5year old debt....statute barred?....checking credit rating?

weeny64

Hi was wondering if anyone has any advice as I'm a bit lost.
A little history....
I got into debt when I was young,stupid and clueless,and when my partner at the time left me,I was left with it all as it was in my name...I know,stupid! !
I tried to carry on paying it and took on an extra job but just couldn't afford it anymore. I went to CAB and was advised to write to each of them, (around 4/5) and offer a small payment t to each. The lady wasn't very helpful at all and judgmental but I went off and wrote to each of them.

They all refused my low payments and demanded more. I was terrified of them so stoped responding and eventually moved a few times. The last time I wrote to them was just over 5 years ago.

ive recently been thinking a lot about sorting it out as I hate it hanging over me now that I have children and getting married but looking online I've seen something about statute barred debts?? What exactly can be statute barred, any debt? Also,I was going to check my credit rating and to see exactly who it is I do owe now but if I do this will it be acknowledging my debts again? I'm at a loss what to do and would be greatful of any advice?
Thanks.

[Deleted User]

Are you in Scotland?

weeny64

No England... I take it it's different depending where you are?

[Deleted User]

It is different, depending where you are.

In Scotland, it's 5 years, but in the rest of the UK, it's 6 years, so you have nearly one more year to go.

weeny64

Does it exclude certain debts? If I check my credit rating on experian will it reset the clock?

-taff

you can check your credit rating without activating anything.

[Deleted User]

weeny64 wrote: »

Does it exclude certain debts?

Yes it does.

I believe Council Tax, HMRC, and Court Fines are excluded, and possibly others.

I'm assuming yours are straightforward credit debts, eg. CC, loans, catalogues?

If I check my credit rating on experian will it reset the clock?

I don't believe so, as you are not acknowledging in writing.

It may, however, draw attention to yourself.

happy_bunny_2

Do your creditors have your address or a previous one?

Checking your credit file will alert them.

You have a year until they are statute barred.

weeny64

It is bank loan,an overdraft,2 mobile phone ,one of those high interest loans where a collector comes to your house, and think thats it. It's been such a long time I'm not sure anymore.

I've moved a few times over the years and have had letters from some of them at each address but nothing came of it. They have my last address (but the building isn't there anymore) and I started getting letters at my address now about 4 months ago. Mainly from the bank loan,again nothing has come from it as of yet.
I think it should be 6 years in January but not sure. I was thinking they may be on my credit report so I could see?

happy_bunny_2

If you are getting letters anyhow, check your credit file on all 3 agencies. Equifax, experian and maybe start by checking call credit for free via 'noddle'

double_mummy

as it gets closer to the statute barred point the more likely it is that they could go for a CCJ through against you you can try and wait it out but as i said that is risky or if you can afford to pay them all off you could hold out then is a court document comes through just pay it all off (or offer a F&F settlement) any that you dont get court documentation for go statute barred

there are plenty of things you can do to delay the creditors such as a CCA request (use the national debtline template) to try and get to the 6 years

basically it comes down to what do you want to do? do you want to pay them (either in full or F&Fs) or do you want to try and avoid them?