Letter regarding old debt from out of the blue.

NEIL7480

Morning all,

Im looking for some advice please. I have just received a letter from Next stating that they are preparing to sell my debt to a debt collection agency who will own the debt and i have 7 days to respond. This was sent to my old address and we have redirected mail. The debt is for £262. I had completely forgotten about this as i thought it had been paid over six years ago as this is not on my credit file.
My questions are:-
1. If i make contact with them today, will this go back on my credit file even if i pay in full?
2. My plan is to ask for proof that i owe this and when a last payment was made as i believe it was paid off / statute barred. Again will this affect my credit rating?
3. If i pay in three instalments, will this show on my credit file?

Im currently applying for a mortgage so i don't want anything bad added to credit rating and will avoid at all costs.

Many thanks for the help!

DCFC79

When was the last time you recall making a payment ?

NEIL7480

I really dont know exactly, but around 5-6 years ago I think.

[Deleted User]

Have you checked all three files?

NEIL7480

Yes, i've been checking consistently for the last year or 2 as im trying to improve my score to get a mortgage. i finally do that and have an agreement in principle and this letter turns up!

[Deleted User]

And does it appear on any of them?

NEIL7480

No, it doesnt.

I have checked Experian, Equifax and Noddle for call credit. Is that correct?

DCFC79

NEIL7480 wrote: »

No, it doesnt.

I have checked Experian, Equifax and Noddle for call credit. Is that correct?

Yes.

Hope you aren't paying the monthly fee for Experian.

NEIL7480

No, i utilised the free trial for both Equifax and Experian.:j

sourcrates

NEIL7480 wrote: »

Morning all,

Im looking for some advice please. I have just received a letter from Next stating that they are preparing to sell my debt to a debt collection agency who will own the debt and i have 7 days to respond.

Hi,

Respond to what exactly ?

All the letter tells you is there selling your debt on, you dont need to do anything just now, wait until said DCA contacts you, then respond with the "provit" letter from the debt free wannabe forum stickies.

If its no longer on your credit file, assuming it was defaulted, and those 6 years have run their course, it cant come back again, so dont worry.

If they provided said evidence, you would then need to decide weather to tell them its statute barred, or to pay up, depends on the last date of payment, as to when the "cause of action" was.

DCFC79

NEIL7480 wrote: »

No, i utilised the free trial for both Equifax and Experian.:j

Thats good, Experian is free for life and clearscore the same who takes its data dfrom Equifax and theres Noddle who takes its data from caĺ credit.

Remember your score isnt seen by anyone else but you.