14 year debt

gbace

Any advice greatfully received.
My partner today received a letter from a Uk Company who are working on behalf of a german company stating he owes a £4000+ debt.( original debt was in euros and has been converted )
He has called the company to tell them he knew nothing of this debt and asked for details. They could not tell him what the debt was only that it had been there since 1997. but they would forward paperwork.
In 1997 he returned to the uk following a acrimonious marriage breakdown and this is the 1st contact he has had about this matter.
1- If this is an English company working for a German company would English OR German laws be followed ?
2 - Is there a statute of limitations in Germany?
3 - If they are sending paperwork relating to the debt does this mean we have acknowledged it exists.
4- Does this debt have to be paid if it is 14 years old?

Please help.

Tixy

Hi

Not sure of the answers. But there might be something relevant on the CAG forum - http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?250889-Can-I-Be-Sued-For-An-Overseas-Debt
and http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?266-Overseas-Debt-Overseas-Account-issues

FireWyrm

gbace wrote: »

Any advice greatfully received.
My partner today received a letter from a Uk Company who are working on behalf of a german company stating he owes a £4000+ debt.( original debt was in euros and has been converted )
He has called the company to tell them he knew nothing of this debt and asked for details. They could not tell him what the debt was only that it had been there since 1997. but they would forward paperwork.
In 1997 he returned to the uk following a acrimonious marriage breakdown and this is the 1st contact he has had about this matter.
1- If this is an English company working for a German company would English OR German laws be followed ?
2 - Is there a statute of limitations in Germany?
3 - If they are sending paperwork relating to the debt does this mean we have acknowledged it exists.
4- Does this debt have to be paid if it is 14 years old?

Please help.

I'm pretty sure that as a subject of a soverign nation, you're bound by those laws, not Germany. If he is a German citizen, then he'll need advice from there. Regardless of where in the world the debt is held, it's unlawful for them to pursue him in this country as its most definately statute barred. Tell them to sling their hook, or go eat fermented cabbage...whatever floats your boat. I dont think outstanding debt is covered by international treaty.:rotfl:

gbace

thanks for the replies and the link to CAG. I've re-posted there.

gbace

gbace wrote: »

Any advice greatfully received.
My partner today received a letter from a Uk Company who are working on behalf of a german company stating he owes a £4000+ debt.( original debt was in euros and has been converted )
He has called the company to tell them he knew nothing of this debt and asked for details. They could not tell him what the debt was only that it had been there since 1997. but they would forward paperwork.
In 1997 he returned to the uk following a acrimonious marriage breakdown and this is the 1st contact he has had about this matter.
1- If this is an English company working for a German company would English OR German laws be followed ?
2 - Is there a statute of limitations in Germany?
3 - If they are sending paperwork relating to the debt does this mean we have acknowledged it exists.
4- Does this debt have to be paid if it is 14 years old?

Please help.

No additional paperwork arrived. We got a phone call yesterday as we hadn't contacted them. They insist they sent more details on 12th ( which we havent had!) and they would send it via email yesterday.
No email has arrived but a further 'urgent ' request for debt to be pd in full came this morning.
This letter did give an account and invoice number of the loan...although they still havent given any more details as to what the loan was for !
The date the loan was taken out 9/1/1997, original currency euro converted to £ in March 2011.

What is our next step please ?

gbace

sorry. bit of additional info. I've done some investigation on the company the 'loan' was originally with. It seems to be car finance, my partner returned to the Uk in May 1997 in the only car he owned that was bought with cash....even more confused now.

RAS

I would send the prove it letter and add a comment to the effect that if they contact you again without providing evidence that your OH owes the money you will report them to Trading Standards and the OFT.

timbstoke

The company wanting money from you are UK based, you’re UK based, therefore UK law applies. Under UK law, even if they can prove a debt, it’s statute barred. Tell them to sling their hooks.

ScottySmog

I would also query why a 1997 debt is in Euro as it wasn't introduced until 1/1/99 (non physical form).

FireWyrm

gbace wrote: »

sorry. bit of additional info. I've done some investigation on the company the 'loan' was originally with. It seems to be car finance, my partner returned to the Uk in May 1997 in the only car he owned that was bought with cash....even more confused now.

Right....

1) It's statute barred and you have perfect grounds to tell them to stick it. Euros, sterling or shekels it doesnt matter. UK law applies to a UK citizen.

2) It sounds like fraud, more grounds....

3) Write them a cease and desist letter telling them you'll report them to OFT if they dont leave you alone.

misstasty

gbace wrote: »

sorry. bit of additional info. I've done some investigation on the company the 'loan' was originally with. It seems to be car finance, my partner returned to the Uk in May 1997 in the only car he owned that was bought with cash....even more confused now.

Can I ask....is this a military related car finance company?? Lots of mistakes were made by a company called close brothers out there and were taken over by another firm ......still seems very dodgy, they need to prove this debt to you either way so as the others have said send them notification that you will report them to the OFT....IN FACT I'd just give the OFT a ring and see where you stand.
Good luck x