Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Received a letter from Virgin mobile today and only after opening it realised it was addressed to a different name but at my address. It is an overdue account letter and I don't have any accounts with VM. No one else has ever lived at my property as it is newly built, so either a mistake or fraud. Is there anywhere to report this online? Should I be contacting the police?

I tried calling virgin and was quickly reminded how bad of a company they are to deal with. First time I got through to what appeared to be an Asian call centre who cut me off at the point I told them I wasn't a customer. Called again and got fed up listening to music in their queue. So glad I don't have to deal with this mickey mouse outfit any more.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Seal the envelope, next to the address on the front of the envelope, write in large letters, "Not at this address" and drop it into the nearest post box.

If anymore come, repeat as many times as you see fit.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

I am guessing a address mistake as surely the system would know no accounts were held at your address

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

The call centre is in Manilla I think.

Best advice is just reseal and cross out address and write not at this address and post in your nearest post box.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

I'm not so sure about it being a simple address error, as my postcode didn't even exist until last last year. Took a while for the Post office to update their systems and then all the providers some time after that, deliveries were a nightmare for a while.

Will try the advice of resealing and writing not at this address, although it worries me that it could affect the credit score of this address if not dealt with properly.


Cheers for the advice.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

They are probably having a pop at you 'cause of your sig. :D

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Thanks for making me notice the Sky link wasn't working! :D

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Not a problem, credit scores are against a person, not an address according to the credit agencies. I've been receiving quotations for several different people at my address (no one else has ever lived here) most insurers quote data protection but one sensible one told me there were several other names listed at my address and would pass the details to their fraud dept; they assured me it wouldn't reflect on me

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

They are good at this. I have had a problem and they mailed the answer to a completely different e-mail address. They have also sent a letter, but I haven't had it so who know where it went. Hang on, your name isn't Price is it :-)

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Well after putting return to sender on two letters along with a note explaining why, I have today received another letter with the same name on. Virgin Media are totally useless!

This time I have done another return to sender but explained I will be charging VM for my time to return any future letters addressed wrongly since they have been informed three times now.

---------- Post added at 14:20 ---------- Previous post was at 14:19 ----------

Nope :D Is yours Jeff Ogbyakula? Not exactly that but the first and surname on these letters really don't look like they belong together.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

I was getting bills from BT for over a year after i dumped them, it took lawyers letters and the civil court to get them off my back :mad:. That's why they will never supply service in this house again why i live here.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Got another letter addressed to the same person but with no markings on the envelope this time. Looked up the PO box address on the back of the envelope and it is a debt collection agency. So it looks like VM have passed it on and i'm going to start getting more letters. There are no words for how much I hate VM!

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Well you can't really hate them for that surely?

Its an automated process and clearly its just been forwarded to a debt collection agency as is normal process.

Just remain clam and keep sending them back as not known at this address. Eventually they will get the message. Or even call them and tell them you are receiving letters and bills when that person has never lived there, nor have you heard of them before.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

I did give in and call them today and their initial response was to tell me to just ignore all the letters but they will keep sending them. Also meant that I would keep getting the debt collection ones too.

Got through to customer support instead of billing/collections and got a similar response until I let them know it wasn't good enough. Gave them all the details and they said they would look in to it. Not convinced that will stop all the letters though.

My home is newly built and it took me a few weeks after moving in to get the new postcode put on Royal mails system. At the same time I registered to stop junk mail so no un-addressed letters come here. No mail forwarding from the old address as I still have access there. The tranquillity that comes from a new address and lack of crap mail should not be underestimated :) Just typical that VM are the ones to break that.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Sue them for harassment.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

I had similar problem with Talk Talk when i moved here as the guy died and left a bill for phone and internet and they kept sending letters.

In the end i got a letter from my solicitor stating that i had bought the house from the guys family and sent a copy of documentation proving it, and thankfully it stopped.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Got another letter from them today so now looking at proper legal avenues if anyone has any proper advice apart from just sending them an invoice for my time. These letters stress me out and now they are going to pay for that.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

An invoice for your time will get you nowhere and will achieve nothing but to waste your (valuable) time. If these bills are not in your name, all you should be doing is returning them, unopened, with "not known at this address" scrawled on the front in your neatest handwriting.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Tried that and contacted them by phone to explain the whole situation, as stated previously in the thread. Now past that stage.

Why do you think an invoice for time will not achieve anything? It has worked with many other companies. Just getting some more ideas for things I can do without paying a solicitor at this stage but I may go that far in the end anyway. They won't be getting away with this harassment.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

I have known it to work where there is something physical and tangible involved; some friends of mine got a large gas tank removed from their premises by threatening to charge the owner ground rent if they did not take it away within 28 days. But that is slightly different, as there was a great big metal gas tank involved, they gave prior notice and they were running commercial premises, so it was fairly easy for them to establish a reasonable cost for hosting the tank that any court would enforce.

If you start invoicing them for something as intangible as your administration time I think they will ignore you, and unless you are already self employed and can demonstrate what your time is worth, what argument will you take to court in order to force them to pay when they continue to ignore you?

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Why get stressed over something that isn't even addressed to you?

Just return them or bin them. Thats What I do if I get any mail for the previous tennent.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

That I can do and my hourly rate is far from cheap too. It would probably cost them more than the debt they are chasing in the long run. Hopefully someone here can give me ideas from their own experience if they have gone as far as court.

---------- Post added at 19:14 ---------- Previous post was at 19:10 ----------

You can't always choose what gets you stressed and what doesn't.

This property is new, no one has lived here before, ever. Yet someone in the property will likely have to deal with debt collectors turning up and the stress involved with that. Tried to deal with it yet VM just want to keep the harassment going and you wonder why this stresses me?

Still looking for any actual useful advice :)

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Don't bin it, return the mail with a letter from you saying that this is not your bill and to stop sending them to your address ask them to write a letter back stating that they have received your letter and that no other mail will come from them with regards to this matter otherwise you will be seeking legal advice at their expense as you have notified them on this matter. It's worth a try and who knows it might work.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Already returned two letters with those details weenie and a 30 minute phone call. The last letter returned had a note explaining I would charge them for returning future letters.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Bin them and to hell with them for not listening to you their problem and as it's not your bill you have nothing to worry about. I know what you mean with VM as I will be leaving them at the end of the year not for their service but because of the manners of their staff when you phone them with a problem that is nothing to do with you or your fault. Not all VM staff are bad just the ones that deal with customers and non customers LOL the staff they have on the phone ...

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Now you're talking.

The important considerations are, document everything you do in detail, and be realistic about your costs. Judges don't like blatantly inflated claims.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Cheers. This isn't about making money but I will make sure their wallet is hit hard if my family have to deal with debt collectors at the door after the situation has been explained to them so many times.

Weenie, VM are by far the worst company I have ever had to deal with when trying to resolve an issue. Left VM a couple of years ago and now wish I had done it so much sooner!

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

You could always do something similar to this.

The next letter I got would be returned with a covering letter saying that if they continue to contact you incorrectly then you will have no choice but to charge them for your waisted time. I would send the letter recorded delivery and maybe even mention something along the lines of them having to opt out of your proposed charges within 14 days of receipt, and point out if they don't specifically tell you they're not going to pay you, then you can assume they are agreeing to the costs involved if they send anymore letters. I would set out my (reasonable) costs too so they can't say you didn't inform them.

Then if the letters continue send an invoice, followed at a suitable interval by a reminder, then it's a trip to the local County Court. It worked for the guy in the link so it could work for you. Just think you could end up emplying your own debt collectors.....

Cheers

Grim

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

I remember reading that story in the past Grim. Shows that the little guy can be succesful :)

Wish I had returned the last letter recorded delivery now. Kicking myself for that. Great advice though.

The invoice was something I was thinking of doing but wasn't sure if that was something the county court would accept. So thanks for posting that link, very helpful!

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Good luck Qtx with regards to your problem with VM I hope it comes to an end soon for you as it will not be too nice for you or your family if debt collectors do come to your door especially after the situation has been explained to them so many times. :(

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Was this a phone delivered to your house? Or can they not tell you where the contract for the bill started if it wasn't at your address

---------- Post added at 22:51 ---------- Previous post was at 22:25 ----------

This is a template used by national debitline which i have used in the past.




HOME ADDRESS


DATE



COMPANY ADDRESS


Dear Sir/Madam

Account No: XXXXXXXXXXX

You have contacted me/us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself/ourselves.

I/we would point out that I/we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to (COMPANY NAME).

I am/we are familiar with the Office of Fair Trading Debt collection Guidance which states that it unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

I/we would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

I/we would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above account unless you can provide evidence as to my/our liability for the debt in question.

I/we await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed.

I/we look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully


SIGNATURE

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

They won't tell me, due to the data protection act they claim. Trying to find out if they have made a mistake or if a phone was delivered here has been impossible, because they won't tell me. If I knew that one had, I could at least get in touch with the builders and let them know one of their staff had committed some kind of fraud. At the same time, I think it could be a mistake as Royalmail had no postcode for this address before I moved in and it took a few weeks to get that sorted. Also, the bill is for £700 and I don't see how someone could have got a bill so high for an address that only had a front door for a few months.

Cheers for the letter template, will be using most of it as part of a bigger letter :)

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Luckily it's not in my name, so a little different to what is in the link but I still think there has been some kind of fraud.

It's about time mobile companies did some proper checks on people taking out contracts and getting phones with them.

Re: Outstanding amount - Not a customer
 

Someone registered a Car to my address and i had to get the Police involved after police arrived at my door step claiming that the car was registered to a person at my address and had driven away from a scene of an accident without stopping.