Fake N1CPC Form?

strobo

Hello All,

This is a bit of weird one, I think. On Thursday I received an N1CPC claim form purporting to be from Northampton County Court Bulk Centre, for a very old debt.

Now the debt genuinely existed, way back when in 2003/2004, and things got very out of hand for a short while. DCA's were involved and I found some to be better than others. About a year later, when I was financially better off, the good ones got paid, and the bad ones I simply chose to ignore - "they wouldn't help me, so why should I help them" was my attitude. After about a year the remaining ones seem to stop chasing me.

I ordered a credit report earlier this year, and things were finally looking up. The outstanding debts were hitting six years, and disappearing off my report. And nobody had chased them. "Bonus" I thought. Until Thursday when this claim form arrives.

Firstly, it makes it clear that the debt was legally assigned to the claimant on 20th August 2004, which I would've thought would instantly make it statute barred - so I can't imagine a court allowing papers for a claim that old to be sent out in the first place, and secondly, I've just logged into www.moneyclaim.gov.uk to see if I can dredge up any more info, and to clarify it is a genuine claim, as per another thread I've just read - and the moneyclaim website tells me that the claim no. and/or password I've been issued are incorrect.

Does anybody else think this is just a ruse to get me to pay for a now VERY old debt that should be statute barred? I'll call Northampton County Court on Monday and get them to confirm that it's not genuine, but has this happened before? And what further action should I take? I guess impersonating a court is almost as bad a crime as impersonating a police officer, is it?

Just in case it IS a genuine one, has anybody any suggestions or links for the best way to defend this claim? Clearly this is now statute barred, but has (apparently) gone as far as a claim, so I guess procedure might differ to the usual template letters.

Over to you good peeps

flybutterfly

bump to page 1

hope someone will be along soon to help you

lvm

Have you moved house at all during the time you've had the debt? Is it possible that you've maybe been given a CCJ that has now fallen off your credit report? If you've moved house, maybe they sent paperwork to an old address (they only have to send to last known address). If it's a CCJ then it would never be SB.

Sorry, I'm not sure what else you can do apart from waiting til Monday to clear things up...

king100

lvm wrote: »

Have you moved house at all during the time you've had the debt? Is it possible that you've maybe been given a CCJ that has now fallen off your credit report? If you've moved house, maybe they sent paperwork to an old address (they only have to send to last known address). If it's a CCJ then it would never be SB.

Sorry, I'm not sure what else you can do apart from waiting til Monday to clear things up...

You are somewhat right, CCJs do not have a time limit, but after 6 years they have to go back to court and explain to the judge why nothing was done in the last 6 years to chase the debt.

DVardysShadow

Do the papers bear the stamp of the court? If they do, it is either a genuine claim - or if it is a forgery, the 'claimant' is likely to be in contempt of court. If there is no stamp, then it is a frightener, designed to show you that they are ready to launch a claim - this is a legitimate tactic, I believe.

• If it is just a try on, then the Statute Barred template letter [somewhere on this site] is the thing
• if it is a genuine claim, the defence is that it is Statute Barred
• If it is a forgery, let the court deal with it.

Culex

Whatever it might be, oughtn't the Office of Faffing and Twaddling also be informed?