Help please. Is this something from my bankruptcy 14 years ago?

Househelpplease

Morning all,

This forum was an absolute godsend all those years ago and I find myself needing you again! 

I’ve had a letter out of the blue today from a company called Capquest. It’s in my maiden name which I stopped using in 2005 but the name I would have used for some pre bankruptcy debts. 

It tells me my debt of over £4K (it says originally with Britannica Recoveries) is now being transferred from  Arrow Poplar Designated Activity Company to Capquest and that all monies should now be paid to Capquest. 

It says my account is at present being managed by The Bankruptcy Exchange and they will continue to do so.

I have no idea what this is. No sign of it on my credit file. 

Do we think this is a debt from the bankruptcy all those years ago? Do I just ignore? Any insight would be helpful!

Thank you 

Brie

Well you could ignore it assuming it's a fishing expedition and see if they come back with anything more information.  Or you could respond.

If you do respond I would suggest a simple "prove it" letter asking them for proof that you, in that name, owe anything.  I would do it by post, not by phone as the last thing you want is to give them your phone number.  I'd not want to give them an email address either.

If they do come back to you with information that it's a date pre bankruptcy then I believe the next step would be to send them a copy of the bankruptcy notice/letter/whatever and say "end of".

jlfrs01

If you are confident this is a debt you had pre-Bankruptcy then it's best ignored. It's most likely related to debts that have been sold on as part of a batch many times over the years, this letter is most likely a template the company sends out to everyone considered a debtor whether a Bankrupt or not. Engaging with them is going to be a red rag to a bull in my opinion because they'll almost certainly hound you with letters asking for personal details and threatening you with Bailiffs and Court Action, all designed to intimidate you into making a full or partial settlement which you do not have to.

It may just be a "FYI" letter but if not and they continue to send letters then as Brie suggested, a letter back (signed for), enclosing a copy of the Bankruptcy Notice stating you are not obligated to pay this debt as per the enclosed Notice and consider this matter closed. Any future letters will be ignored and returned. If they carry on, mark the envelopes "return to sender" and put them in a letterbox. Do not open them.

Househelpplease

Thanks very much both. It says I don’t need to do anything, but that payments now need to be paid to Capquest.

It’s the fact the letter is in my maiden name and that it says the debt is managed by The Bankruptcy Exchange that makes me think it has to be that. I have no debt of that amount on my credit report and my credit file and score are the best they could possibly be. 

Do you agree it sounds probable it’s related to the old bankruptcy? I have never missed a single payment on anything since bankruptcy so no other reason for bankruptcy exchange to be involved?

Thanks so much again for your time! 

fatbarman

Hi there - I came here today having received the exact same letter in the post, this morning!

I too have a historic bankruptcy and wondered if this related to a pre-bankruptcy debt.

I spoke with the credit card Company they claimed the debt was with - they told me the card number wasn't recognised on their system.

I was loth to ring the number in the letter, as The Bankruptcy Exchange doesn't show up on an Internet search - except in the USA, where it is not a debt collection agency. MBNA gave me a different number, for capquest, but the call went unanswered.

I plan to try again with capquest, then send a "prove it" letter to the PO box in Harlow, by registered mail.

Hoping the advice above holds true - will hate digging out the old bankruptcy papers, as I already have a hollow feeling in my stomach and racing heartbeat from the memories of that desperate time, all those years ago.

Househelpplease

fatbarman said:

Hi there - I came here today having received the exact same letter in the post, this morning!

I too have a historic bankruptcy and wondered if this related to a pre-bankruptcy debt.

I spoke with the credit card Company they claimed the debt was with - they told me the card number wasn't recognised on their system.

I was loth to ring the number in the letter, as The Bankruptcy Exchange doesn't show up on an Internet search - except in the USA, where it is not a debt collection agency. MBNA gave me a different number, for capquest, but the call went unanswered.

I plan to try again with capquest, then send a "prove it" letter to the PO box in Harlow, by registered mail.

Hoping the advice above holds true - will hate digging out the old bankruptcy papers, as I already have a hollow feeling in my stomach and racing heartbeat from the memories of that desperate time, all those years ago.

Wow, that’s interesting you’ve had exactly the same today. I think it must be an old thing from before the bankruptcy and I think I’m going to ignore it. The Bankruptcy Exchange seems to also be named The Insolvency Exchange (same address). I wondered about withholding my number and calling them?

sourcrates

Its likely to be for an old debt included in your bankruptcy, the letter being a generic notification of change of account management, and for information purposes only.

This may have slipped through the net originally, sold on to a 3rd party with possibly no knowledge of your bankruptcy, but you will not be liable for it, as bankruptcy includes all your debts.

I agree you should ignore it for now, but if they should re-start collection activity, then a letter advising of your bankruptcy etc, would be your response.

fatbarman

Househelpplease said:

fatbarman said:

Hi there - I came here today having received the exact same letter in the post, this morning!

I too have a historic bankruptcy and wondered if this related to a pre-bankruptcy debt.

I spoke with the credit card Company they claimed the debt was with - they told me the card number wasn't recognised on their system.

I was loth to ring the number in the letter, as The Bankruptcy Exchange doesn't show up on an Internet search - except in the USA, where it is not a debt collection agency. MBNA gave me a different number, for capquest, but the call went unanswered.

I plan to try again with capquest, then send a "prove it" letter to the PO box in Harlow, by registered mail.

Hoping the advice above holds true - will hate digging out the old bankruptcy papers, as I already have a hollow feeling in my stomach and racing heartbeat from the memories of that desperate time, all those years ago.

Wow, that’s interesting you’ve had exactly the same today. I think it must be an old thing from before the bankruptcy and I think I’m going to ignore it. The Bankruptcy Exchange seems to also be named The Insolvency Exchange (same address). I wondered about withholding my number and calling them?

Just got through to capquest - they confirmed that it was historic and nobody is chasing me for money. Apparently, even debts covered by a bankruptcy can still be reassigned to new owners!!?? The letter was a standard advisory notice - seems wrong to send this out, but at least my mind has been set to rest. Need a drink!!! 

As the previous responder said, this is an advice of reassignment, probably of a whole batch of outdated debts, even though it is covered by the old bankruptcy. Capquest were able to confirm this without my giving them any more information than their letter contained. The number I rang capquest on (I dialled 141 first to withhold my number) was 03339997200 - this was provided to me by MBNA. I confirmed name and address and gave the reference number from the letter, nothing more, like date of birth or any personal info they didn't already have.

Hope this helps to set your mind at rest too x

ManyWays

If this debt wasn't before your bankruptcy it is likely to be statute barred by now. And when you later find out what the debts is, you can also ask them to produce the CCA agreement. So there are many good routes to you not having to pay this. No need to worry. 

ToxtethO'Grady

As an FYI if you need to find details of your bankruptcy from the past like the date and what court and BR number then The Gazette Insovency Notices will have that information and can be used to send to DCA's if you need proof of your BR

Please don't worry it is not used for credit searches it is only a piblic record.

Househelpplease

ToxtethO'Grady said:

As an FYI if you need to find details of your bankruptcy from the past like the date and what court and BR number then The Gazette Insovency Notices will have that information and can be used to send to DCA's if you need proof of your BR

Please don't worry it is not used for credit searches it is only a piblic record.

Thanks very much for this. I’ve just searched though and cannot find any record of myself on there at all! Any idea why this might be?