Link Financial - what to do!

PoochMcPooch

I've had a letter through from Link who I usually only hear form with a statement yearly trying to establish contact and advising that I can expect ResolveCall next week f they don't hear from me. (which is a worry obviously)

I WAS about to send them an offer letter for a final settlement and then I remembered to check here. Thank you previous posters!

I defaulted on a Coop card debt at least 6 years ago and possibly more like 7 or 8. The debt was sold to Link. However, I DID acknowledge the debt and offered a settlement figure in Oct 2019. They refused and the letter was so cut and paste and garbled it made little sense: It didn't acknowledge the monthly amount I offered instead at the same time, so I didn't set it up. Then COVID happened.... 

As far as I'm aware there have been no CCJ's against me. I have had a quick webchat with National Debt Service and I think my next approach is a CCA request under section 77, 78, 79 of the Consumer Credit Act.

How do I word this so that in no way do I acknowledge any debt owed and inadvertently reset the time on the debt? it becomes statute barred in October. I've read the National Debtline template and I'm worried that this may actually acknowledge it.

Any thoughts or suggestions/advice very gratefully received. Thank you

Grumpelstiltskin

Why worry about Resolvecall?  They are only door knockers not bailiffs, just ignore them and they will go away.

As long as you don't get a letter before action just ignore Link.

sourcrates

You can`t send a CCA request for a debt that is this close to limitation, it will count as acknowledgement and re-set the limitation clock.

You could send our prove-it letter, its specifically worded so as not to acknowledge anything, it simply asks them to prove the debt is yours, this is usually by producing a copy of the credit agreement, so same result, just asked for in a different way.

Ignore Resolvecall, you will just get a card through your letterbox anyway, and no more web chats with National Debt service, only take advice from reputable advisors such as National Debtline, the free debt charities, Debt Camel or here.

fatbelly

Just ignore them, including Resolvecall

The only thing you need to respond to is a formal preaction letter, the sort that comes with a bundle of forms and a 30-day limit.

PoochMcPooch

Link Financial UPDATE 14Aug

Followed advice so far - thanks guys!- and ignored ResolveCall. Wasn't hard as they shoved a card in the letterbox and made no attempt to actually speak to me.

However.. new letter from Link two days ago, dated 1 Aug. They restate the debt was sold to them from the Coop bank on 23/05/2019 and that unless I contact them within 14 days of the date of this letter they will pass the debt to a debt recovery agency (which I thought THEY were).

I specifically haven't sent the prove-it letter yet, following the 'ignore them until I get a pre-action letter' advice.

Is this still the right approach? I checked the date of the letter acknowledging debt and offering a payment (10/10/19) so I'm very close now to limitiation. It does have a file name suggesting I may have re-sent it in November, but even so, that only adds an extra month and presumably this is why they are re-doubling efforts.

Do I carry on ignoring? This feels like an expensive game of chicken

fatbelly

Yes I think so.

The threat to send it to a debt collector isn't much of a threat

Glad to hear Resolvecall were as useless as ever

Rob5342

I'd keep ignoring them as you are so close to it being statute e barred. They mention a debt recovery agency to try and scare you, but it would probably be a good thing for you as they wouldn't have the power to do anything and would waste a month or two sending you meaningless letters while the statute barred clock keepa ticking. 

fatbelly

And before they start a court claim they have to send a preaction letter and give you 30 days to reply. So you're almost there

sourcrates

PoochMcPooch said:

Link Financial UPDATE 14Aug

However.. new letter from Link two days ago, dated 1 Aug. They restate the debt was sold to them from the Coop bank on 23/05/2019 and that unless I contact them within 14 days of the date of this letter they will pass the debt to a debt recovery agency (which I thought THEY were).

Do I carry on ignoring? This feels like an expensive game of chicken

Link are a debt purchasing company, they assign the debts they buy to outside collection agencies sometimes.

They like to spread the love around you see.

PoochMcPooch

Thank you.

Is there any advice on what to say if a debt collector comes knocking? My other half in particular is concerned about how to respond as he works from home and usually answers the door.

sourcrates

PoochMcPooch said:

Thank you.

Is there any advice on what to say if a debt collector comes knocking? My other half in particular is concerned about how to respond as he works from home and usually answers the door.

You don`t have to say anything, just don`t answer the door.

Or if you feel compelled to answer it, simply tell them you do not conduct business on the doorstep and that you will only deal with this matter in writing, good day to you.

Don`t engage further, don`t answer any questions, ask them to leave.

Or....

Do as my late father in law used to do with Jehovah witness callers, invite them in, make them a cuppa, and a biscuit, and spend 3 hours discussing why their world view was wrong lol, no second thoughts don`t do that, stick with option one lol.

Thing is, they have no power, no authority, try not to be too serious, these things are best dealt with by using a little humour to some extent, don`t take it all too seriously is what I`m saying.