A 15 yr 'debt' - still payable/legal?

speedy22

About 15 yrs ago I changed from Nat West to Lloyds. Lloyds gave me a consolidation which paid off a credit card and £1000 due to Nat West. About this time last year (having moved several times in the intevening years) I started to receive letters from debt collection agencies - they seem to change every few months, saying that I still owe this £1000 to Nat West. I phoned the debt agency being used at the time and asked them to get back to me with proof of this debt. I have never heard from them and since then the debt agency has again changed several times! Do I still owe this money and why are so many agencies being used. Nobody seems to have a record or proof of the debt. I have had a credit check done and nothing is showing up against me on that. What is going on?

I would appreciate any help with this as the agencies and Nat West are clueless.

fermi

There will be nothing on your credit reference files because the debt is so old. If anything was originally recorded it would dropped off by now (6 years after any default), and they are now not entitled to enter any more information regarding this debt.

Even if genuine, then it is likely that this debt is "statute barred" and legally unenforceable.

A debt will be "Statute Barred" if there has been no acknowledgement of the debt by you making a payment or in writing within the relevant limitation period.

If you are in England/Wales then the limitation period is 6 years and you should read:

Link: Factsheet | Liability for Debts and the Limitation Act (England/Wales)

If you are in Scotland then the limitation period is 5 years and you should read:

Link: Factsheet | Liability for debts & the Prescription & Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973

If you feel the debt is "Statute Barred", then there is a letter to write at the end of each factsheet.

If you are unsure of anything, then give National Debtline a call free on 0808 808 4000 to talk your situation through with a professional advisor.