how to handle this?

Uplift

Long story short, i'm being chased for a debt from over 5 year a go. I've received a couple of letters here n there.. first from DLC, then from Hillisden Securities.. not heard anything for years until recently i got a letter from MDB (Mercantile Data Bureau Ltd).

They said they have been instructed to take over the account and want the full payment immediately as they are disappointed as they wanted to give me the opportunity to resolve this matter when they first contacted me.. this letter was the first contact, i did not get their 'first letter'.

I've checked Experian and Equifax for this information on my credit file and it is no where to be seen. I contacted them to enquire and they knew nothing about it.

I've also had no trouble getting credit, i have a credit card, i have finance and i've just bought a house which i got no problem.

The house situation worries me, they sent another letter that said:

"Should my enquiries show that you are a home owner, a third party may be instructed immediately to begin further collection activity"

What does this mean? Can my house be repossessed? I don't understand what me being a homeowner has anything to do with?

The thing is i put my entire life savings into the house deposit, i have nothing left to give so i'm not sure what to do now?

I haven't contacted them yet because i simply just don't know what to do.. why is this information not on my credit report? are they trying to pull a fast one? Has anyone dealt with this company before?

Tixy

Is it definitely your debt? What was it for?

If the debt does not appear on your credit file then chances are you defaulted more than 6years ago - does that sound right? (records drop off after 6years).

You mention its more than 5 years ago - do you think it could be over 6years since you last paid anything?

Are you aware of the limitation act / statute barred debts? If not bascially if there is a period of 6 years with no payment or written acknowledgement from you that you owe the money and if they haven't gone to court then you do not need to repay the debt. (5 years if you lived in Scotland). Say if you think this could be the case - and will direct you to more info.

From the sound of that letter it could either be just about to become statute barred, or has recently become SB and been sold on to new collectors.

Re the homeowner - its mostly to scare you. In theory if the debt was not statute barred and if they held the correct paperwork they could potentially obtain a CCJ and then try to have a charging order secured on your property. Though if its being dealt with this far down the debt collectors pecking order the chance of that is very slim.

At the moment - do not contact them at all, definitely do not write to them.