Help! Horrible letter from Clarity Credit Management!

debt-freeoneday

Hi

Looking for some advice please, I'm in a bit of a panic!

I received a letter today from Clarity Credit Management in my old name before I was married but to my address. The letter said RESPONSE REQUIRED and I was to call a phone number.

So I did just that and basically was told that I'm being chased for a balance of over £400 from Very (catalogue?) from 2003 that was defaulted on.

I have no idea what they are talking about so I said this on the phone, then Clarity said they would contact the lender and obtain a copy of my credit agreement and send it to me?

I honestly can't remember taking something out with Very. I did have a catalogue from NEXT and Littlewoods at one point but wasn't aware there was any balance owing. I've never had any problems getting credit and don't recall seeing this on my credit report.

What should I do? I feel sick!!!! I don't have £400 to give to this company and have never been chased before for debt like this. I have no idea why this would come about now and not during the past 10 years?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

angelaf_3

I had a similar incident a few years ago when I received a similar letter saying I owed x amount on a catalogue that I had never even heard of. When I rang they asked my date of birth which I wouldn't give so he asked me my age and then said it obviously wasn't me because the ages didn't match by years. Guy also said what they do is write to everyone with the same name, even if their middle name is different, in the hope the correct person contacts them.

I asked how they had my name and address as I hadn't even heard of the catalogue concerned and was told that I had previously ordered some years before from another catalogue in their group. It may be the same scenario with you. I'd wait for the credit agreement and/or send the prove it letter. Sorry I haven't a link and not got time to search but I'm sure someone will have the link for you soon if you can't find it.

angelaf_3

I had a similar incident a few years ago when I received a similar letter saying I owed x amount on a catalogue that I had never even heard of. When I rang they asked my date of birth which I wouldn't give so he asked me my age and then said it obviously wasn't me because the ages didn't match by years. Guy also said what they do is write to everyone with the same name, even if their middle name is different, in the hope the correct person contacts them.

I asked how they had my name and address as I hadn't even heard of the catalogue concerned and was told that I had previously ordered some years before from another catalogue in their group. It may be the same scenario with you. I'd wait for the credit agreement and/or send the prove it letter. Sorry I haven't a link and not got time to search but I'm sure someone will have the link for you soon if you can't find it.

happy_bunny_2

Nothing to worry about here.

Send them this:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11570893&postcount=2

Even if it turns out to be yours, sounds like its statute barred as no payments made or acknowledged in writing for a period of 6 years.

[Deleted User]

Send the statute barred letter; if the last payment or acknowledgement was 2003, then it is very much over the time period required to be statute barred. Remember to do everything by letter, not by telephone.

matttye

Don't waste any more time worrying about this. You need not do anything else.

Even if, by some crazy turn of events, it turns out it IS your debt and they CAN prove that it's yours, it's statute barred which means they can't pursue you for it in court. They can therefore do nothing other than ask for payment.

I wouldn't do anything else unless they continue to pursue you. It's likely they're just fishing and they're not even sure you owe the money.

fatbelly

Yes I'm with Mattye on this. They have told you that they will ask Very for a copy of your credit agreement.

You need do nothing until this arrives. It's not likely that it will (not least because the Littlewoods group didn't bother to obtain a signature in that era). They will most probably just go and chase someone else.

You may wish to see your credit file (£2 statutory report will do) to check that the idiots have not put anything there.

If this does continue (e.g. if they send another letter demanding money) that will be the time to engage in writing with them.

As a general rule for others reading the thread - if a debt collector writes a letter that does not state explicitly what they hold (original reference number, balance owing) then it's best to view it as a fishing exercise and not to phone them.

dek77

statute barred - forget it - they will trying it on and hope you respond and pay an amount which will mean you are back to square one.

DO NOT RESPOND, DO NOT CALL... They will send some more letters to frighten you into paying - Forget those idiots.

happy_bunny_2

dek77 wrote: »

statute barred - forget it - they will trying it on and hope you respond and pay an amount which will mean you are back to square one.

DO NOT RESPOND, DO NOT CALL... They will send some more letters to frighten you into paying - Forget those idiots.

Paying something does not affect statute barred status.

But I agree, not worth worrying about.

debt-freeoneday

Thanks so much everyone! I felt really sick at the thought of having to pay money that I had no clue about yesterday. Feel so much better now. I'll wait to see if they write to me again and if so, I'll send the statute barred letter to them. Phew! That letter that got was so vague just asking to phone a number, it was such a shock when I heard what they wanted.

Powered_By_Pies

"It is unfair to communicate with debtors, or their representatives, in
whatever form, in an unclear, inaccurate or misleading manner. Examples of unfair or improper practices include: asking or instructing debtors to make contact on premium rate or other special rate telephone numbers."

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/consultations/OFT664Rev_Debt_collection_g1.pdf

Section 3.3, annex L. If the letter simply told you to phone a premium rate line, you can kindly refer them to this and inform them that you're considering informing the OFT of your findings.

It'll make their ****holes twitch faster than a rabbits' nose.