Roxburghe Debt Collectors

minty2009

Good afternoon everyone.

I'm brand new to the site and really needing as much advice as possible!

This morning I have received a letter from a Debt Collection agency called Roxburghe Debt Collectors based in Surrey. They are chasing up a sum of £455.43 from 2003 for a mobile provider called 3G and that I was now required to pay the debt in full immediately. Obviously this alarmed me!!! I used to be with them around that time, and absolutely positive that I paid off all the balance when i left them.

So out of the blue I have received this letter and have had no previous correspondance from them! I rang them and spoke to a Mr Singh (they have to be referred to as MR and not first names!), he was claiming that the account had been passed onto them as a company called HFO had no success in contacting me. He claimed that the original balance wasn't as high but with all additional interest and solicitor's fees have made it £455.33. The original balance was £262. He was claiming that it had been referred to the same solicitors who worked in the same building as them also. I got all my account details from him and said I would be calling 3G. I did this and spoke to a Manager in one of their overseas call centres. He was saying that the original debt was £360 for the account in 2003 and thats all he could tell me as all the details were now with HFO (surely he could also bring up my details?) and then hung up on me. At this stage i then started reading a few similar stories on the internet referring to HFO and Roxburgh (especially for car parking tickets).

It was only a month ago that i chucked all my old old bills out too!

I was made redundunt in Jan, had an operation in March on a longstanding foot problem and then had complications from surgery and unable to return to work. I'm in the middle of having a new roof on too as water has been recently leaking through and the boiler is on the verge of packing up too. Their is no way i could afford this right now.

Are they chancing their luck or should i pay off the debt? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Minty2009

Tixy

Hi Minty and welcome

Firstly - the original debt was in 2003 - do you know when you last paid anything to 3G or when the last billed was raised? can you work it out from bank statements?

If you have not paid anything or acknowledged the debt in writing for over 6years (5 in scotland) then the debt is statute barred - see factsheets and templates here - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11571227&postcount=3

The call you made today does not count as acknowleding the debt. It is quite common for a debt to be sold just before or just after it is statute barred. If they try to tell you that there is a default on the account within the last 6years this is irrelevant to the statute barred issue.

If it is not quite 6years or you are not sure you could send them this letter - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11570893&postcount=2

Whatever you send them in writing you should make sure you include the 'I do not acknowledge any debt...' phrase.

minty2009

Hi Tixi thanks for swift reply.

I have moved house a few times over the last 6 years but have been at my current address for over 2 years now and have been on the electoral roll so they could have easily contacted me before now.

Unfortunately I used to bank with another bank and all of them statements got thrown out with the mobile phone bills! I know for a fact I haven't paid 3G anything in those 6 years though, whether it is slightly under or over 6 years I am not so sure though. They also claimed i should look at my Experian report as apparently I have a CCJ too?!

What should I do?

Much appreciated

Tixy

Ah sorry - a CCJ does change things - should have put that in my original post. If there is a CCJ then the debt does not become statute barred but if its after 6years from the date of the CCJ then they need court permission and a good reason to start chasing your for it (though I expect it is not 6years old in this case).

Firstly I would get a copy of your credit report (you can sign up for a free trial -remember to cancel withing 30days so you don't get charged) or you can order for £2 for free.

In the meantime send the prove it letter which will act as a delay and will mean then have to prove you owe the money and that they have the right to collect it (second link in my first post)

When you have your credit report come back here to let people know what it says so you can get further advice.

minty2009

Thanks ever so much Tixi I will get onto Experian right away and keep you updated on future progress.

Thanks again

Minty2009

minty2009

Hi Tixi

Hope you remember our last thread! Thought I’d get back to you as the letters from Roxburghe have started again!

Firstly I sent a prove it letter like you said. They then sent me a letter which was typed on Microsoft Word with no letterhead (really professional). Enclosed was a balance summary with all the payments between me and 3 mobile, they state the last payment was made on 18/10/2005 for £5.00 which left the remaining balance as 265.21, in that time, they state that 10.00 charges have been added and £162.97 interest has also been added giving a final total of £438.18.

The first letter I received from them, stated I owed £455.43, the response to the prove it letter informed me I owe £438.18, then this morning I have received a letter stating I owe £455.80. This morning's letter is the reason for this post. To summarise I ignored their previous response to my prove it letter, as I found it really unprofessional (no letterhead and the wording).

But this morning received a letter (with letter head) stating 'I am surprised to note that you have failed to respond in a satisfactory manner to our previous letter, your failure to take action indicates to me that you do not intend to settle your liability and therefore I shall pass this matter to our analysts, who will review your case' etc etc. They will send the baliffs round soon apparently.

I also checked the credit report and their is nothing on there from Roxburghe like they stated a while ago, presume this is a scare tactic? But surely cannot say that? Rang Experian to make sure nothing was hiding in the background, and they confirmed that their was nothing on their from Roxburghe.

What should I do with the letter received this morning, shall I send them another letter, as stated before I really feel I do not owe them any money but cannot check records from that long ago! Please help, I still can’t walk so the last thing I need is bailiffs coming round!

Sorry for the long post, all help much appreciated.
Minty2009

gonzo127

right first thing is dont panic, bailiffs can only be 'sent around' after you have
one had a CCJ raised against you for this debt, and
two defaulted on this CCJ,

the most they can do is send 'debt collection agents' around who have AS MUCH POWER AS YOUR PAPER BOY to take any assets,

you DO NOT have to let them in
you DO NOT have to talk to them
they HAVE TO leave your property when asked

yes they might try a couple of scare tactics such as the common 'do you really want all your neighbours to hear about your business' but all you have to do is tell them if they do not leave you will call the police for a disturbence of the peace etc

minty2009

Thanks Gonzo.

I'm not really worrying about the baliffs at this stage, its what to do next?! I've sent the prove it letter, and had a response, but it all just seems really unprofessional, surely no company would send a letter on plain paper with no letter head?

Any advice much appreciated

Minty

karaokegary

Ive recieved exactly the same letter and am sending them a letter back so ill wait and see

James_GH

Hello everyone, new to the site and finding it difficult to see how I start my own post so sorry to highjack this one but this is how I found the site.

I basically got a letter last week from Roxburghe saying they are collecting a debt owed by me for a parking Charge I have not payed.

Their bill is now £161.12, the original ticket being 80 upped to 120 after 7 days.
I chose not to pay a ticket and followed the advice from this site as it is a private company and I wanted to contest the charge.

I have had not contacted VEHICLE CONTROL SERVICES who I received the ticket from. They have sent me 2 letters demanding payment and threatening bailiff action and court action. I had basically deiced I was prepared to go to court to fight my case, but now instead of a court action letter I have received this new one from Roxburghe.

I can't understand how my 'Debt' can now be in the hands of Roxburgh when I have not been to court yet?

Also in my initial research I came across an article in te daily mail where a judge ruled in favor of the person in my position basically because they broke the law by threatening bailiff action which they have done to me too!

I am after advice on what to do next, should I respond to the Roxburgh letter?

NorthernLas

You should have a look at the parking fines thread in the motoring forum.

Private parking charges are not fines, they are invoices to pay.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2214803

Do not respond to Roxburghe, you may find their letter on this thread.