advice please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nettie1

Hi
Recieved a letter today from a debt recovery agency demanding repayment of a loan with Alliance and Leicester in full by 15th July 2006.

However we remortgaged in Dec 2002 and paid this loan(which unfortunately we had defaulted on) back!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately I can't find the bank statement and cheque stub to prove this but have gone on line and got current equifax and experian credit records and these both say that this account is settled.

Am worried that when I phone this company on Monday they will not believe me and will not give me time to get relevant bank statements from bank. Have had previous bad experience of a different debt recovery agency and the thought of speaking to one on Monday makes me feel like jelly even though I know it is an error!!!!! (irrational I know)

Why would we get a letter out of the blue 3 and a half years later?

Has anyone else had this problem?

Astaroth

Speak to A&L first... no matter what you say to the debt collectors they are going to want to hear it from the creditor anyway so may as well get that ball rolling first and confirm what has happened.

Warriorsith

As mentioned above speak to both companies, esp A&L to see whats going on, try contacting your bank they may have it on record the payment you had sent to A&L all those years back. I'd get A&L to contact DRA to clear this, if failing that send them a copy of your Credit files (just showing the A&L account that says it's settled) and if you have the letter that A&L would have sent you to comfirm you cleared it.

Once this problem is over you should contact A&L to see if they can remove your 'default' part on your CF as you've paid them off, and hopefully that will make your file 'healthier' too.

Careful_girl

I would only speak to A&L. You have no agreement with the debt collection agency. I have had expeience once where I refused to pay a builder for some work that he did not do he sold the debt to a company. They used very underhand tactics to get payment and i had to involve my solicitor. That is all the experience have and I cannot say that all companies are the same. The error will be with A&L and I suggest you speak to them immediately. Might not hurt to send a copy of the letter and a clear concise letter from yourself demanding that the error be ammended pronto!! They can then deal with the agency who may not be acting correctly.
Good luck,
CG.:j

nettie1

Thanks for all the good advice. I will contact A&L tomorrow and my bank asking for relevant bank statement. Does anyone know how long banks keep records for?

Also, does anyone know whether A&L are an approachable company or do they pass the buck?:question:

Astaroth

Most companies keep records for 6 years as this is the duration the law of limitations give people to initiate court proceedings... some companies do destroy records before this due to the balance of cost of storage -v- the risk of litigation against them.

Careful_girl

I have had a variety of their products over the last 3 years. I have never had any problems with them and have persuaded them to refund charges etc.

However this is not entirely the same. I don't think you should have any worries. Just be nice to them. Then they will be nice back. You haven't done anything wrong. Just charm them. Explaian how worried you are. Use the phrase "I need some advice, I don't quite know what to do." Certainly the person you speak to will have done nothing wrong. If they don't have an answer for you, suggest that they find you someone else to speak to who might help. If they say they will get someone to phone you ask for their name just so you don't have to explain it again.
Worth a try.
As I said a clear concise letter is good but phone too.
Make sure you have as many details as you can to hand.
All the best,
CG.:beer:

nettie1

Have phoned A&L who have set up a special team to deal with queries like mine because it sounds as though there might be a number of ex customers in the same boat at the moment. They were very nice and understanding and have promised that they will get the team dealing with this to ring me back. I said I would send them copies of the credit reports showing the debt had been settled. Told them that this has been very stressful and has caused me a weekend of sleepless nights even though I knew it had to be an error.

They told me to ring the debt recovery agency and tell them that I had contacted A&L and what had been said. I spoke to a very nice person(there is one after all!) at the DRA who was not suprised at the situation at all and gave me the impression that something had gone wrong such as the wrong files being given when A&L debts were purchased. She said she will pass details on for investigation which could take a few days and once they have found the debt to be cleared I shouldn't hear from them again!

will keep you posted!

lewt

lock the door and hide behind the sofa. they will give you time they would rather not take you to court its prop a scam

Warriorsith

So Far So Good!

nettie1

Hi

Just a quick update on my problem with Alliance & Leicester.

I received a letter from them yesterday apologising for THEIR error and confirming that the loan was indeed repaid and that absolutely nothing was still owed to them. They confirmed that they have informed the DCA and I will not receive any more demands from them!!!

They blamed poor administration for not closing the account properly at their end and apologised for the stress that they caused me.

Thanks for listening and for the replies I received. I know it wasn't a big problem compared to some posted on here but it really shook me up and brought back unpleasant memories.