Link Financial - what to do!

fatbelly

Yes, same as unwanted evangelists, political campaigners, tv licence staff, people touting for business...

'No, thank you' 

Rob5342

Remember they aren't bailiffs so they have no powers whatsoever, it's no different to someone knocking and trying to sell you some magic beans. Lots of people don't realise that so debt collecting companies prey on their ignorance and use the threat to try and scare them into paying (along with meaningless phrases like "further recovery action" etc) 

There's no need to give it much thought, don't engage with them, you can simply shut door on them with a polite good bye if you feel like it,

PoochMcPooch

Link Financial Jan update

Debt has now been sold to BPO as of late November, and I'll give them credit, they are making more of an effort to contact me than Link did 

Had a couple of letters about getting in contact which I have ignored as my last letter to LINK (offering a payment) was either Nov or Dec 2019 (letter says Nov, file date shows a December one), which I believe makes this debt past the 6 year statute. The last letter being a magnanimous offer that Link will accept a 30 per cent reduction to help me clear it. 

However, I'd quite like the calls (to voicemail) and letters to stop and I certainly don't want to end up in court, as that would be rather a hassle. So - I'm past the 6 years and what do I do next? 

Hoping you can advise and thank you all again for your advice so far, it really has been so helpful.

Rob5342

If its statute barred you won't end up in court, if they sent an lba then you would just defend it saying its statute barred and that's the end of it. 

Are you sure it is statute barred. If you have any doubt over the date I would keep quiet to extend the time a bit. 

PoochMcPooch

Rob5342 said:

If its statute barred you won't end up in court, if they sent an lba then you would just defend it saying its statute barred and that's the end of it. 

Are you sure it is statute barred. If you have any doubt over the date I would keep quiet to extend the time a bit. 

I have the Link reply from around the end of Jan 2020, which was a masterpiece in cut and paste and didn't actually make much sense as a result. 5 weeks later the first lockdown hit and I had other things to worry about. I don't have any records to show that I replied, and there would be a response saved if I did. I've already checked all my backups from the period and there's nothing. In addition, I haven't spoken to them since before this date and my letter of Nov/Dec 2019 specifically requested written communication only going forward as I wouldn't discuss this over the phone.

My partner is concerned that this will contact will continue and may escalate with this agency. If they did proceed to an lba then does that require an actual appearance by myself or is it a simple case of saying statute barred? And presumably I'll have to prove it too. I've no idea how to do that, given that I doubt a date on a saved letter is much proof.

fatbelly

Your defence wold be that it's statute barred

It is then up to them to prove that it's not

ManyWays

You aren't close to a court case at the moment.

The next step (if Link arent just bluffing, which they may well be) would be to send (or more likely get a firm of solicitors to send)you a Letter Before Action/Claim. You can recognise this because it has some attachments, including one headed 'Reply Form'.

On that form you can say the debt is statute barred. If they can't produce evidence that it isn't, they shouldnt start a court case.