Red Debt Old Debt

Jon1Burd

Hi first time post, I need advice.

I just received a letter from red debt collection services.

OVERDUE ACCOUNT
Please pay now

You owe £749.39
Original company name:
The Associates

Recovering what you owe
Lowell Portfolio I Ltd did not receive payment from you for your outstanding balance. They have now passed your account to us so we can collect the money you owe them on their behalf.

You must now pay us £749.39. Please call us on 08448444726 to:

Pay in full by credit card
Arrange a suitable payment plan. You can set up a direct debit on line, go to lowellwebsite(edited as I'm not allowed to post links)

The longer you leave it, the more serious the situation will get, but if you get in touch now, we can help clear your balance and bring this matter to a close.

We will have a payment plan to suit you, and if you are able to pay a lump sum we can discuss what discounts are available to you so it's very important you contact us straightaway.

Yours sincerely
Robert Taylor
Head of Internal Collections

If this is my debt and I'm not sure it actually is, it would be from 2002, I have had numerous debts which I have paid off in full and was under the impression I was free and clear so this coming out of the blue has me worried.
I've been told to just ignore it as the debts old and if I contact them I'm acknowledging the debt is mine.
Ignoring stuff like this got me in a world of the brown stuff and I've only recently come out the other side.
Any advice on what I should or shouldn't do would be much appreciated as I thought my days of worrying about this stuff had finally ended.

gb12345

Send them the prove it letter.

But don't sign it.

McKneff

Sent them a prove it letter as said above and stop worrying,

If its from when you that far back, and you get confirmation of this from them, just follow it up with a statute barred letter.

And again, stop worrying and well done for getting out of the 'brown stuff' lol

McKneff

Just actually contacting them wouldn't be an acknowledgement of the debt, saying it is or a payment towards it is, but not just a simple enquiry

Jon1Burd

Thanks guys, just emailed them using that template, as long as they cant hassle me with the threat of some goon knocking on my door I won't worry.
I thought something was weird as that threat wasn't in the letter, as I eluded earlier I've received plenty of demands in the past and they always threatened door step collection and court, as this letter referred to no such action I had the feeling they were trying it on.

fermi

In fact, if already statute barred, then even acknowledging it would not "unbar" it. Once barred as debt stays that way, permanently, no matter what you subsequently do or write.

Statute barred letters are here if needed.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2606811

Jon1Burd

Thank you so much guys,
I just received an email,

Thank you for your email.

After reviewing the account, we are prepared to take a commercial view in relation to this matter. As a gesture of goodwill and strictly without admission of liability, we are prepared to close the account and write-off the outstanding balance.

I still have no idea where this came from but hell that sounds good to me, so thanks so much for the advice guys, it worked and that's what matters.

I will highly recommend this site to anyone and everyone.