Statute barred

Symple_simon

Sorry if this has been asked hundreds of times before, or even if I'm in the wrong place.
But I am after some advice, so here goes..
I received a letter before Christmas from the PRA Group about a debt they were trying to collect.
I didn't recognise the name of the company they were collecting for.
They were after a settlement figure of 10% of the amount they claim I owe.
Now my Experian score is 994, it shot up mid 2018 after some details came off, and I obtained a mortgage without any problem in late 2018, have nothing on my file now regards any debts and am unsure if this debt is legit.
Admittedly years ago I used to bury my head in the sand with financial matters. I honestly cannot recall engaging with them regards this debt.
Surely this is just a fishing trip by them as I imagine this is now statute barred?
My way of thinking is that if they had a genuine course of action then they would be after the full amount and not 10%?
I will email them the statute barred letter to see what happens, but any advice will be greatly welcomed.
Thanks.

fatbelly

If you don't recognise the debt, how can you say it's statute barred?

Start with a prove-it letter

Symple_simon

It's been more than 6 years where I've been careful about my finances

Symple_simon

I would imagine that if this company knew they were in the right and had a clear course of action then they would want more than 10%?

fatbelly

You know you haven't paid anything to this in the past 6 years but it may not be your debt. You said' I didn't recognise the name of the company they were collecting for'. There's definitely something dodgy about this. Send a prove-it letter and see what comes back

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter

sourcrates

Agreed, you cannot say its SB until you know if its even your debt, send the provit letter first to establish liability, once this is proved, and it turns out to your account, then the statute barred letter can be sent, if appropriate.

Symple_simon

Prove it letter sent.
A web chat with the National Debtline guys told me to send the SB letter.

WhenIam64

Once you've had your reply, and if it is not your debt, I'd be interested in how you approach the issue of being sent details of a person that is not you.

Debt collecting has survived on cheap, mass-produced threats. These threats rely on abusing people's personal data and hosing it out to anyone that seems to fall within (for want of a better word) a "sucker".

I didn't recognise the name of the company they were collecting for.

If it is your debt, then nothing to do. But if it is not your debt, come back and see what can be done.

Edit: Don't feel bad about complaining as courts facilitate the "sucker" principle too.

Symple_simon

They have asked for confirmation of my address and D.O.B.
Why would they want my date of birth?

sourcrates

Symple_simon wrote: »

They have asked for confirmation of my address and D.O.B.
Why would they want my date of birth?

Because they are unsure of who the debtor is, that’s why.

Symple_simon

I'm sure I've read somewhere that they have to prove I'm the right person.
But how far do I have to go to assist them?