Natwest debt dealt with through APEX. Final Offer?

bfeat

I received a letter about 2 years ago from Apex credit asking me to call them as they were collecting a debt for natwest bank (An overdraft which Id not paid off and the bank didnt contact me). the debt was around 3k in total and after paying minimal payments (i didnt like the way they treated me on the phone and so I decided to be stubborn also, i didnt have the cash to pay it all) the debt is now £1800.

I have asked to find a settlement figure (over the phone) and they told me 1500, I declined and said I didnt have the available funds.

I really want to get this sorted quickly and over the phone, but I need advice on how to lower the final offer, find out if natwest owns the debt or if apex have it (natwest told me I could no longer deal with the bank as my account had been passed onto apex). I assume that means apex bought the debt off them? Apex first contacted me in 2009.

Also how do I go about settling this debt and getting it 'erased' from my credit history?

So many questions, ive looked at forums and it just seems very confusing....

Thank you in advance,

bottleofred

Hi bfeat and welcome to the forum,

Never ever agree a settlement figure for any debt over the phone, as debt collectors have been known to tell great big lies. Always communicate with them in writing and don't pay anything until you have received in writing from them that the agreed amount is as a "full and final settlement" of the debt. You may well have a default on your credit file and if so, you are very unlikely to get it removed. Partially settled debts are marked on your credit cards as partially settled. How old is the debt? Regarding settlement figures, the older the debt the less the debt collection agency is likely to accept for it. Just because they say they want £1500 though doesn't mean you have to pay it. There is a template letter for settlement offers on the national debtline website which you could send. You could also send the prove it letter to see if they can prove you owe the money, but definitely communicate only in writing.

Good luck

Red