Connexme/ Cabot 20 June 2022 at 3:53PM in Debt-free wannabe 7 replies 775 views

Dracus

Hi

Im new to the forum and feeling a bit nervous. 

Today I received a letter from a company called ‘Connexme’ . It stated that they were a company that traced people for clients. Immediately I thought it was from a company called Cabot (Who some might be aware of on here). I havnt replied and yet I’m wondering how they found me? 

I’m quite certain it’s them (Cabot) they are working for as I have looked up online and the few links I could find lead back to debt collection agencies etc

Until the lockdown when the pandemic kicked in, I Had been homeless for around 10 years. I had a debt with Cabot in around 2007 and I was paying a small amount a week as it was all I could afford. At the time I was living at my parents old house (My mother has now moved) Fast forward 15 years and my Mother is in a new house (A house that they are now sending letters to) and I am now a carer  for my mother. The house isn’t mine. I am still basically without a home yet I am worried that they are sending letters to her new home. As I’ve stated, I do not live there. But, I do have mail sent there as it was the only way I could become her carer with proof of address as I myself did not have an address or bank account.

it’s been basically 17 years since I first had the debt and I thought that if the debt is over 6 years old they wiped it? 

I havnt had contact with them in years and also, I’m wondering how they found me etc? 

Any advice would be great

Ebe_Scrooge

I'm sorry to hear your tale.  I'm not sure I'm able to offer much in the way of constructive advice, but I didn't want to just read & run.

Dracus said:

it’s been basically 17 years since I first had the debt and I thought that if the debt is over 6 years old they wiped it?

It's 6 years after you last "acknowledged" the debt that it becomes "statute-barred".  So if you've been making token payments, the debt is still "active" as it were.

Dracus said:

Fast forward 15 years and my Mother is in a new house (A house that they are now sending letters to) and I am now a carer  for my mother. The house isn’t mine. I am still basically without a home yet I am worried that they are sending letters to her new home.

The debt-collection agency will try to use the last known address that you're registered at.  If you've registered at your mother's address then that is - in their eyes - the best address to contact you at.  Please don't worry about your mother - a debt is connected to a person, not an address.  So if you're thinking that they can somehow chase her for the debt, you have no worries on that score.

In a worst-case scenario, if it came to court, you can't pay what you don't have.  They can't sell your mother's house to pay your debt, or anything like that.

A couple of good places to ask for advice are either CAB or Stepchange - both are free to use, impartial, and will be able to give you informed advice about how best to deal with this.  Like I say, I can't claim to be an expert on such matters, so will leave it to other better-informed forum members to give further advice.  But I thought I'd offer what advice I am able to in order to - hopefully - allay your immediate concerns.

Dracus

Thanks for the reply, Ebe. Appreciate it. I havnt paid a single thing in well over 10 years as I have been homeless as I pointed out. Feel a bit more calm reading what you have said. Thanks. 

I was intouch with a company many years ago called ‘DAWN’ ?? They gave advice on debt etc But looking on the internet I can’t find anything? 

Dracus

Sorry for not being clear enough in original post. I havnt had any contact with anyone regarding the debt since over 10 years ago. My mother was still living at the old address until 6 years ago so if there were any CCJs issued against me surely they’d have gone to that house before she had moved as I hadn’t paid anything since at least 2011? 

Also, would any CCJ. Come up when my mother sold her house when they do a check for the new buyer?  

It’s all a bit of a head melt so sorry if I don’t come across as making any sense

sourcrates

If you have not paid or acknowledged this debt in writing for any period of 6 years, then, unless legal action was taken, it will be statute barred.

Look up "simple contract debt" "limitation act 1980".

Send the statute barred letter, see what Cabot have to say, the above act ensures you don`t have debt hanging around your neck forever, however the debt is not written off, unless your in Scotland, (in Scotland the limitation period is 5 years, and the debt is written off) in the rest of the UK it just means they cannot take legal action to enforce their rights, but you must first write and tell them its statute barred.

I would suspect they will agree, and you`ll hear no more about it.

Dracus

Thanks, Sourcrates. Again I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I’ll look into it. Feeling a lot calmer just reading both yours and Ebes replies. Thanks

flipflopflo

I think this is the thread that you need to get the letter. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6027755/statute-barred-debts-and-the-limitation-act#latest

Dracus

Cheers again, mate