Help me please

sososcared

Hello - I am very new to this so I will explain my dilemma as best as I can.

I was very irresponsible way back in 1999/2000 and got into debt with a couple of banks on unsecured loans. It all got too much and I moved away from the area 7 years ago, didnt leave a forwarding address and have since married and obtained credit in my married name with nothing nasty (ie, CCJ's) showing up in my maiden name.

However, on Saturday I received a letter from Cabot Financial Ltd saying that they will be "calling" tomorrow between 8am & 8.30pm, and if this is not convenient, I have to phone them. It doesnt say why, it just has a reference number on it, no creditors or outstanding balances are mentioned.

Truth be told, I dont know which debt I am being chased for, or for how much for but I have not made any payment/contact with any of those creditors since summer 2000 nor have I received any correspondence from them.

I looked for advice on your website and so far its been brilliant. However, I am not sure about the Limitation letter/Statue Barred Debt letter that I can send out. Is there alternative wording to the first paragraph? Obviously as I dont know who Cabot are acting for, I can't detail the amount outstanding or the debt they are referring to so the letter as it stands wouldn't make sense.

I haven't phoned Cabot as the general consensus of opinion on this site is not to phone them, just to communicate via post. My husband owns our home and I am petrified that they will try and break in or put a charge on the house which I have no financial interest in. I have been able to obtain credit in my married name and have no knowledge of any CCJs in my maiden name.

I cant sleep, I cant eat and I know its all my fault but I really dont know what to do for the best - any advice would be welcome please.

I phoned Debtline and they were great and said chances are that Cabot wont turn up tomorrow anyway, its just a ruse to get you to phone them and reactivate the debt. I just forgot to ask them if/how I could re-word the opening paragraph.

Should I send the letter now, or wait until tomorrow when/if they turn up?

Thanks for reading, hope anyone can help.

Storm

To be honest, as they've not even said what debt this is for then I wouldn't bother even writing to them at this stage, however if you do want to just to get everything cleared up as soon as possible then something along the lines of:

I'm in receipt of your letter dated XXX, and have never had any previous correspondence or dealings with your company. I ask that you only communicate with me in writing, and give a full explanation of why you have contacted me.

Not as brilliantly worded as the standard letter, but if they've not even said you owe them money or they've bought a debt, then I don't see any reason to bring it up!

Don't phone them as they'll try various bullying tactics to get you to agree to pay a monthly amount to them, and it will probably be an extortionate 0870 number anyway!

sososcared

Thanks Storm I think I will have the letter ready, but see what happens tomorrow.

Burlesque_Babe

If there has been no contact either way for over 6 years then there is nothing they can do/chase you for as the debts will be statute barred.

The chances are nobody will turn up. Even if they do they aren't allowed into the property. Even less so because it is in your husband's name (I'm sure someone will be able to give more details about rights of access)

I think they are trying it on IMHO.

CLAPTON

it's very unlikely that they will actually turn up but if they do simply send them away and tell them to write giving details.
they are not baliffs and have absolutely no rights whasoever.
they wont break into your house as they know thats a criminal offence.
they can't put a charging order on the house without going to court several times and you will have plenty of time to deal with the issues.

sammy115

Is the letter from Cabot in your married name or your maiden name?

sososcared

hi sammy, its in my maiden name

Burlesque_Babe

When was the last contact either by yourself or the company you had the debt(s) with?

sososcared

Last contact either way was definitely more than 6 years ago

southernscouser

As others have said, they have absolutely no power. They cannot take anything from you, they cannot force you to agree to anything, they can't do a thing!

It's simply scaremongering tactics. People think they are ballifs. They are not.

I'd follow Storms wording. Just say you have no idea who they are and what they want.

As it is, your debts should be statute barred anyway so they can't make you pay anything.

silkglade

Hi

Don't worry about the call, I know it is easier said than done but to be honest you and all of us know that they don't have a leg to stand on. Tell them that you do not acknowledge the debt and will NOT be making ANY payments to them.

They have bought the debt in along with thousands of others in the hope that you don't know the law and that they can bully you into paying up.

They know they don't have any legal standing and i think it's why they can be so rude.

Hope this helps you to feel a little more confident when they call.

They can be really nasty and try bullying tactics but as I and others have said THE LAW STATES YOU OWE THEM NOTHING AND THEY DON'T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON.

Let us know how it goes