CCA request for combined accounts

Chasing_Squirrels

First time posting on here in a long time but I have lurked on a regular basis and been very grateful to those who have shared experiences and offered great advice - thank you. 

My husband have combined debts of 65k with all defaults due to drop off our files at various points in 2025. Due to a combination of job losses, furlough and ill health, we have been paying token payments of £1 per month to each. All accounts are 2017 or earlier and most have been sold on - creditors are all aware of our circumstances and pretty much leave us alone. 

Our income should increase substantially within the next three years and our plan was to leave the accounts as long as possible before requesting CCAs to give them time to disappear from our files / age a bit more / perhaps change hands again, before offering F&F settlements. This might be a crazy plan but we're not in in a position to settle yet and we're in no rush. It is what it is, we accepted the long haul and it happily ticks over. 

However.... we had two unsecured loans with our biggest creditor (RBS) and they have been combined. They total approx 25k and, at the point of default, one stood at 4700 with the other making up the balance. The current owner is C4bot and we have already received a 70% discount offer. I'm thinking of sending a CCA request for this account now as the figures on the C4bot letter don't tally; there is a summary where one original account number is shown at 15000 (ish) and the other shows as zero. Then the amount owed is shown as 25000 (give or take). The agreement number they have assigned their reference number to is the loan that had 4700 remaining. I'm not sure if that makes any sense - it looks a bit like this: 

Account 1: (Date 2015)
Duration: 60 months
Amount of credit: 15000 (this was the original amount - 4700 when defaulted)
Contractual payment: £0.00

Account 2: (Date 2017)
Duration 0 months
Amount of credit: £0.00 
Contractual payment: £0.00

Opening balance: 25000 (followed by list of token payments)

C4bot wrote to say they had combined the totals to streamline everything. They use one reference number and it reflects the account number from 2015 for the smaller balance. Even if account 1 was accurate, the statement shows a discrepancy of c.10k. 

I'm just after a sanity check as the thought of sending CCAs makes me feel nervous and I don't want to be too optimistic. Is there even a slight chance this one could be enforceable? Ideally I'd like the clock ticking if it is unenforceable ready for a lower F&F when we're in a position to pay.  

Any advice? Please and thank you. 

Chasing_Squirrels

Also, if an account is found to be unenforceable, can it be sold on again? 

sourcrates

When lenders combine accounts, they do it for their own commercial reasons, however, wear as previously, each separate account would of had its own credit agreement, once they combine them, they create a third account that did not exist before, so no credit agreement will exist either, as it never existed previously in that format.

Debts such as this are irredeemably unenforceable entirely for this reason.

Yes it can be sold on again, but the same defence still applies, no agreement equals no liability.

Chasing_Squirrels

Ah, both the person and advice I was hoping for! Thank you Sourcrates. 

Am I on the right track holding off CCA-ing the rest? I’m thinking it will decrease the chances of the agreements being located. I haven’t got the nerve or inclination to get to statute barred, but low settlements would be very handy. 

sourcrates

That`s a reasonable plan, yes, see how the land lies when your ready to deal.

Chasing_Squirrels

Thank you!