Debt managers ltd/credit rating/ccj help

Brar

Hi,

Sorry for the long message! Back in 2007-2008, I defaulted on 3 debts:
Vodafone (mobile phone) - £800
Barclays (bank charges) - £150
Arrow Global Ltd (mail order) - £650

I have a few queries regarding these:

1) On my Experian credit report, the Vodafone default shows as 'satisfied'. I have never acknowledged this debt or made any attempt to pay it since the default date, so how does it now show as satisfied? When i checked a few months ago, it still showed the balance as outstanding. Does this mean that vodafone have written off this debt? Does this mean they would not be able to pursue me any longer?

2) Ive started receiving daily phone calls & text messages from Debt Managers Ltd demanding I contact them. I returned the call on one occassion asking them what the call was regarding. The refused to provide me with any info until I answered certain 'security' questions such as cuurrent address, dob, previous addresses etc. i refused to answer & they terminated the call. However i had confirmed my name & current address. Today I received a letter from them asking meto confirm I was the person on the letter, but again, no mention of what they were contacting me for. The letter stated if I failed to get in touch, they would assume i am that person & pursue the matter further. I believe they obtained my address & tel no from my credit file as i have recently opened a new bank account.

a) Would it be better for me to start making token payments towards these debts (which would be as little as £1 p/month) or make no acknowledgement or payment of the debt until it becomes statue barred?

b) How likely are they to issue a ccj against me if i made no contact?

c) I am in the process of moving to a new address, can they issue a ccj if i am not living at the address they have? And if so, how would i be informed of the ccj?

3) after receiving the phone calls & the letter, I updated my credit file with my current address. My credit score then increased from 630 (poor), to 730 (fair). What caused this increase?

I want to do the right thing & sort out these remaining debts, but dnt want my credit score affected further, any help would be grateful, thanks.

fermi

1) Most likely due to the debt being sold on.

2) ---

(a) Your call really.

(b) Hard to say really. Most debt collectors will not, but you never really know 100%.

(c) Yes, the rules mean they can have papers sent to the last known address for you, and gain a valid CCJ that way. You might not know about the CCJ for some time if they did.

(3) Credit scores are mostly meaningless.

Sorry that is a bit vague, but there are not usually yes or no answers to these things.

Tixy

Hi

1) Could be they have written it off. Could be that they have sold the debt to someone else. Could be an error on your credit report.

2) Probably from your credit file yes - when you got a copy you provided your current address - which your creditors can see.
Just ignore them until they write to you with something detailing what debt they are trying to chase your for.

a) depends on your circumstances and how long since you last paid them (as well as how you choose to play it).

b) definitely possible but not necessarily that 'likely' at this stage.
I'd hazard a guess that the most likely would be the phone debt - mobile phone companies often are quick to get CCJs. The bank debt is probably too small to be high risk.

c) they only need to write to your last known address with court papers. If you don't reply they get a judgement by default and you don't necessarily know about it until you happen to check your credit file or until you get letters about attachment of earnings or bailiffs.

3) Don't worry much about the score - but if you are on the electoral roll its possibly increased because your file now have you down as being on the e/r.

If you do start making payments now then, providing they don't go for CCJs, your file will not be affected for any longer period of time. The accounts and defaults will fall off your file 6years from the date of default whether paid or not.

I certainly wouldn't pay anyone until they have written with proper information relating to the debt or proved that you owe it.

paulmapp8306

Write to them, saying you require details about why they are contacting you before you provide any information. You need the initial creditors name, date of the debt along with proof that it is you that owe the money, last payment date, outstanding ballance including any charges. If they cant provide this then just dispute the debt. A debt in dispute cannot have court action taken agiainst the debtor.

They CANNOT issue a CCJ - only a court can do this. if the creditors have your current address you will receive notification of the date of hthe hearing. If they dont have your correct address then you will not receive this info - and a CCJ can be issued by the court in your abscence. Id give then you new address if it were me.