Santander say they can default you twice for the same debt ??

Ryan101

Need a bit of help, I have a Debt with Alliance and Leicester (An old current account), which I have been repaying as agreed with them for at least 10 years (It was for quite a lot), this debt was defaulted around 1999. Now that it has been taken over by Santander they will not accept the repayments that A&L did and have told me that if I do not repay it they will issue a default notice, I have told them they cant as that was already done and you cant default twice on the same debt, they say they can default again as they are not Alliance and Leicester but Santander now, so new company new debt = New Default.

I did think they are talking rubbish, but I am now wondering if they could have a point as what happens when banks do merge or are taken over, do you start again ?.

I have checked my file and the old default does not appear, which is not surprising as it is over 6 years, but are Santander telling the truth and they will default me again ?, and if so what are my options on it.

Thanks.

GeorgeUK

Did they say this over the phone or in writing?

I'm not sure if perhaps they are thinking that they will get the orignal default removed and add their own - a default needs to be issued before they can start court action - but all this is not necessary once there is already a default issued.

I think you may have been talking to someone that doesn't really have a clue.
If they were to add a new default, it would need to be within 6 months of the initial default anyway so would not appear on your credit file.