Old debt

bec99_2

Hi

I have a debt problem and have no clue who to get advice from or what to do about it.

I received a letter today from a debt collection agency advising me that 3 weeks ago they were sold a debt of approx £750 in my name and at my home address for money owing from the period of 1998-2000.

I have spoken to the company who apparently have no further information other than the above details and that it was for a catalogue and for goods ordered in my name and address and delivered to my address.

I have no doubt that it could well have been me ordering from this catalogue but I refuse to believe that I neither paid the balance (considering it is my parents address) or, if I hadn't paid the balance, would have ignored any letters of payment due or even from debt collection agencies nearer the time.

I'm also surprised to believe that they expect me to pay an amount of money this large, with no further information than what I have already been given.

The guy at the company told me I can either contact the catalogue to get more information from them (but will they still have details 11-13 years down the line), or file a police report for id fraud, therefore vindicating one of my family.

I'm am at a total loss of what to do!!

Please help thank you.

RAS

Hi

They are lying barstewards

If you have not paid anythign towards a debt in 6 years (assuming this one belongs to you which it may well not) then the debt is statute barred if you are in England or Wales; in Scotland the period is 5 years.

This means that they can ask you to pay the debt BUT Parliamnet, the courts and the OFT think that you are not required to. Once you tell the DCA you are not paying, they have to stop chasing you. If not, the OFT will rap their knuckles

bec99_2

really?!! that sounds too good to be true! are there actual laws or legislations that i can quote when i phone and say that?

Tixy

If its your debt then its almost certainly statute barred (6years of no payments and no written acknowledgement from you that you owe the money and assuming you were never taken to court).
Either send back the prove it letter for some proof of the debt, or considering the age send the hybrid don't think its my debt and if it is it would be statute barred letter.
See here - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11570893&postcount=2

And here (and post 5) Statute barred debts and the Limitation Acts

Edit Ooops I was much too slow...

RAS

:beer:No Tixy

You found the links I was looking for:beer:

bec99_2

I can't thank you enough Ras and Tixy...I've been so stressed worrying about this! You've really helped :T

RAS

Glad to help. None of us like vultures. At least the birds do a useful task unlike the human ones.