Is it fraud?

[Nelli]

I've been paying a debt off to a collection agency, by cheque, it was an agreed amount and I always pay on time. I recently received later from them saying I had missed October's payment, I know I paid it and my bank statement proved it. I asked my Bank to send me a photocopy of the actual cheque and to my surprise when I looked at the back of it, where you write the relevant account number, someone at the Collection Agency had crossed MY account number out and written a completely different one. Obviously I am furious, but is it fraud, I have confronted them about it and they are looking into it, but taking a little too long about it. I want to go in with the 'Big Guns'. Is it fraud to alter someone's cheque, even though it is just the details on the back? My suspicions are they have paid my payment towards someone elses' account, but could there be any more sinister reasons?

[Janetex]

Definitely agree with your suspicions, but it "could" have been a "clerical error". You should contact the party to whom you originally owed the debt to let them know what has happened, with a bit of background on your regular payments, copies etc, and let them know that you are investigating it and advise them that they should do the same at their end (nice suggestion that sounds like a threat!) Good luck, sounds like you're being yerked around a lot lately.

[darth vader]

mention that you know Anne Robinson personally, and are thinking of writing to watchdog - that should make them sit up a bit (worked for me)

[FTVS]

Sounds v dodgy to me - I would strongly suggest you put all this in writing to them plus copy of the cheque from your bank etc. Get them to respond in writing. If you do speak by phone get teh persons name, mak a note of date/time/content. Of course you also want assurance that you are not going to incur any extra interest etc. If you can, I would also suggets faxing copy of your letters as proof of receipt.

[Nelli]

Thanks ppl, I have faxed them another letter, with copy of the cheque, clearly showing the 'alteration', and threatened them with legal action. A friend suggested that as they are a Debt Collection Agency I send them three faxes in a row saying 'I have been round to your property, and you did not answer the door, even though I saw your curtain twitch' :-D ...on a more serious note, I'm also reporting them to Abbey National, the company who I originally had the debt with.