12 year old MBNA Debt

paddyd63

Hi. I was really careless with money and got into difficulty with an MBNA credit card. My limit was £3000 which in my opinion was paid three times over. Last interaction with MBNA was approximately 12 years ago when debt was sold to PRA Group who over the years failed to provide any paperwork. I received letter from PRA Group yesterday to say they have sold debt to Oops Limited. 

Please can someone give me some advice 

Brie

If you have not admitted to the debt or paid anything towards it for the last 6 years then it should be statute barred (England and Wales, think it's 5 years for Scotland).  

If that's the case then just ignore them.  Don't respond to any emails or texts you might receive.  Don't talk to them if they ring you just tell them to send it in writing.  If you get anything that looks really official like they want to take you to court then post back here.

Meanwhile I'll move this to the DebtFree Wannabe board for further input.   

paddyd63

Thanks. I think last payment was around 2010 which was before it went to PRA. I live in Scotland. I’ll post any updates I receive from Oops Ltd 

sourcrates

If you live in Scotland then the debt became "prescribed" after 5 years.

Unsure of the terminology regarding this, so I suggest you look on the Scottish version of National Debtline or Stepchange for a template letter to send to them, telling them time has run out to collect on this debt.

The law is much more concise north of the border, the debt actually no longer exists in law, a statute barred debt is one that can no longer be collected by a creditor due to the elapsed time limit laid down in the Prescriptions and Limitation (Scotland) Act, 1973.

fatbelly

It's OPOS - and they should be familiar with the law.

paddyd63

Hi. Thanks for the advice. I emailed PRA just received this response. Do I need to do anything else?

Thanks for your recent emails , 

Your account has become ‘statute barred’ under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980.

We will now recall this account from Opos Limited back to PRA Group. 

We will then close this account on our systems and you will not be contacted about it again.

ManyWays

no, thats it, except keep that email!

sourcrates

Well, they have quoted the wrong act for Scotland.

Its "prescribed" under sec 6, Prescriptions and Limitation (Scotland) Act, 1973.

But I guess the outcome is the same.