Barclaycard Debt over 5 years old sold on to Debt Agency

Quiet_One

Hi, When I was a student I stupidly took on a barclaycard and maxed it out missing monthly payments here and there. Then after university I completely forgot about it and haven't received any mail from barclaycard since. I contacted Barclaycard today 4-5 years later as I am sorting out my credit score etc and they said they have "sold this account to another agency". I beleive there was probably about £500 owing (not a huge amount). Now I checked my credit score through experian and barclaycard and neither the agency that were sold the debt are listed on there. Now I am not looking to get off scott free with this debt but if this isn't on my credit file and no CCJ's etc have been sent to me since then or record on my file is it still in my interest to settle this with with some cowboy debt collection agency?

In terms of Barclaycard I assume they hold my details, and I will never be allowed to obtain any credit from them through some kind of internal credit scoring facility? Which to be honest does not bother me becasue they charged me fortunes in late payment fee's etc and I would never look at obtaining a credit card again as I think they are evil, and I felt a bit taken advantage of becasue I was young and stupid and should never have been allowed to take out credit, though I take full responsibility...!

How long will the debt collection company hold my account? If it is for just £500 will they really bother with trying a CCJ and it has been 4 years now and no word...? Would you still settle with them?

Tixy

Did they say how long ago the debt had been sold?

I imagine it will not be showing on your credit file as it is more than 6years from when you originally defaulted.

You may be better off waiting to hear from the DCA, on the chance that if you don't here you might get to the point where it is 6years from your last payment, which would mean that the debt was statute barred (and that you were not required to pay).

The potential downside to this is that the DCA could try to go for a CCJ, it is perhaps not that likely but possible.
Do you still live at the address you had registered with barclays? ie if court papers were served to your last known address would you get them? If you did go for a CCJ and you miss out on receiving them you could end up with a CCJ which will impact your whole credit file for the next 6years.

If they do contact you before the debt becomes statute barred then you might want to offer a full & final settlment offer.
Or you may even want to consider requesting the CCA for the debt to check whether it is legally enforceable.

Quiet_One

Hi thanks for your reply. Sorry excuse my ignorance but who are the DCA? I did have a different address at the time with Barlcaycard and don't think this has been updated. So it could be possible that a CCJ papers were sent to my old address years ago - but I don't know - how would I find out? Would they really CCJ me for just £500? Thanks

DVardysShadow

Quiet_One wrote: »

Hi, When I was a student I stupidly took on a barclaycard and maxed it out missing monthly payments here and there. Then after university I completely forgot about it and haven't received any mail from barclaycard since. I contacted Barclaycard today 4-5 years later as I am sorting out my credit score etc and they said they have "sold this account to another agency". I beleive there was probably about £500 owing (not a huge amount). Now I checked my credit score through experian and barclaycard and neither the agency that were sold the debt are listed on there. Now I am not looking to get off scott free with this debt but if this isn't on my credit file and no CCJ's etc have been sent to me since then or record on my file is it still in my interest to settle this with with some cowboy debt collection agency?

Looks like you may have acknowledged the debt, hence the statutory barring clock is reset ...

So, you are best to settle quickly and in full, but negotiate a settlement with the DCA which means that they only get paid quickly and in full if they do not touch your credit record. Get it agreed in writing before you pay.

Quiet_One

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Looks like you may have acknowledged the debt, hence the statutory barring clock is reset ...

So, you are best to settle quickly and in full, but negotiate a settlement with the DCA which means that they only get paid quickly and in full if they do not touch your credit record. Get it agreed in writing before you pay.

Debt Collection Agency Doh! I should have realised :-) Erm I don't know if I did acknowledge the debt as I just rang up gave my name and address and they told me they don't have the account anymore and is sold to another agency and didn't give me any details as to who to contact?

fatbelly

Quiet_One wrote: »

Debt Collection Agency Doh! I should have realised :-) Erm I don't know if I did acknowledge the debt as I just rang up gave my name and address and they told me they don't have the account anymore and is sold to another agency and didn't give me any details as to who to contact?

No you didn't acknowledge the debt.

An acknowledgement has to either be in writing or by payment.

Barclaycard have got their money (from the DCA) - they don't have any interest in the debt any more.

There's no issue here - just get on with your life.

InDeepDebt

What happens if the DCA send a CCJ out though and the OP doesn't get it? Lots of acronyms there!!!

Can the OP check her/his credit file and then pay off the CCJ (if there's one there) and it looks like nowt's happened? I mean, the DCA may issue a CCJ at 5 and a half years.

It's the fact that a CCJ letter would not get to the correct destination that is a worry here. For £500 it may not be worth the hassle of a marred credit file.

Jim

Quiet_One

InDeepDebt wrote: »

What happens if the DCA send a CCJ out though and the OP doesn't get it? Lots of acronyms there!!!

Can the OP check her/his credit file and then pay off the CCJ (if there's one there) and it looks like nowt's happened? I mean, the DCA may issue a CCJ at 5 and a half years.

It's the fact that a CCJ letter would not get to the correct destination that is a worry here. For £500 it may not be worth the hassle of a marred credit file.

Jim

Thanks for the info. I have taken two credit reports experian and equifax and nothing from barclaycard or any debt collection agency is showing and it has been since around 2004-5 since I last heard from them.. so I was suprised this debt didnt show up on either report. I am on the electorial role and my address is easilly obtainable for any CCJ and they had my mobile number and house number and no calls..?

DVardysShadow

Quiet_One wrote: »

Debt Collection Agency Doh! I should have realised :-) Erm I don't know if I did acknowledge the debt as I just rang up gave my name and address and they told me they don't have the account anymore and is sold to another agency and didn't give me any details as to who to contact?

If that is what you did, you may have got away with it.

There is a world of difference between 'My name is Q1 of <address>. Do you have any debts registered against me' and 'My name is Q1 of <address>, what is the state of play on <debt> from <date>?'. Plus if you only phoned, there might possibly be something of an issue in proving that it was you who rang, even if the hurdle of acknowledgement was crossed.

Numpty_Monkey

You haven't contacted any from a DCA that holds the account
A CCJ probably would show up on your credit report,

As Fatbelly says get on with your life

If and this is a big if,
a DCA does get in touch with you about this, they are chasing an almost/is statute barred debt
Don't do anything, apart from post on here