Robinson Way Nationwide Debt

wylie102

Hi, I've just received a Letter from Robinson Way stating that I owe them £260.13 which is from an old Nationwide overdraft I had as a Student in 2010. I thought I had completely paid off this overdraft and had entirely forgotten about this account.

They said the default occurred in April 2012, I don't think I was using this account at that point. I have no details of it now but I'm sure the last correspondence from me or payment to that account would be before this time.

I talked to them on the phone which is how I got this information. The guy said I could pay 33% of it and they'd mark it as partially paid and then it would disappear next year, or I could pay the whole lot off now.

I have the money, but my main concerns are:

1. I don't remember owing Nationwide any money, in fact, I specifically remember paying cash into this account to settle the overdraft.

2. My credit score, I'm arranging to rent a house this week which requires a credit check, I will also be looking to get a Mortgage for a house next year.

Advice would be appreciated on the best way to clear this from my credit history or minimize its impact on my credit rating.

Thanks in advance,

Tom

sourcrates

Hi,

Send the provit letter to them, stay off the phone.

The default is already on your credit file, so the damage is done and can't be undone until it drops off next year.

The only good news is the further back in time a default is, the less impact it will have on you.

wylie102

Thanks for that. Just to clarify, there's no merit in paying it off just to have done with it? It won't go away any faster?

National_Debtline

Hi wylie102

The debt and default will drop off your credit file 6 years after the default was registered. That’s regardless of whether you pay it, but just to clarify the debt and default dropping off doesn’t automatically mean you no longer have to pay the debt.

While the default remains on your credit file it would look better if the debt was satisfied, however if you have doubts over whether you owe the money sending the prove it letter is a great place to start. Good luck with it all.

Susie
@natdebtline

wylie102

Thanks for the help. I do distinctly remember paying it off and I'm certain I didn't use the card after that time. I wonder if I had some kind of fee which kicked in on the account and ran on for a couple of years while I was oblivious to it. If I do pay it off can I still challenge it and/or try to find out where the debt on the Nationwide account came from? What kind of information will I get back from the proveit letter?

fatbelly

wylie102 wrote: »

Thanks for the help. I do distinctly remember paying it off and I'm certain I didn't use the card after that time. I wonder if I had some kind of fee which kicked in on the account and ran on for a couple of years while I was oblivious to it. If I do pay it off can I still challenge it and/or try to find out where the debt on the Nationwide account came from? What kind of information will I get back from the proveit letter?

Better to challenge it first and then just pay what they prove you owe.

To prove the debt they need to provide something that links you to the debt and statements showing how the balance was arrived at.

As another point, who owns the debt now? Robinson Way usually work for debt buyer Hoist (HPH), who will have bought the debt for a pittance. So if there is a genuine debt here you could try a full & final settlement deal. The fact they've already offered a 33% deal gives you an idea they probably paid a lot less than that for it.

And another point, if you continue to deny the debt they only have until April to start a court claim. Beyond that it will be statute barred, if you're in England or Wales. You need not pay anything at that point and quote FCA rules at them (CONC 7.15.8)

wylie102

Thanks. I'll send the proveit letter. How does a full and final settlement deal work? I mostly just want to do whatever will be best for my credit rating.

Sorry for asking all these questions, this is entirely new territory for me, you guys have been very helpful. Is there a web page explaining all of this so I don't have to keep bothering you?

sourcrates

wylie102 wrote: »

Thanks. I'll send the proveit letter. How does a full and final settlement deal work? I mostly just want to do whatever will be best for my credit rating.

Sorry for asking all these questions, this is entirely new territory for me, you guys have been very helpful. Is there a web page explaining all of this so I don't have to keep bothering you?

Our friends at National Debtline can help you there :

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/fullandfinalsettlementoffers/lumpsumoffers.aspx