Debt from about 20 years ago

Grumpelstiltskin

Why on earth did you pay anything to this debt?

You should tell your partner, in a partnership you should be honest with each other.

Stop panicking and research exactly where you stand with your debts.

RAS

You've been mugged. If these debts are both with the same debt collector, they'll be rubbing their hands with glee. 

You just paid them £170. They may have paid £1.70 to buy that debt, maybe just 17p.

So for heaven's sake, please send the prove it letter regarding the second debt. It's very dpubtful you'll need to pay it.

And please talk to your partner because you need their support. Appreciate that this may have thrown you back into the frame of mind you were in when your were with your ex and you panicked, but you are where you are now, and your partner can help ground you in now.

RAS

and please ask the mods to merge these two threads.

ManyWays

Am I making myself liable if I log in to the portal? 
No.
A common analogy is that statute barring is like a 6 year stopwatch, ticking down to being barred. (Assuming you arent in Scotland)
Before the debt is statute barred, if you make a payment or acknowledge the debt in writing that restarts the 6 year time. But logging into a portal is not acknowledging the debt, and nor is telling the creditor you have no idea what it is and can they supply details. 
If the debt is already statute barred it doesn't matter if you acknowledge it or even make a small payment, it will remain statute barred.

sourcrates

Wilson98 said:

Yes I am one of the same. I got 2 letters and panicked and paid the reduced payment of £121, but when I went into the portal it told me to pay £170 which I did. Why is this?  (They are both about 20 years old. ) 

The other one which I’m thinking of sending a prove it letter has a reduced payment of £789, I just know it’s not got to say that amount. 

Am I making myself liable if I log in to the portal? 

After all these years my situation has change as does most people’s and I haven’t told my partner. 

I have got anyone to talk to a lot this so really don’t know what to do. 

Thank you for listening 

I have merged both your threads together.

You should never randomly pay invoices sent by debt collectors without asking for proof of your liability first.

There are laws in place regarding old debt, the limitation act 1980 allows lenders 6 years to chase payment on simple contract debts, accounts from 20 years ago are very likely to be statute barred, and you won`t have to pay them.

So little can be done about the first account you paid, that is now over and done with, the second account you should send the prove-it letter, already linked too in a previous thread, send that, and edit it to your situation, and see what comes back.

The collector/creditor will know full well the debt is statute barred, but are hoping you do not.
A debt can only be acknowledged in writing or by payment by you, but once a debt is statute barred, it stays that way, nothing can un-bar it.