Lowell (again)

TheGardener

An old phone bill for about £40 (orange mobile) got 'lost/forgotten in transit' The debt is 12 years old in November but from what we can work out, the debt was sold on to Lowells just before the 6 years was up and they organised a CCJ. Now the CCJ is nearly 6 years old (in Nov) and a High Court Baliff called on my friend this morning. 
Is this debt too old to chase or does my friend have to negotiate a settlement? The £40 is now nearly £500 including court costs so I assume the court costs are not negotiable but the original debt might be?
TIA

fatbelly

That seems OTT for a £40 debt but as you know the claimant only has to start a claim before the 6 years is up, and can do this at 'the last known address'. They then have 6 years to enforce the judgement and, as this one isn't a consumer credit act debt, it does not have to be dealt with in the County Court.

However, you say the debt is now nearly £500. There is a minimum figure of £600 for High Court Enforcement

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/enforce-a-judgment

and so the application to High Court has been made incorrectly. You should point this out to the HCEO, and Lowell's solicitor. Explain that you are prepared to deal direct with the solicitor once all fees and charges relating to the HCEO have been removed.