Please help, advice needed (sorry long post)

refundmeplze!

This morning the postie bought me a rather scary letter from some people called 'debt managers ltd 'their address is in edinburgh saying it is their urgent final demand for around £1350. i had no idea what it was about and havent heard from them before, so I phoned them. the only information i could get out of them is that the debt is from 1997 and the address it was from.
Now the address is my old address but during 1997 and 1998 I was in and out of varoius womens refuges, with my children getting away from their violent father.I did have debts at the time but I am not sure if this is my debt or his.We were never married, but he continued to live at the property for around 6 months after I left.
I really dont know what to do and am quite scared. I am not 100% sure if this is my debt, dont know how to find out and scared of baliffs or something happening. what should be my first step? should i go to CAB? I have had no contact with the childrens father since I left in 97, and contacting him is not an option. Any help greatfully received.

CLAPTON

Firstly it may not be your debt so you would obviously want proof before doing anything.

Secondly even if it is your debt, as presumably you haven't paid anything for a least six years then the debt would be in any event statute barred. (Unacknowledged debts over six years old are unenforceable).
They are probably just fishing and hoping to frighten into paying something.

So under NO circumstance offer to pay anything as this would be acknowledging the debt.

Your choices :

Go and see the CAB

Write to them using the letter from the nationdebtline ... read it here

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=25_liability_for_debts_and_the_limitation_act

rayday2

Did you or do you live in Scotland and does anyone know if that makes it different just thought I should ask with you saying the company is in Edinburgh.

refundmeplze!

thankyou for your replies. i did not know about the statute barred rule. I should think this applies to me and just to let you know i dont live in scotland, it is just where the letter has come from.
Also how do i actually find out if this is my debt? Do the debt company have to provide me with it or does that not matter and I should just procede with the statute barred template letter.
once again thanks for the advice.

CLAPTON

There are proforma letter to demand a copy of the alleged credit agreement... a debt can't be enforced unless there is a signed credit agreement.
However this would seem a waste of time because even if there is a credit agreement it would be statute barred ... so I would be tempted to amend the statute barred letter to say that you 'don't acknowledge any debt to them but in any case the debt would be statute barred etc etc '

RAS

Hi

I think the limit on debts incurred in Scotland is 5 years rather than the 6 in England.

Whatever it is well out of time and they need to be told that you are not paying.

Does not matter whose debt etc, just tell them it is statute barred.

rog2

RAS is correct about the 5 year rule in Scotland, although that ONLY applies if the OP is also resident in Scotland - it looks as though it is 'Debtmanagers' who are in Scotland.
However the principle is the same:

1. If you live in England/Wales then click on the following link, where you will find a template letter that you should send:

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/temp/4755_98721.pdf

2. If you live in Scotland, click on the following link:

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/scotland/temp/3002_37581.pdf

By all means, contact CAB - they will give you good advice.