Can anybody help please?

Help_Vincent

Hi I am new here and am hoping someone might be able to help me.
Back in 1998/1999 I had a barclays loan for £10K and a Barclay card owing about £800. I was made redundant in 1999 and I defaulted on my loan payment, this meant that I couldn't use the insurance scheme that I had paid £1.5k for :mad: it was a barclays insurance scheme but when I phoned the insurance office (they were based in Dublin - I live in the UK) they said the moment I defaulted I lost the right to claim and that the loan along with the interest would now be passed to the collections company of Barclays. After a while I heard from the collections company but I was in such a state with money I ignored the request for me to contact them. I eventually got a CCJ and was ordered to pay £750 a month, as I was out of work I couldn't afford to do this. And in the end they stopped contacting me. Barclays closed my account in 1999.
After a long period without anybody chasing me I was finally contacted by Thames Credit - that must have been in about 2004 and I have been paying them between £50 and £70 a month since then.
I have never been able to get another bank account so have been unable to order a credit report online - I would like to be able to do this but have no idea how I can as they all seem to want paying by credit cards - my partner has a paypal account and a switch card I could use to make the payment but I don't want the credit check to be done on her. Also I have only been living at my current address for 2 years and have not given this address to thames credit - they just send a payment slip each month to my parents house.

Thames credit recently contacted me saying they would take 30% as full and final payment on the debt (£8.8k still owing). But I couldn't afford to do this so ignored the letter. This week they have sent another saying they will accept 45% in 3 instalments, but to be honest I can't even afford the £70 a month I am currently paying. I could sell my car and raise about £1600 and have a buyer who would give me the cash within 2 weeks. Do you think I should contact Thames Credit and offer them this. Would this then mean that they will clear my credit file and would the CCJ be shown as clear? I tried to phone Thames Credit today but I just get an answer phone saying they are closed even though there letter states they are open until 4:30pm.
If I did pay them off do you think that I could then open a bank account? All I currently have is a savings account with abbey which my wages gets paid into.
I have also heard that Thames Credit are bad for saying they will accept offers and then once they have your money they don't really settle the debt or mark it as paid.

I am so sorry for the really long post and realise that you must read worse things than this everyday at the moment but any help would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I have had this thing around my neck for so many years now and really just want an end to it.

Many many thanks
Vincent

10past6

Hello Vincent :hello:

Welcome to the forum, couple of things, when did you receive the CCJ? if it's was more then 6 years ago, then it won't show on your credit report now.

Next, send this letter to Thames credit, this will put your account into dispute, when you hear from them, come back to us for further advice:

Loan or CC Company

Address


Your Address

Date

Dear Sir/Madam

Re:− Account/Reference Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

With reference to the above agreement, I would be grateful if you would send us a copy of this credit agreement.

I understand that under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Sections 77−79), we are entitled to receive a copy of our credit agreement on request.

I enclose a payment of £1.00 which represents the fee payable under the Consumer Credit Act.

I understand a copy of our credit agreement should be supplied within 12 working days.

I understand that under the Consumer Credit Act creditors are unable to enforce an agreement if they fail to comply with a request for a copy of the agreement under these sections of the Act.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

ONLY PRINT - NEVER SIGN YOUR LETTER

Help_Vincent

Hi 10past6 and thanks so much for your reply!
To be totally honest I cant remember when I got the CCJ but I would guess it was around 2000/2001. I thought a CCJ would always stay on my report until it was cleared?
Also with regards to the letter (thanks so much for supplying me with the template) can I still send this even though I have been paying them for about the last 3 - 4 years?
Thanks again

stapeley

I think you need more advice on this . Hopefully others will be along with advice soon. I thick situation is different with a CCJ already in place .

10past6

Help_Vincent wrote: »

I thought a CCJ would always stay on my report until it was cleared?

No, it only remains on your credit file for 6 years, if the CCJ was issued over 6 years ago, it will now be statue barred, some may well say it's not statue barred as a CCJ was issued, for the DCA to enforce the CCJ, they MUST TAKE LEAVE OF THE COURT.

Help_Vincent wrote: »

Also with regards to the letter (thanks so much for supplying me with the template) can I still send this even though I have been paying them for about the last 3 - 4 years?
Thanks again

Asking for your CCA is confirmation they are able to chase you for the debt.

If no CCA is produced, then they CANNOT enforce the debt, whether you wish to pay it or not is your decision.

Help_Vincent

10past6 wrote: »

No, it only remains on your credit file for 6 years, if the CCJ was issued over 6 years ago, it will now be statue barred, some may well say it's not statue barred as a CCJ was issued, for the DCA to enforce the CCJ, they MUST TAKE LEAVE OF THE COURT.

Asking for your CCA is confirmation they are able to chase you for the debt.

If no CCA is produced, then they CANNOT enforce the debt, whether you wish to pay it or not is your decision.

OK thanks I shall do that

Sorry for all the questions but what would the benefits be to me if I did pay it?

10past6

Help_Vincent wrote: »

Sorry for all the questions but what would the benefits be to me if I did pay it?

Requesting your CCA will put your account into "Dispute"

The DCA cannot sell that debt on, or take any action until your dispute is solved.

If it's possible, request a copy of your credit file, it will only cost £2.00 by post, see what's showing on there, in the meantime, send of for your CCA.

Help_Vincent

10past6 wrote: »

Requesting your CCA will put your account into "Dispute"

The DCA cannot sell that debt on, or take any action until your dispute is solved.

If it's possible, request a copy of your credit file, it will only cost £2.00 by post, see what's showing on there, in the meantime, send of for your CCA.

Thanks again 10past6.
I have been trying to do a credit check online this evening, I fill out my personal details on the first page and then get taken to a payment screen where I am asked to enter my card details, I am using my partners card and there is not option to put her name in as the cardholder :mad: don't these credit reference agencies realise that some of their customer wont have a bank account! I haven't had an account since barclays closed mine around 2000/2001 that is one of the reasons I really want to get this sorted now.
Life can be so hard without some sort of current account!
I will send the letter tomorrow!
Cheers and have yourself a good night :T

10past6

On that site there is a "Contact Us" button, click on it and obtain the phone details, give them a call see what the problem is.

Come back and post as and when.

Good luck

Nat West do a Step account, basic bank account, no O/D no cheque book, no Visa, just a basic bank account, you can apply online.

10past6

Help_Vincent wrote: »

I will send the letter tomorrow!

Remember, send it by recorded delivery, and DON'T SIGN, ONLY PRINTyour name.

flubdub

No, dont sign it. Theyve been known to copy and paste your signature!
Were just about to send out CCA requests for some debt - some of which Im sure we dont owe!