Paid a statute barred debt?!

mockturtle_2

I received a letter today from buchanan clark + wells saying I had an outstanding balance for a Provident account. I phoned them as I had no idea about it, and they said it was from April 2004 at a previous address of mine.
I said I had no recollection of it, but assumed I must have forgotten about it and paid it off in full. This was only because I have some other debts from around then that I'm paying off now. After looking online I gather this is statute barred as it is over 6 years old and they haven't contacted me before now? I called them back and told them this and they instantly agreed to refund my money.
They said it will be refunded on Monday when the payment clears. I was expecting more of a fight from them as I'd already made the payment. That is if I get the refund at all!
Or is it that they know they shouldn't be trying to recover payment?

I'd really appreciate some advice from anyone who's had anything similar.

gravitytolls

Reckon you're darn lucky ~ you paid up, you knew you owed it.....

fermi

Are you in England/Wales or Scotland?

If in England/Wales, then you were lucky.

If in Scotland, debt are legally "extinguished" once statute barred, so it would not be lawful for them to take or keep hold of any payment.

mockturtle_2

That's just it, I didn't know I owed it. I have no recollection of it at all. But the phone call basically consisted of being told I needed to pay them now. I didn't know what else to do.

mockturtle_2

I'm in England. I don't know how it all works, I just thought it seemed a long time to all of a sudden be contacting me.

fermi

mockturtle wrote: »

That's just it, I didn't know I owed it. I have no recollection of it at all. But the phone call basically consisted of being told I needed to pay them now. I didn't know what else to do.

They may gave also realised that they have no proof that you owe the debt either?

Combine that with the fact that it would have been statute barred, then back peddling and a refund might not be that surprising?

GeorgeUK

I'm just slightly concerned that this was done over the phone - you don't really have any proof that they have agreed to refund the money. Can you get them to email you that confirmation?

As Fermi says, you should not pay a debt if you don't have proof that it's yours. John Smith would probably have Millions to repay if creditors just contacted him with debts belonging to anyone with the same name. Get proof that the debt is actually yours before parting with your money.