[QuantumSuicide]

I have just received a letter from Wescot about some debt that I owe of about £591. I am 100 % sure that I have nothing to do with this yet they seem to have my name correct (how did they know my address aswell?). It also says on behalf of Santander which I have nothing to do with, besides I don't even have a bank account and I'm not even 18.
WTF?

Has anyone had any similar experiences?
Any adivice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[tsnake23]

Check your credit record ASAP http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loa...it-score#files

Someone may have opened a bank account with Santander in your name.

[Juno]

Wescot do "fishing" - basically, they're looking for someone with the same name as you (or maybe even just similar) who did owe Santander money. They search electoral roll and other records to find people who match a bit then write to them all. They hope people are intimidated enough to pay up even if you're not the person they're asking for.

It's probably a better idea to post on the MSE forums (from the link above scroll to the top and click "forums") as people there can give you better advice than I can but if you phone Wescot they should agree eventually to stop writing to you. They might be a bit intimidating though, as they want money, so writing to them might be a better option - but if so do not sign the letter. Just write your name at the end.

[Tycho]

Eh, I wouldn't be wasting a stamp to let them know they're talking rubbish. Send them an email at the very most. If it's a scam then they won't be expecting many replies (most people will ignore them). Whatever you do, don't take their word for it that you owe them money. I'm pretty sure you'd know if you had spent almost £600 on something (or otherwise owed it).

[QuantumSuicide]

(Original post by Tycho)
Eh, I wouldn't be wasting a stamp to let them know they're talking rubbish. Send them an email at the very most. If it's a scam then they won't be expecting many replies (most people will ignore them). Whatever you do, don't take their word for it that you owe them money. I'm pretty sure you'd know if you had spent almost £600 on something (or otherwise owed it).

I was searching for their email, but I have found out they do not even have one. So I guess I'll have to phone them or send them a letter. At this stage I'm just going to ignore them though - they're not even worth the time.

[QuantumSuicide]

Thanks for all the replies.

[Leigh303]

If this continues, phone them, they were texting and calling me several times a day for 2 weeks until I rang them. However they won't normally answer if you "press 2 for enquiries" so I eventually pressed "1 to make a payment" and they soon picked up then! Just go mental at them saying you're young and its quite distressing etc. they took my number off the system after that

[QuantumSuicide]

(Original post by Leigh303)
If this continues, phone them, they were texting and calling me several times a day for 2 weeks until I rang them. However they won't normally answer if you "press 2 for enquiries" so I eventually pressed "1 to make a payment" and they soon picked up then! Just go mental at them saying you're young and its quite distressing etc. they took my number off the system after that

Lol, this specific debt collector must be one of the worse. I was reading a lot about them on a few forums and many people have had the same experience as you. Surely this is illegal isn't it? Harassing someone for something which they have not done.

[littleshambles]

thought i'd bump this - just got a letter off these guys saying i owe santander over 400 quid when i owe no such thing - i had a savings account with alliance and leicester years ago but i never overdrew from it so i DEFINITELY don't owe them any money, besides which no one has ever sent me any letters regarding this so called debt apart from these people so y'know whatevs. most of the stuff i've read has said to ignore them, but i just thought i'd post here in case anyone else has had a similar letter so you know they're full of it.

i have absolutely no ****ing CLUE how they found my address though as i only moved here a couple of months ago, can only assume my flatmate put me on the public electoral register when that got whipped round with the thread of a four figure fine if you don't send it back (which is a whole barrel of WTF right there), cheers mate.