NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/misc/consumer/22361

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-21 | 1.6 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!usc!usc!not-for-mail
From: [e-mail] (Ajay Shah)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Help!    (stolen wallet troubles)
Date: 21 Jan 1993 18:57:58 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Lines: 28
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
NNTP-Posting-Host: almaak.usc.edu

In March last year my wallet was stolen.  It contained many credit
cards (all of which I dealt with by calling the companies) and a
drivers license.

Many months went by and nothing felt amiss.
Then a few months ago someone went crazy opening accounts with department
stores etc. in my name (presumably using my drivers license).

I was contacted by several stores about this.  In one case they sent
me a copy of the form the bad guy had filled up, and it was glaringly
obvious that the signature was not me.  I had to get my statement
notarised for some of them, etc.  I phoned the Santa Monica police
and they said this is fraud, and not a police matter.

Now today I got a call from a collection agency on behalf of Unocal.
The rude man refused to believe anything I said.  He asked me if I'd
filed a police report (he insisted losing a drivers license is a
matter worthy of filing a police report).  He promised to start
proceedings in court against me and slammed the phone.

What do I do?  Unlike the other department stores, Unocal never
contacted me directly.  This collection agency is the only thing I've
ever seen.  If I get summons from a court, what do I do?  I can't
really afford to hire a attorney.

        -ans.
--
Ajay Shah, [phone], [e-mail]