Collection agency claiming Abbey National debt

kardeck

Is a current account with Abbey National statute barred?  I have been contacted three times by letter claiming I owe a substantial amount to a company called Intrum (with Abbey National as original creditor).  

I replied to them via email after each of the the first two letters denying that it is my debt, but this morning received another letter.

In my first email reply I asked for proof that it was my debt - none has been provided. In the last (2nd) email I just said it is not my responsibility and "you can only visit me at my home if you make an appointment and I have no wish to make such an appointment with you".

The new letter claims that someone from Verify will be visiting me if I dont make an effort to pay.

What should I do next?

CliveOfIndia

I'd ignore it.  Given that Abbey National was bought by Santander in 2004, it's highly unlikely that you could still owe a debt to Abbey.

Even if you do owe a debt to someone, if they can't provide evidence of the debt then they're on a hiding to nothing.

As for visiting your house - unlikely.  And in the unlikely event that you did receive a visitor, you just politely tell them to go away, the same as you would for any unwanted cold caller.

If you're worried about bailiffs, don't be - a bailiff can only be instructed by a court, and then only if the court is satisfied that you genuinely owe money.

Sounds like it's either a case of mistaken identity, or else an out-and-out scam.

Rob5342

It's down to them to prove that's its your debt, did you send the prove it letter mentioned here?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter

These companies pick up old debts and do their best to scare people into paying them. If it's that old then the chances are it is statute barred, but don't do anything to acknowledge it in case it isn't (they called my Virgin debt an MBNA debt even though it was transferred 9 years ago). It's far easier to send a threatening email than do anything else. They mention home visits to try and intimidate you, but anyone they send won't have any more rights that a double glazing salesman, and you can treat them in the same way.

fatbelly

Ask Verify to put the proof of debt through the letterbox when they visit

kardeck

I did ask them to provide proof in the first email, but this has still not been provided.  I also told them that I am recieving mental health care and am in assisted living housing (both true) and I feel like this has just put blood in the water TBH.

sourcrates

kardeck said:

I did ask them to provide proof in the first email, but this has still not been provided.  I also told them that I am recieving mental health care and am in assisted living housing (both true) and I feel like this has just put blood in the water TBH.

Its best with anything to do with debt, to deal with it in writing, by writing I mean a good old fashioned letter.

We have a prove-it letter for just that purpose, the link is in my signature.

Send that and await a response.

How old is this debt, do you recognise it at all?

kardeck

Dont recognise the debt at all (been with my current bank for 20 years!).  Abbey National ceased to exist decades ago didnt it?

I will definately send the 'prove it' letter asap, thank you.

sourcrates

As Rob says above, Intrum, and companies like them, buy up old statute barred debts for peanuts, some of them decades old, and try to extort the full face value from there original agreement holders.

Now the FCA frown on this practice, however it is still technically legal, but the debts cant normally be enforced due to limitation/age etc, as long as any court claim they may start is defended, but, if you ignore a court claim, they can still obtain a judgement by default.

Its quite a messed up system, so its always better to nip it in the bud, rather than have to get a CCJ set aside.

In Scotland the law is much clearer, lenders have 5 years to enforce debts, after that they become "prescribed" and are "extinguished", so cannot be chased under any circumstances.

We are not so lucky south of the border.