Halifax vs Cabot

headstar

I received a letter from Cabot on Saturday asking me to contact them regarding an account and gave me the roll number concerned.

I called them and was told that I owed £300 on a current account. I have absolutely no knowledge of this account and told him that I'd have to check with my bank to see what it was all about.

Went into bank and they couldn't find anything on the system and referred me to their collections department who could find nothing either.

I tried another number and the guy eventually found the roll number linked to my current address but that the account was closed and nothing was outstanding on it.

So.... Cabot say that they bought the debt from Halifax in Oct 2004 but Halifax say that they don't pass on debts - they chase them themselves.

Also, if it was linked to my current address, why have I received no notification regarding this account

Lastly... it was closed in August 2005 and apparently I would have to have done this in person but I know for a fact that I haven't as I wasn't aware the account still existed

the only thing I can think of was that on a current account (I can't check to see if it's the same one) I had an unauthorised overdraft which got a bit out of hand and so I came to an agreement with the bank to change from a switch card account to a solo card (no overdraft or anything) and I paid back what I was due x amount each month until it was gone

so unless the bank had not taken enough for long enough then surely that's not my fault?

yet again - like the guy said, the account wouldn't show as closed if there was still something outstanding on it - when debts are sold on, surely the bank should still keep details of when it was and for how much etc?

so...I have asked the bank to check further and to send me a letter to the effect of the above account is closed, nothing outstanding etc

I'm a bit worried about the account being closed though as it certainly wasn't by me

sorry for waffling, but I'm confused and this man will be calling me back in a couple of days demanding payment

headstar

can anyone advise me?

immoral_angeluk

It could be that if an account is not used to so long that they'll close it if there's nothing in it or nothing outstanding. I would just call cabot back and tell them what halifax told you and fax them a copy of the letter.