Debt letter

Gplum

Hi everyone this is my first post on this forum basically I recieved a letter today from red debt collection saying that I owe £178.88 for a three mobile account I had in 2005 there words not mine, I phoned up & asked about it & why have they only sent a letter now if I've owed it for that long? They said they did send a letter but I moved address, which I did! But I made no secret of it & I've been on the electoral roll & had loans with tesco, credit with orange, dfs & credit cards etc.. I dont remember leaving this debt, although i may have done i was 18 and rubbish with money then!! It's not that I can't afford it so much, it's just a nuisance & why have they only just sent me a letter!! My question is do i have to pay it & how will this affect my credit rating? I'd really appreciate any help thanks

rizla_king

Send the letter here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=34906257&postcount=5

RingKing

Have you paid anything on the account since 2007? If you haven't then sent the letter Rizla posted because it is statute barred so they can't come after you for this debt

Gplum

Hi I haven't paid anything since 2005, as far as I was concerned I didn't owe anything that is why I was abit shocked when I got the letter! Thanks for the advice ill send the letter tomorrow should I send it recorded? Also will this affect my credit rating? Thanks again

happy_bunny_2

Comes off your report 6 years from default date. So if that was issued in a timely fashion there will be no trace of it on your report.

Best check, as DCAs sometimes add them back on after making the default date later to suit them (not allowed, but they do it more than they should).

WilmarieG

I had a very similar problem with Three. My account with them ended Feb 2010. I called them the 5th of Feb to cancel the contract and then after my last direct debit went off the end of Feb, I cancelled the direct debit as well.

A year later I received a letter stating that I owed them £266 for unpaid account fees and admin charges. They also stated that it took so long because I had moved, which I did beginning of Jan, but they had already sent bills to my new address, so had it on record!

I argued for days on end. Then received a new letter saying I owe them £120. So started arguing again. Then I received another letter saying that I owe £43. It wasn't a problem paying this, but out of principle, I refused and kept arguing. I had 3 different debt collection agencies call me about the same thing and explained the story to all of them, each saying that they would discuss this with Three in return.

Then I heard nothing again, until 3 months ago. I received a letter from Three for FINAL PAYMENT REMINDER for £67.xx and a note explaining that the reason I hadn't heard from them in such a long time, was because I had moved house....I have been in my current house since Jan 2010!

Phoned them and asked that they break down what I owe them. His response: You cancelled the account 4 days too late, you should have cancelled on the 1st of Feb. So you were charged for the 4 days.

To which I replied: My account with you was for £25 a month and hadn't been used for the last 4 months that I had it. Then you sent me a letter dated 01/02 (received 03/02) stating that my payments would continue as normal, unless I cancel the account. How can you justify charging me £43 (+ admin costs) for 4 days, when I only pay £25 for a month and when you only sent me the letter late?

He made a few dumb and odd noises for a minute and then asked that I hold. Two minutes later he apologised and said that my account had now been closed and the balance cleared.

I of course took all his details, role, phone number, etc. If I get any further letters, I will be contacting him directly.

Sorry, just had to get my word in as well

Good luck, in my experience, Three and BT are the worst companies to deal with when it comes to closing your account or dealing with supposed outstanding payments.