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Debt Letter not my debt

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Hello all,
I have just received a letter through the post from PRA Group stating an amount of money is due to them from an Agreement in my name dated August 1999. I have never had any debts, or taken out any loans, etc and know this is not my debt at all. I was going to send the 'prove it' letter, but would like guidance on whether this is the best course of action. I have also read about the Statute Barred letter, but again not sure if this is correct as the debt is not actually mine anyway. Have read that some debt collection agencies will send letters to people with same names as quickest way to fine correct person they are looking for, think this is the case for me. Please help.

Comments

  • AnotherJoe
    AnotherJoe Posts: 19,622 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Are you aware of this debt, eg lets say its an ex or similar, or it really is out of the blue and unknown?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 35,242 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Tell them that it's not your debt. If they want to send any further evidence, they cab do so.

    Don't use the statute barred defence - that means you accept the debt but think it's no longer enforceable.

    Check your credit files to ensure nothing has been put on there.
  • MEM62
    MEM62 Posts: 5,322 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    If you know nothing about it a prove it letter is your first step. You should not even consider a statute bared stance until you have established that the debt is yours.
  • Thanks for all the replies. Am in process of checking my credit files to see if mentioned on there. The letter states the debt is owed to MBNA Europe Bank Ltd - who I have never dealt with! Just want to take the right course of action to stop this now.
  • PRA Group could be on a fishing expedition - they've bought a debt from MBNA for a specific customer (say) Ms Jo Smith.

    They don't have the customer's exact current location to formally run the process against, so they're sending letters to every Ms/Mrs/Miss/Mr J Smith in an area to see if they get a "hit" - if they do, they go to the next step.
  • Bum2018
    Bum2018 Posts: 77 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 10 Posts
    Did you have any credit card round about that time in 1999 ?
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