Halifax Bank has apologised for unleashing debt collectors on a woman for being overdrawn even though she did not even have a current account with them.

Linda Adams of Connaught Road, New Malden said she was made to "feel like a criminal" and had her credit rating ruined after the bank confused her with a namesake who was £3,000 overdrawn. The bank also transferred £4,500 of shares belonging to Ms Adams to the woman who was in debt.

The nightmare began when Mrs Adams opened websaver and ISA accounts with the bank in March.

Soon after, she received a letter from the Halifax saying she owed them £3,000 from a current account and the case was being referred to a county court. Forceful phone calls from debt collectors demanding payment soon followed.

Despite never having had a Halifax current account and sending a copy of her passport to prove she did not open the overdrawn account, it took the Halifax until June to acknowledge the mistake.

The account in question was in fact opened when Mrs Adams was not even in the country.

Nearly four months on, her credit rating had still not been fully corrected, with the Halifax even contacting one credit agency in July to confirm the details of the overdrawn account.

She said: "I have been made to feel like a criminal when all it was the Halifax's mistake.

"This could have been sorted out the first day I told them they had made an error. But because they refused to admit what they have done it has gone on and on.

"The stress has been unbelievable - it might have sent a weaker person round the bend."

The Halifax has now offered £500 to Mrs Adama as compensation for the stress and promised her credit rating will be fully restored.

A spokesman said: "We apologise for what has happened and we have taken all steps to put the situation back as it should be."

To make a complaint about your bank, contact the Financial Services Ombudsman on 0845 080 1800.