help!! got debt collectors on my back

lornaj

I have received a letter from a debt collection agency asking me for an amount of money that I'm sure has been paid by myself. As this debt relates back to something that I bought in 1994 and apparently defaulted on in 1998 I do not have any paperwork to prove that I have or have not paid the account. I contacted the collectors and asked them to help me out with someone to contact at the original finance company but they won't help me out, it was apparently passed to another debt agency last year but they won't give me their number either :rolleyes: They said that they will give me until tomorrow morning to sort this out or they will take legal proceedings against me - my questions to anyone who can help are:

Can they do this?? I have written to them today to ask them for time to sort it out

Isn't there a time limit on when people can chase you for money??? I always thought that if a debt remained unpaid for 5 or 6 years then they haven't got a leg to stand on in getting you to pay anything??

To be honest I'm panicking a bit because I don't know what to do about all this, I cant get to see the CAB as I was in work today so you are my only hope

Thanks Very much for reading!

CLAPTON

a bad idea writing to them but probably no damage done

if an 'ordinary' debt is over six years old and no acknowledgement of the debt has been made then the debt is unenforceable

see this excellent website ... scroll down to the bottom and use the letter shown.

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=25_liability_for_debts_and_the_limitation_act

justruth

Yes there is the statute of limitations is 6 years, but that is from the last payment, and or contact about the debt. They have to prove that the debt is yours and that you have not paid it off, if they cannot do this and you do not accept responsibility for it then they cannot do anything about it even if it is yours.

Please someone else feel free to correct me if I am wrong!

sandralovescats

justruth wrote:

Yes there is the statute of limitations is 6 years, but that is from the last payment, and or contact about the debt. They have to prove that the debt is yours and that you have not paid it off, if they cannot do this and you do not accept responsibility for it then they cannot do anything about it even if it is yours.

Please someone else feel free to correct me if I am wrong!

It sounds as if the debt was statute barred before the DCA restarted communication so it is finished and done with. The DCA will simply be wasting money taking action.

justruth

Sandra you and your cats rule! DCAs be aware

lornaj

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to reply. I will be printing off a copy of the letter and sending it to them tomorrow, and, I will sleep easier tonight.

Thanks again, I'll know where to come for future problems (hope not to get any more of this nature though;) )