False accusation - debt red letter

zorgan

Just received an "account overdue" letter for over £1000 from a credit company - claiming that I was in debt of housing rent payments from about 3 years ago.

I`m really stressed out about this, I do not owe them any money and the settlements were made in full, I did not owe them any rent on termination of the tenancy.

I`ve been looking through my filing cabinet trying to find some paperwork to confirm this, but not sure if I have the paperwork.

Where do i stand legally on this?

Currently waiting for the phone to ring for them to get back to me on this.

Any advice appreciated.

daveys_2

Firstly reamin calm about this - if it is a mistake it is something that can be sorted out.

Secondly don't deal with this over the phone. Insist that they put everything in writing, along with copies of contracts and accounts. This way you can deal with this in a careful and considered manner, ratehr tahn having some low-life debt collection agency try to bully you.

Thirdly DON'T admit liability, ever, at all!!! This may take a while, and if you try to sort it quickly they will try to get one over on you (DCA's are practised at this)

What's the name of the company that's chasing you?

BitterAndTwisted

Ask them for a detailed statement of account showing all sums due and the payments made against them.

If the balance was settled when you ended the tenancy do you have any paperwork confirming this? I doubt that they would have allowed you to relinquish the tenancy without full settlement. Perhaps they've been adding rent due for the period after you vacated.

Tixy

I'd start by simply replying sending the prove it letter - they need to prove you owe this money and it will give you some time to either find a statement of paperwork to shwo the debt was paid off, or a least to get together a record of all the rent payments you made (from old bank statements etc).
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11570893&postcount=2

Was this a private rental? or LA / HA?

zorgan

Housing Association, I will certainly ask them for a letter in writing stating a £0 balanced owed. I`m still waiting for a telephone call from them, i`ll update this thread with any update.

chanz4

play good with the HA, if you go in all fires blazing they will just say you owe it pay up. They will be able to show an account breakdown fairly easy, dont ignore it as its likely they will take you to court.

chanz4

Sounds like they maybe taking you to court as tixy says, its unlikely they will be selling if you have been paying the dca

zorgan

Just had word

It`s not rent at all, they now state it`s for repairs carried out after I left the property.

feeling totally ripped off here, I asked specifically when leaving the property what must be done so i do not face any bill.

they gave me a bulleted list of things I must do, for instance make sure it`s clean and all my items are removed etc.

they`ve added on all sorts to these invoices I feel i`m not liable for.

the property if anything is in a much better state than what it was when i moved in, it was a total dive when i moved in!!