Letter from pra group - help!

BMRS

Hi, new here. Hello!

After a bit of advice really. I've had a letter from PRA Group chasing me for an alleged debt from 1999 (?!) to GE Finance - I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do next. The amount allegedly owed is £579, but there's a final settlement offer for £57.90 (10%)

I'm fairly certain i've never acknowledged this, nor made any payments for a long time on it, though i'm not 100% certain i havent in the past 6 years, fairly sure though...

I can't see anything on my credit report - should I send them a 'Prove It' letter? as the next course of action?

Thanks in advance.

Stevie_Palimo

I am sure Sourcrates will be along shortly and advise you top send a prove it letter, On the other hand if you do owe the money to the Company in question despite the 6 years time frame that you are unsure as to if you have spoke or paid anything within you could always pay what you owe, Just a thought as I pay all my bills.

BMRS

well, so do I. I have no other debt, and a good credit rating - there's a part of me tempted to call them and make a 1 off payment, i am in a position to do so..

I'm fairly certain i've never acknowleged this in the past 6 year, as i thought i'd paid it off years ago. I did get a similar letter from Aktiv Capital about 4 years ago or so, to which i replied with a prove it letter and didnt hear back...

sourcrates

BMRS wrote: »

well, so do I. I have no other debt, and a good credit rating - there's a part of me tempted to call them and make a 1 off payment, i am in a position to do so..

I'm fairly certain i've never acknowleged this in the past 6 year, as i thought i'd paid it off years ago. I did get a similar letter from Aktiv Capital about 4 years ago or so, to which i replied with a prove it letter and didnt hear back...

Hi,

If you believe the debt to be statute barred, send them a letter telling them so.

Information and template letter, available here :

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/time-limits-for-recovering-debts/statute-barred-debt.aspx

BMRS

I'm not 100% certain on that whole 6 year thing, mind - more like 97% sure... would that be the way to go over a 'prove it' letter?

sourcrates

BMRS wrote: »

I'm not 100% certain on that whole 6 year thing, mind - more like 97% sure... would that be the way to go over a 'prove it' letter?

The fact they are offering such a low settlement offer, tells me they are not very confident of there position.

You could go the provit letter route, but then you leave yourself open to another bottom feeder DCA taking up the reins.

Sending the statute barred letter means they have to prove to you it isn't statute barred, you don't have to prove it is.

So if, it is as you suspect, SB, that should put the matter to bed permenantly.

MrsTinks

I'm betting they bought it for 1p to the £... if you pay 10% of the original debt that gives them a ROI of 900%... win for them! The original debtor will have already written the debt off and claimed whatever they can against it.

I'd stick with the SB route as advised above

BMRS

OK, i think i'll send the SB letter, to put it to bed if so.

I'm not 100% certain ive never acknowledged the debt in the past 6 years, but fairly sure, I just dont want to open up myself to anything

I definitely remember sending a 'prove it' letter 3-4 years ago, to no response as far as i can recall. We have moved house since then, and this is the first communication in 2 years now. Struck me as odd/this company have bought the debt for pennies!

Thanks again!

fatbelly

PRA is what Mackenzie Hall turned into. Older posters like Mrs T will remember how much fun they used to be

It got to the stage where you only needed to see their name to know that the debt was dodgy in some way. I seem to remember the old OFT getting on their case and they were toothless.

Anyway I'd be really surprised if this isn't statute barred - send the letter and they should give up.

sourcrates

fatbelly wrote: »

PRA is what Mackenzie Hall turned into. Older posters like Mrs T will remember how much fun they used to be

Ah, I miss those guys.

They had one of my old BOS accounts, threatened everything under the sun, I had to laugh at the guy on the phone one day, he was coming out with such BS I just couldn't contain myself.

I asked "had he ever studied the consumer credit act, or did he just make it up as he went along?"

Never had someone hang up so quickly !!

Ben8282

Ignore this and all future letters. Tear them up and throw them away. DO NOT MAKE CONTACT.