Ruthbridge Payment Demands

CaptainMal

I have recently received a few letters from Ruthbridge Ltd, demanding settlement of a debit they say belongs to me. I'm a bit stuck as what to do, hope some of you can help!

As background I know that the debit is not mine as I have never had a credit card with the company they list, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it may have something to do with an ex-housemate from over 15 years ago. After he moved out the police phoned as they had raided his new flat looking for stolen goods, and had found a credit card form with my details on it, and as far as I knew the credit card company had been informed and that should have been the end of it.

Anyway back to the present, I got an initial contact letter last month from Ruthbridge saying that Cabot had passed on the debt for them to collect. I didn't give it much thought until another 'reminder' letter arrived a couple of weeks later. After a bit of Googling I sent them a standard 'prove the debt is mine' letter, but now they have replied saying that I need to prove who I am before they can deal with me, 'in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018'. I am reluctant to give them the details they are after (Full name, DOB, address, contact no) incase it gets me attached to the debt some how.

NB There is no mention of this debt on my credit report, I have an Experian score of 990 or something  I'm moving house soon so don't want anything mucking that up!

Any advice?!

ThisnotThat

I'd politely inform them that they were seemingly happy enough to send you letters containing all sorts of personal information when they were asking for money, so it seems they were satisfied that you were the right person.  If they're now not then they'll just have to stop sending you threatograms, lest they breach the Data Protection Act.

sourcrates

You could send a hybrid version of that letter, as it appears this debt would have been statute barred quite a while ago, which is why its not on your files now.

Something along the lines of -

"the debt you have written to me about is not mine, it is likely to be linked to a case of fraud from 15 years ago (police informed) involving a former housemate, the situation was dealt with by legal means at the time.
However, just for your information, even if that were not so, and for the avoidance of doubt, the time for collecting this debt has long since passed, and it is now statute barred under section 5, limitation act, 1980, which means its no longer collectable".

Your name will be linked to that debt already, obviously if it was opened in your name, so giving them your details will not tell them anything they don`t already know, plus it will allow you to deal with the matter, acknowledging your details does not acknowledge the debt, give them the facts and fight it on that basis, otherwise you may find yourself having to do this the hard way via the courts system.

Its likely to be statute barred, the onus is on them to prove otherwise, so that should be the end of the matter.

phillw

sourcrates said:

"the debt you have written to me about is not mine, it is likely to be linked to a case of fraud from 15 years ago (police informed) involving a former housemate, the situation was dealt with by legal means at the time.

I wouldn't get into acknowledging any suspicion of the fraud, because it confirms to them that they have the right person.

gizmo111

CaptainMal said:

I have recently received a few letters from Ruthbridge Ltd, demanding settlement of a debit they say belongs to me. I'm a bit stuck as what to do, hope some of you can help!

As background I know that the debit is not mine as I have never had a credit card with the company they list, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it may have something to do with an ex-housemate from over 15 years ago. After he moved out the police phoned as they had raided his new flat looking for stolen goods, and had found a credit card form with my details on it, and as far as I knew the credit card company had been informed and that should have been the end of it.

Anyway back to the present, I got an initial contact letter last month from Ruthbridge saying that Cabot had passed on the debt for them to collect. I didn't give it much thought until another 'reminder' letter arrived a couple of weeks later. After a bit of Googling I sent them a standard 'prove the debt is mine' letter, but now they have replied saying that I need to prove who I am before they can deal with me, 'in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018'. I am reluctant to give them the details they are after (Full name, DOB, address, contact no) incase it gets me attached to the debt some how.

NB There is no mention of this debt on my credit report, I have an Experian score of 990 or something  I'm moving house soon so don't want anything mucking that up!

Any advice?!

Up to them to prove hey have the right person - not you.  I'd simply ignore it.

CaptainMal

I went with this

I am writing in response to your letter dated 2 June 2021, a copy is attached.

I have no knowledge of owing any such debt to Cabot Financial, or indeed ever having an account with Capital One.

The FCA rules say that you cannot continue any collection activity until you have provided evidence against my dispute of the debt. If you cannot provide said evidence in a timely manner I will take this as confirmation that the matter is closed, that no further communication will be made, and that my details shall be removed from both your system and your clients.

CaptainMal

Latest update, before I even got the chance to send the above letter I got another letter from Ruthbridge. First battle won, but perhaps more to follow