Lewis group/ cl finance. Who are they?

antonic

They are tracing agents for creditors.

HMRC used to use them, but I dont know if they still do.

fermi

antonic wrote: »

They are tracing agents for creditors.

HMRC used to use them, but I dont know if they still do.

Not sure if this list is up to date? http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/payinghmrc/debtcollectors/

antonic

fermi wrote: »

Not sure if this list is up to date? http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/payinghmrc/debtcollectors/

I would hope it is Fermi, BUT from my experience they are NOT a Debt Collection Agency, but a tracing agency used (in the past) to trace individuals /Companies who have gone missing with unpaid tax.

fermi

Lewis group do the whole lot. Debt purchase, trace, collection etc etc.... Same for CL finance who they claim to be working for. Used to collect a lot of old catalogue, GE money, store card debts etc amongst many more. So I don't think you can easily conclude what the debt is based on who is chasing. Could be a wide range of things.

Usa2012

It's defo not store cards or any kind of tax. I had a catalog years ago but can't even remember who with.
It said final demand on a pink letter, but said to pay or contact them to make arrangement by tomorrow. Only got letter today.
I've checked all credit files and can't find a debt for that amount anywhere on them. Would I be correct in thinking its 6 years old if its not showing?
Just doesn't give any insight into who it originated from.
Anyway, sent letter first class recorded today.

fermi

See what they come back with first.

If it turns out to be something of yours that has gone 6 years or more since it was last paid or acknowleged in writing, then you can follow up with the statute barred letter telling them to bog off.

Until they give some details of what it is though, it is just "fishing" from them on something that might not even be yours.

Usa2012

If it does turn out to be an old catalogue of mine, if it wasn't 6 years old or more , should it be showing on one of my credit files?
Thanks for all your advice and help so far xxx

fermi

Defaulted credit accounts usually remain on your credit files for 6 years from the date the default is recorded. Depending on the account history, that default could be quite a while before or after you last made a payment. So sometimes statute barred debts may be no longer on your file, but in other cases they can remain for some time after the debt is statute barred.

Also there are other reasons why records might show even though the 6 years isn't up yet. They can be removed when debts are sold on to companies that don't report account data. They also may not show if there is not a clear linkage through all your previous addresses, meaning that the agency is unable to match the debt against you report.

What I'm trying to say from all that is that you just can't say "it's not on my report so must be 6 years old and statute barred". The fact that it isn't on your report could be due to other reasons. Credit files are not reliable indicators for this.

Usa2012

Thanks fermi.
Once they respond, do you think it would contain any of this necessary info I might need?
How would I go finding dates etc? So I would know if it was SB or not?

Usa2012

Just revived a reply from them. It related to a bike I had on finance in 2002 which was sold in 2005 . Can you tell me if this reply means what i think it does? Either way its statute barred anyhow.
We refer to your letter dated xxxxxx, and the contents have been noted.
Please be advised our client cl finance ltd acquired the account from xxxxxxxxx finance in July 2005.

As we are unable to provide you with a copy of the original agreement , we have now closed the account.

However this does not mean the debt is void, the balance will still remain outstanding.
We trust that clarifies the matter.

Balance: £0.00


Does this mean I won't be contacted again?