Debt Recovery - 3 companies now

Li£a

Hi Money Experts!

I've been getting hassled by 3 companies for the last 9 or so months via post.

- Firstly Lowell Financial - chasing me for 2 different debt amounts related to HSBC and Barclaycard.
- Now I am getting chased by Mackenzie Hall and Buchananclark & Wells - for the same debts (on behalf of Lowell Financial) - I assume because I've been ignoring their initial letters.

I've not made contact with any of these companies, no phone/post/email. I assume they've got my details from Electoral Register.

I'm fairly certain these debts are from circa 1998/99, so in effect 10-11 years old. I've never had any contact in that time to pay or acknowledge the debts or anything.

It's time to put an end to this though, as I am worried this might affect me getting a mortgage next year...?

I have checked my Equifax and Experion credit reports and none of these debts are included on those reports - the only thing I can see is a whole host of 'linked addresses' onthe Experion report - which ties to how these companies have 'found me'.

Can anyone recommend what should be my next steps if I want this to end? And of course avoid ruining my credit (currently I have a score of 999/1000 and no bad debts, late payments of credit accounts or anything bad).

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks experts! :cool:

mixedupdebt

Hi Li£a,

Have a look at the top of this forum list. There is a topic called unenforcability and template letters. No. 15 (i think) is the one you want. Deals with old debts over 6 years old.


Hope it helps,

fatbelly

Yep it's statute barred. Fermi's letter (probably the same) is here:

Li£a

Thanks for the quick reply guys.

So I just need to send a copy of the statute barred letter to all 3 companies?

Assume I don't physically sign it - just a printed version?

Thanks so much, I feel so relieved, can't believe I didn't do this already!

stapeley

I would write back using only the details they have , confirm nothing. Use only the reference number . Just say your have no knowledge of any debit to their company. By putting in a statue barred response you are confirming they have the right person .

Li£a

Hi,

If I confirm they have the right person by Statute Barred does that mean they have to stop contacting me / remove me from their files?

Sorry for all the questions - just wondering what I could be faced with once I send the letters.

Thanks guys x

RAS

If they contact you after you send the statute barred letters, you report them to the OFT, who will give them a going over.

fatbelly

RAS wrote: »

If they contact you after you send the statute barred letters, you report them to the OFT, who will give them a going over.

This is particularly true with Mackenzie Hall who have already been warned that they stand to lose their licence if they do not comply with these requirements

And no-one here will be disappointed if the other two companies get a similar warning from the OFT.

magpiecottage

Have a look at my template on this thread.

It is unlikely they will want to go to the Ombudsman who will report back to the OFT if they get a lot of similar complaints from one DCA and uphold them all.

The OFT will take far more notice of FOS than of individual complainants

mum2one

One thing to say when you sign the letter don't do your signature, use printed capitals, only so they can't cut, copy, paste etc your sig onto documents showing more recent dates.

Good luck xx

iwhite

Guys, for what its worth I (or rather my wife) have had letters for about the last 3-5 years from all sorts of agencies about an old Barclaycard debt that was paid off through a clooection company over 15 years ago.

We have had letters from Buchanan Clark Wells, Red, Lovells etc etc, to be honest I have just ignored all of them.

We have had threatening ones, ones offering us if we pay half the debt then it will be settled, we even had one this morning sympathising with our situation.

I will continue to ignore them, in my experience nothing ever happens.....just more letters that go in the bin.