the one being timed to get my defense which is pretty much already good as far as I know. Nothing in my bank from this magical loan company, nothing in my postbox and nothing in my credit file thus far?

[warwick65]

Maybe this is one of the times to ignore the no phone rule. Before diving in at the deep end sending SARs that will produce little because, if as you say you have never had a payday loan they will have nothing on you so can not verify your identity.

By the way, was the name on the email correct?

Use the Internet to get phone numbers, but don't give too much away. Also maybe send an email back asking for proof. I think that's what Jaguar was suggesting.

Proof might include the name and account number where any money was paid.

If they are insubstant put it in writing and contact action fraud.

Mostly these things can be sorted without using a sledgehammer.

Could the email be a typo? There is someone with the same name and email address as me but with a 1 after the surname. He has received emails intended for me

[Diana M]

I just received an alarming email from noreply@bwlegal.co.uk claiming they're handling a debt of £500 for PRAC and the original creditor being Instant Cash Loans Payday UK.
I have never had a loan in my entire life, and I have nothing on my credit file related to this nor any letters regarding this matter.

How do I proceed with something like this?

Why not send BW Legal a "Prove It!" letter.

Debt Camel has a good template (with the pros and cons of doing this according to your personal situation) on her website here > https://debtcamel.co.uk/prove-it/

Make BW Legal do the legwork instead of you.

Di

[Chris2070]

I already replied to their email saying I haven't had a loan in my life and that I would like to see the documents related to the claim that I owe a debt. I don't think I will spend too much time on it though.

The name on the email was correct, and of course email typos are always possible but seems unlikely in combination.

If I receive anything else from them then I shall escalate it.

[Chris2070]

Got a reply back from them.
https://pastebin.com/aQ9B9mkv

Should I send that kind of information just like that?

Best regards

UPDATE: I just went through the headers and it all seems fine, email verification passes and emails come from Proofpoint. However upon going to the domain bwlegal.co.uk it's got absolutely nothing on it.
The requested URL / was not found on this server.