Help - Natwest closed account...years ago!

stamina9008

Right, i have a default from 30/04/2009 for £1195 with Natwest, but no DCA is listed on my credit report and i have no correspondence from a DCA because i moved address just before the default date..

Rang Natwest and they said that they've managed to find the account in archive files (all i have with me are 2 letters from my Natwest account in 2008) but said that i'd need to ring Triton Credit Services.
So i did, they found it but the guy said "write into us with a cheque for the amount owing", i asked him if he knew what it was i owed and he couldnt tell me (making me suspicious), so now im to write to Triton to ask them to confirm the amount i owe (i already know it of course) so that i know im paying the right people - Triton are the collections team of natwest based in Birmingham.

I asked the guy if its been passed onto any DCA's and he said no, i asked him who i owe, and he said....nobody..
Because the account is old and closed, and that triton closed it in march of this year.

However, a default still remains on my file and the whole purpose of this is to settle the account as satisfied on the file, because, it wont be until 2015 that it drops off.

But, how should i structure such a letter to triton?

Tixy

So is the default in the name of natwest still?

I would write to say you have noticed this default on your credit file and that you would like proof of the debt and evidence to support the outstanding balance or you request that the default is removed from your credit file.

That should trigger something from them.

You say you know how much is owed - are you just going on the balance on your credit file? if so then that may not be the current balance with interest & charges etc.

If they come back with paperwork and a balance you could always try a full & final settlement offer.

stamina9008

Thanks for the reply.
No, i dont think its in the name of Natwest (unless triton is affiliated with natwest in some way), natwest really struggled to find anything..
I dont think the debt went to a DCA, i think it went to collections (triton) and then triton stopped chasing in march of this year..
But really, i dont know anything and its really frustrating..
Natwest dont know who the debt lies with, i dont recall ever getting letters from 'Moorcroft' or anyone else that Natwest use in recovering the debt at my old address.
Triton only know that they closed the case in march, they didnt say that its been passed to anyone else, he said that "nobody is chasing it"...?!
So im having to reactivate it, so as to pay it off..
lol
But your second paragraph is definitely something im gonna do, thanks.

ps - Yes, i am going by whats updated on my credit file in respect to what might be owed.

Tixy

Sorry I meant is the default on your credit file in the name of natwest still?

stamina9008

Yes it is...
But the amount on my CF is much higher than the original debt, much higher..

stclair

stamina9008 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.
No, i dont think its in the name of Natwest (unless triton is affiliated with natwest in some way), natwest really struggled to find anything..
I dont think the debt went to a DCA, i think it went to collections (triton) and then triton stopped chasing in march of this year..
But really, i dont know anything and its really frustrating..
Natwest dont know who the debt lies with, i dont recall ever getting letters from 'Moorcroft' or anyone else that Natwest use in recovering the debt at my old address.
Triton only know that they closed the case in march, they didnt say that its been passed to anyone else, he said that "nobody is chasing it"...?!
So im having to reactivate it, so as to pay it off..
lol
But your second paragraph is definitely something im gonna do, thanks.

ps - Yes, i am going by whats updated on my credit file in respect to what might be owed.

Triton is Natwest internal DCA.

stamina9008

Would a CCA request be a good start?
Seeing as they seem very unaware of the debt?
Maybe a "Proof of default" letter?
The initial debt wasnt more than £100 before charges...
What do you think sir?

fermi

CCA wouldn't apply to a bank account.

Can you start a FOS complaint on the basis that a bank refuses to let you settle an account? Might be worth asking the FOS?

fermi

Tixy wrote: »

I would write to say you have noticed this default on your credit file and that you would like proof of the debt and evidence to support the outstanding balance or you request that the default is removed from your credit file.

That should trigger something from them.

Agreed.

Coupled with a complaint that if owed they are not cooperating to allow you to settle the account and have your credit record marked as such.

Should spur them into action. Or to disclose whether the debt has been sold.

stamina9008 wrote: »

Triton only know that they closed the case in march, they didnt say that its been passed to anyone else, he said that "nobody is chasing it"...?!

Honestly, I suspect it's in the process of being sold, but only time will tell.

If your complaints reveal that Natwest/Triton still have it, then great.

If they reveal who it's been sold to and you can resolve it with them, then also great.

Hanky_Panky

fermi wrote: »

CCA wouldn't apply to a bank account.

Can you start a FOS complaint on the basis that a bank refuses to let you settle an account? Might be worth asking the FOS?

Almost certainly a vexatious claim at this point !

As suggested OP why not write in and let them do the work in finding out the correct information for you.

Accounts get 'closed' all the time with lenders - what that really means is that is has been allocated to some sort of suspense account/queue while they wait to flog it on or pass it out to a DCA or similar.

fermi

Hanky_Panky wrote: »

Almost certainly a vexatious claim at this point !

Not at all.

Starting a complaint always involves giving the bank a reasonable time to sort things out themselves before you take it further.

That is the way it works.

You write in and complain that they won't let you settle a legitimate account. You state that if unresolved within the 8 weeks allowed, then you will take the matter to the FOS, and that you require a final response from the bank within that timescale.

If the bank doesn't sort things out within those 8 weeks then any complaint would certainly not be vexatious. They have been given more than enough time and chances to resolve it themselves.