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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A debt collecting agency keeps phoning my house ....

27 replies

droves · 11/08/2010 20:39

.... looking for DH`S ex wife.
Im not happy about this.
They are asking for her by her firstname , then her own maiden name.
Apparently she has given my phone number as contact number for debts she has ran up.

I have told them , she does not live here , never has done and is in no way connected to this address or phone number .They still keep phoning .

So next time i get anyone asking for Cxxxxx Exwifey im going to give them her mobile number and address ! AIBU ?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 11/08/2010 20:42

Write them a letter and send it via Recorded Delivery.

Altinkum · 11/08/2010 20:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

squishy · 11/08/2010 20:42

YANBU, definitely ask them first to delete your details and you will give them hers. Perhaps also get their firm details, contact info, check they're legit and ring/write to them and insist they remove your details from this debt and confirm she has never lived there. Also, not sure if they're regulated (OfDet?!) but if debt collection agencies are, threaten a complaint to the appropriate body

Marjee · 11/08/2010 20:43

Yanbu at all, cheeky bitch shouldn't have given them your number! Have you told your dh about it?

Kaloki · 11/08/2010 20:44

I'd give them her address for definite

howdidthishappenthen · 11/08/2010 20:45

Take the callers name and department. Tell them you have already told them she does not reside at this address, ask to be posted a copy of their complaints procedure, and also to ask to speak to the person responsible for FSA compliance issues. Insist. Be extremely formal. Cite the OFT rules regarding harassment. They will be itching to get you off the line :-)

cupcakesandbunting · 11/08/2010 20:45

You are most definitely not unreasonable! I think that most of us here would have handed over ex's details to them at first contact. definitely would have.

howdidthishappenthen · 11/08/2010 20:46

The OFT rules: www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

Original poster
droves · 11/08/2010 20:49

I think its from a mail order thingy she hasnt paid off.
Bloody cheek of her,

Still am puzzled as to why she`d be able to get debts here , instead of her own house?

How can i check to make sure she hasnt done this more than once?
Would DH be liable for any of her debts?

OP posts:
Alambil · 11/08/2010 20:52

I'd get your credit paperwork and you can put a note on there saying you are in no way connected to X - I did this with my ex husband as I had a feeling he'd put all sorts of black marks against my name - CAB should be able to help

LucyLouLou · 11/08/2010 20:53

Debts are tied to a person rather than an address for the most part AFAIK. Did this nasty woman ever live in the house when she was married to your DH? Wasn't sure if you were just saying that to the callers.

LauraNorder · 11/08/2010 20:54

Take the name of the caller when they call. Tell them if they do not stop calling about a person who is not connected to your address you will take the matter further. i often find once you start getting personal things change!

Original poster
droves · 11/08/2010 20:55

Told dh , when it happened the first time , a few weeks ago .He said he`d have a word with her . He did .
Afterwards he told me she said it was probably a mix up with phone numbers , because he used to be married to her or something.
I was a bit Hmm .
Thing is this phone number was given to us after changing phone companys ...long after they were divorced.
She has never lived in our home...it was mine before i met DH.
just doesnt add up imo !

OP posts:
shoshe · 11/08/2010 20:55

Check your credit record, I have had this done, by somebody who moved into my old house (although it was in my name as well) she took out credit on mail order and credit cards that were sent there as junk mail!
It thousands of pounds and fucked up my credit rating royally, which then fucked up us getting a mortgage, which means at the moment we are living in our small flat instead of the house we wanted.

It is taking forever to get it cleared.

The Bitch has at least been arrested and i s due in court tomorrow.

fledtoscotland · 11/08/2010 20:56

We have had ongoing problems with debt collectors at our current house. We bought it as probate 5 yrs ago and had been rented for the previous year whilst the old lady who owned it was in a nursing home. The tenant ran up big debts and is still using this address to gain credit. The worst thing is that she is an HMRC employee!

I have spoken to the local police who have documented all the events and I have a direct number to phone if bailiffs every turn up but they said to just direct the collectors to them as the fraud is between the creditors and the individual and although we are caught in the middle, there is no loss suffered to us and it will not/has not affected our credit rating.

Original poster
droves · 11/08/2010 21:01

SHOSHE ! omg! thats terrible . Hope the court case goes the way you need it to.

think i will get a credit check done then.
is it the address or the person named who needs checked?
Could she still be linked to dh?

OP posts:
Honeydragon · 11/08/2010 21:05

Make a note of how many times the same one has called - genuine agencies (not nasty ones) often have to have attempted to use a responsive number 3 times to conclude that it is none viable and remove it them selves - annoying for you I know after that point out they have called 3 x you have confirmed that this is not the correct no. and to remove it. It is to catch out if the person they want really is there or not and fobbing them off. If you are overly agressive or simpy hang up they will suspect you are the debter ignoring them, remember they are paid to be suspicious.

You are doing nothing wrong by giving them the correct number if you have it and they will be very grateful to recieve the corrct information, and pursue her not you.

Also take the agents name in full and say if I get further calls from your agency can I refer this matter to you? Believe me they will deal with it as no individual wants further hassle and they will remove your number from their lists. If you request it they have to send you a letter confirming this has been done.

Be warned if dh's x has not updated her records to deliberately avoid money a collection agency may keep tracing her details back to you and you may have to take the matter further, or resign yourself to passing on her details.

If the nice way doesn't work than threaten them with the onbudsman.
Do you think she is giving them your number to get Dh to pay the debt? Or is it possible the collection agency are blurring what they are saying "But mrs x gave us this as her contact no" -- neglecting to say "but it was 15 years ago" type thing?

thesecondcoming · 11/08/2010 21:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Honeydragon · 11/08/2010 22:08

thescondcoming is also right they want to make a profit, so may just be trying to annoy your dh into paying.

Original poster
droves · 11/08/2010 22:23

I might have to change the house number if the calls dont stop .
Ive already asked them to remove my number and told them who this person is , and that im nothing to do with her.
Just fed up with it tbh.

OP posts:
2old4thislark · 11/08/2010 22:34

You don't have to change your number. We had nuisance calls from a withheld number and were still able to block calls so they didn't even ring.

Phone BT - I think the service is called 'choose to refuse'. You have to sign up to the service and pay for a month minimum I think. Next time the person calls you have to dial some numbers after they hang up. It worked for us.

Janos · 11/08/2010 22:39

YANBU.

Give them her number and address (why not?) and write a letter stating she doesn't live there anymore.

They will pay more attention to a letter. As expat says, send it RD.

bronze · 11/08/2010 22:41

I wouldn't actually give them her numbers. I would keep saying she isn't and has never been living there. Just feel like by giving them her numbers you're involving yourself, as if you're saying to them yes I know her and deal with her. I would complain complain complain tjhough

ItsGraceActually · 11/08/2010 23:14

Write to Equifax & Experian, the credit reference agencies. Clarify who this person is, her current contact information if you have it, and who now lives at your address. State that there is no financial link between her and yourselves, requesting that this info be added to your own file and DH's.

This will stop the calls eventually but, more importantly, will ensure you aren't penalised for her mistakes in times to come.