Moorcroft - home visit

personnelconfused

Had an issue a few years ago with competition sites, sadly resulting in a significant debt as those sites accept credit cards and aren't considered gambling (already had issues with gambling in the past). Been ignoring it for a couple of years, wrongfully, due to the shame of it all, it got me in a really bad head space and I'm not quite sure I'm ready to deal with it just yet either.

Letter received this morning from Moorcroft saying a local representative (including their name) will be attending my home next week. I won't be here anyway, but its putting fear into me that they may well take this further. 

I can't see anything recent online about them ever actually sending someone to the house but wanted to see if anyone has had experience with this? I'm barely affording my bills at the moment never mind being able to afford debt, but I appreciate i can't ignore it forever. I can't risk getting a CCJ due to my job and can't enter any DROs etc because of it either (I know I should have thought about that at the time, no need to tell me!)

I did think about offering a small payment per month but I doubt they will accept a small payment without going through expenditure etc which I just can't face dealing with right now.

Appreciate any advice.

la531983

Yes. Dont engage with them on the doorstep. They have as much power as the milkman does.

Grumpelstiltskin

What shows on your credit reports?

They are only door knockers not bailiffs, so you ignore them.

personnelconfused

Grumpelstiltskin said:

What shows on your credit reports?

They are only door knockers not bailiffs, so you ignore them.

Weirdly none of the debts show on my experian credit report or on clearscore, and havent done sinceabout February last year. They still show on credit karma though... bit odd

RAS

Different creditors report to different agencies. Have you checked Transunion?

personnelconfused

RAS said:

Different creditors report to different agencies. Have you checked Transunion?

Yeah they still show on Transunion

OopsIdiditagain1

Oakbrook Finance instructed Fieldcall to visit my home a couple of weeks ago. An agent did visit. I was not at home but they just left a letter. Letter said to call Oakbrook Finance and they would visit again if I did not male contact. I haven't heard anything from Fieldcall since. Just ignore them and they'll pop a note through the letter box. It's scare tactics and whilst it can seem intimidating, it is no worse than a door step canvasser. 

sourcrates

Do Moorcroft refer to "their client" at all in their letter?

If they do, then they are simply chasing the debt on behalf of the creditor, so they won`t own the debt, therefore cannot enforce their rights through the courts, basically they can`t do anything if you don`t pay them.

This is the most likely scenario, if the account had been sold, you would have been informed in writing about the sale prior to this.

The "local rep" they refer too, is just that, a rep for a debt collector, no formal powers, no more rights than you or I have, they are not bailiffs, bailiffs can only be instructed after a CCJ has been granted, and even then their use is very limited.

If you want to pay Moorcroft, you don`t have to agree anything or engage with them in any way, you can make payments on their website, the amounts and frequency are up to you, they will simply show as a reduction in your balance on your credit file, if debt solutions and CCJ are to be avoided in your line of work, then common sense dictates you don`t ignore this and allow it to get to that stage.

Brie

How old is this debt?  And was was the last time you engaged with the creditor (original or Moorcroft) in any way?

If you admit to the debt or even just start making payments then it will be considered a current debt.  If you haven't had anything from them, nor written to them in any way admitting the debt or offering to make a payment then it may be statute barred.  Many debt collection agencies get passed debts to collect very late in the time line so it's possible they have no case to collect or won't have in a very short amount of time.  That the debt isn't showing on at least one of the major credit reports then it's very likely Moorcroft is simply trying it on.  

If you post more details someone will be able to assist on any next step you might take.  

personnelconfused

Brie said:

How old is this debt?  And was was the last time you engaged with the creditor (original or Moorcroft) in any way?

If you admit to the debt or even just start making payments then it will be considered a current debt.  If you haven't had anything from them, nor written to them in any way admitting the debt or offering to make a payment then it may be statute barred.  Many debt collection agencies get passed debts to collect very late in the time line so it's possible they have no case to collect or won't have in a very short amount of time.  That the debt isn't showing on at least one of the major credit reports then it's very likely Moorcroft is simply trying it on.  

If you post more details someone will be able to assist on any next step you might take.  

It'll be a couple of years since I last engaged about it. Once it defaulted it was passed on to Moorcroft and I haven't acknowledged it at all since it was transferred to them. I just worry about it still having around 4 years for them to take further action and in all honesty I'd be mortified if someone turned up at my house about it, even if I were to ignore them! I've made an offer of £10 a month via their website so I guess that's the 6 years reset as of now.. hopefully will keep them off my back though.

Grumpelstiltskin

Why mortified if someone calls at your house? They don't walk around with a banner saying xxxxxxxxxxxxx owes us money, no one will know who they are.

Are you sure your job won't allow a CCJ or DRO?

Normally you need to have a high level job in finance for this to happen.