Help for old debt needed please

cherub1971

Hi I am hoping that someone on here can kindly give me some advice. I previously got some advice on here but it hasn't worked.
My ex-husband and I took out a loan with Lloyds Tsb for 10,000. We then split up not long after. The loan was in joint names but the bank only persued me for the money. I refused to pay the full amount and offered half as the debt was in joint names. However, this wasnt accepted and I refused to pay. I am not sure of the dates that I last tried to settle the debt (we seperated in 2002) so I cannot presume that it is statute barred.
I have now re-married have moved several times and have a mortgage. I started to receive letters from Phillips Debt recovery and bailiffs and I have ignored all of their letters. Today I have returned home to find a hand delivered letter which is really worrying me.
I am frightened that if I write asking for proof of the debt then I am acknowledging that I am the person they are looking for.
can anyone please help me?

DVardysShadow

cherub1971 wrote: »

I am frightened that if I write asking for proof of the debt then I am acknowledging that I am the person they are looking for.
can anyone please help me?

Send the 'prove it' letter - template somewhere in the stickies and someone will turn up with a link - click their 'thanks' button when they do!

Asking for proof of a debt is NOT acknowledging the debt - however I saw here recently that CAB tend to advise not to write giving their reason as it being acknowledgement of the debt. I think CAB may advise this because often when people write and ask for a DCA to prove a debt they can ramble on and stitch themselves up. But if you stick with the template, it will be fine.

GeorgeUK

Hi Cherub, just read your previous posts and the advice you were given.

Can you confirm if you sent the 'prove it' letter?
They are required to prove that the debt is yours and if you claim that the debt is statute barred, they also need to prove that it isn't. If you have had no contact with them for 5 years, the debt has probably been sold many times and finding proof of a letter than may have been written and sent to another company would be extremely unlikely.

I think the first thing you should do is send the prove it letter - print you name, don't sign it.
Then you can stall until you are more certain that the time limit has been exceeded.

I take it you are in England?

cherub1971

Thanks for the help so far. I haven't done anything yet. Because I have changed my name and moved many times I was reluctant to respond to the letters. I realise now that this wasnt the best option.
I have found the prove it letter and I will send it off.
Do I print my previous name or my current name?
Many thanks

cherub1971

Yes, I am in England

GeorgeUK

What do the have on the letters you received?
I would suggest replying with your married name rather than your maiden name. Just make sure to print rather than sign the signature.

Was just making sure it was a 6 year limit (England) and not 5 years (Scotland).