Being Chased for a really old debt(s)

midlandshelp

Morning All,
After a little help.
A few weeks ago i received out of the blue a txt message from a company call Perch Verify stating i must con tact them, it had a reference number on it and thats it.  Assuming it was span i ignored.  I then last week received as letter from them claiming to act on behalf of ACI and debt collection agency referencing an old credit card debt.  

I panicked and gave them a call on Thursday last week requesting more info.
They claim to be chasing a credit card debt i had dating back to 2009 for a value of approx £750.
I told them i had no knowledge of this as it was so long ago.  They said they would send me some info and the case would be put on hold for a few days.  This morning ive received a latter from AC but nothing relating to this old credit card debt, its relating to another old debt for a store card i have no recollection of, must be well over 10 years old for the value of £1250 ...

Now i must add, in my youth i didnt respect the value of loans and credit etc  and i spent many years feeling the effects of being chased for money etc etc.  In recent years i cleaning myself up, paid what at the time i was being chased for and successfully repaired all my wrong doings and got a mortgage etc etc.   

Now im not saying i dont technically owe this money but how for how long can people chase me, ive heard nothing for 10+ years on these and now im scared about what else they have in their filing cabinet.  They are threatening me with a home visits etc... ive now got an overwhelming feeling of anxiety, i dont want to go back to those days....

Can someone please advise me what i should do...  Ive checked my Experian credit file and its squeaky clean.... 

EssexHebridean

In the "Sticky" post at the top of the board you will find the "ProveIt" letter - you need to send that, being careful not to provide anyone with any more information about you than they already have. (Ie if they have written to you as "Mr J Smith" you write back signing off "Mr J Smith" as well - don't add a full first name or any more information.)

Chances are this is a "fishing trip" and these debts may have been nothing to do with you anyway. If so, that is probably the last you will hear of them.

If they come back and they CAN prove these debts were yours, the next step assuming you have not made any payments or otherwise acknowledged the debts in the past 6 years if in England (5 years in Scotland) would be the "Statute Barred" letter, which can also be found in that sticky post. 

sourcrates

Pretty simple case of it now being statute barred.

I`d just go straight in with the statute barred letter if I were you, lenders have 6 years from date of default to chase bad debts, after that its just tough luck.

Certain debt companies chase up these old unenforceable debts in the hope you are unaware of the law regarding them, hoping for a payday, don`t give them one.

Limitation Act 1980

midlandshelp

Appreciate the advise.
After a bit of googling i thought this was the case but didnt want to miss a step and get caught up in something thats going to damage my credit file ive spent years repairing.  I literally feel sick to the stomach this morning.  ill send them the statute barred letter and see how that goes down.  The letter they sent me have no dates on them and it looks like its been printed in someone's garage.

RAS

There've been a spate of this sort message recently.

Perch Verify are reportedly the appointed rep for ACI-UK. They seem to be a new company that shares a registered Blackpool address and directors with ACI-UK (and associated companies) and with TM Legal Services. So separate legal entities but the same people running them.

They seem to specialise on buying up old consumer debt, not necessarily credit. 

They seem to be taking over from Resolvecall as the main visiting company.

Their visitor have no legal power and can be told where to go.

It's a pity that you called. Just encourages them to pursue. Probably best to ignore at the moment.

If you've not paid towards or acknowleged in writing, then this debt is statute barred. My guess is they are hoping that harassment might pay off.

midlandshelp

I assume once i send this statute barred letter they will back off and leave me alone.... im 100% certain these debts they claim to be chasing are older then 10 year and ive 100% not made any payments towards.  Can they get CCJs landed on me or has their time passed?

RAS

Assuming you are in England or Wales, the situation is a bit more complicated than in Scotland, where the debt is extinguished.

The debt is statute barred even though it still exists, which means that is only defence that you need if someone tried to take legal action. But occasionally we have seen DCAs sending a letter before action, although I'm sure they'd claim ignorance of the status.

I do wish Westminster would extinguish the debt as well as Scotland.

sourcrates

midlandshelp said:

I assume once i send this statute barred letter they will back off and leave me alone.... im 100% certain these debts they claim to be chasing are older then 10 year and ive 100% not made any payments towards.  Can they get CCJs landed on me or has their time passed?

There is a court process to go through, and a debt being statute barred is a full defence to any claim.

However if they did instigate legal action, its extremely important you respond to the paperwork, as otherwise they can get a CCJ by default.

In all honestly 99% of this is bluff, they won`t get legal with you as they know the debt is unenforceable, they are hoping you don`t, really there is nothing to worry about here.

Send the letter, let us know if you need further advice on this.

lisyloo

Just to add, they don't have the right to come into your home.

midlandshelp

Thanks so much for everyones advise.
Ill be sending the latter tomorrow, will update hopefully with positive news, it kept me up all night last night i really dont want to live like that again

midlandshelp

Good Morning All,
Where do i find the statute barred temple letter?