Help - I'm being conned!

scammeister

Hi
I am completely at a loss, so would appreciate any help anyone can give. Whilst as a student I ran up quite a bit of debt, but fortunately when I graduated I landed a good job and spent the first year paying off all my debts. I can remember the immense satisfaction at doing this. I decided to pay the debts off one by one concentrating first on those with the highest interest. At the time I had two Barclaycards – so decided to get rid of those first. (This debt had been passed to a debt collection company called Mercers) I then paid of various other loans. When I had repaid everything I got rid of all of the paper work during a big spring clean. I usually keep everything!
Skip forward 4 years – I suddenly, out of the blue, receive a letter from a debt collection company (Cabot financial) telling me that the debt had been passed to them. I have spent the last 6 months trying to get proof that I paid the debt back. However this has all been in vain – and the only way I could stop the interest accruing was to sort out a payment plan (which I have now done). This has absolutely gutted me because I know that I do not owe the £1100 they say I do – but I can’t prove it.
Can anyone help????
Guy

Emmzi

Can they prove you DO owe it? (signed credit agreement)
Have you applied for 6 years bank statements?

Donedoingdebt

Firstly, (This isn't a telling off!) you should always keep any documents for at least 6 years after completion.
Secondly, can Cabot Financial tell you exactly who the debt was originally with & can they provide you with a copy of the original signed credit agreement?

Dr.Shoe_2

They're just trying it on. If the debt has been passed to them then they shouldn't be charging you interest.


They need to prove that you owe them money, it is not up to you to prove that you do not. The original lender should be able to provide you with any information you need.

Tootsie_Roll

Dr.Shoe wrote:

They're just trying it on. If the debt has been passed to them then they shouldn't be charging you interest.

Why not ? Both while the account is with the lender or with a debt purchaser they are still entitled to claim interest on the balance.

I would definately get proof of the debt though - it may even turn out to be one that had been forgotten or not cleared correctly, happens frequently.

file_wizzard

Tootsie_Roll wrote:

Why not ? Both while the account is with the lender or with a debt purchaser they are still entitled to claim interest on the balance.

But ONLY at the same rate as would of been applicable to the original agreement, many DCA’s can and will try to charge more than this rate.

Nonetheless as TR and others have said in this case the onus is upon the DCA to prove the debt is owed, not for you to disprove it.