Freedom Of Information - Debt Companies

Moose321

Hi Everyone, is it possible to find out how much a debt company like Link Financial/Lowell etc bought a debt for using Freedom of Information Act? Thank you.

Grumpelstiltskin

Difficult because they don't just buy one debt at a time they buy a large quantity in a bunch and just pay for the bunch.

Isthisforreal99

Freedom of Information wouldn't apply - maybe you mean a Subject Access Request under GDPR?

Either way, no.

ManyWays

No, you can only ask about your personal information. You have no right to know that because you were not a party to the sale and did not have to be consulted. 

fatbelly

It's a great question

But the answer is no

Moose321

OK, thank you all. What to do next. 

I had an MBNA credit card which was apparently sold to Link Financial in 2014.  I carried on paying MBNA directly ad hoc payments via bank transfer. I tried to carry on during Covid but it was a struggle and I had to stop payments, the last payment was in May 2021, income not great since then either.  MBNA were obviously passing the money to Link as I did not hear from them. I have never had any contact with Link directly. They have sent me chasing letters in recent months culminating with the latest one saying as they cannot contact me, they are passing it to Kearns solicitors.

I have no proof they own the debt other than these letters from them. Should I contact them by email or phone and ask for proof? Or I can continue paying what little I can afford to MBNA via my bank without contacting them. Any advice would be appreciated. I am recently retired and could do without this stress. Many thanks.

Grumpelstiltskin

OK Send the prove it letter and see what comes back.

Letter when you know nothing about about the debt - AKA "Prove it" letter — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Never phone these people keep all correspondence in writing.

Moose321

Grumpelstiltskin said:

OK Send the prove it letter and see what comes back.

Letter when you know nothing about about the debt - AKA "Prove it" letter — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Never phone these people keep all correspondence in writing.

Thank you, much appreciated.

Moose321

ManyWays said:

No, you can only ask about your personal information. You have no right to know that because you were not a party to the sale and did not have to be consulted. 

Thank you ManyWays. Should I have recevied a notice of assigment from the credit card company when the debt was transferred as I have no recollection of receiving anything like that from them.

RAS

It would be a better idea to stop adhoc payments altogether. This could have been statute barred by now.

As it is you've got another 18 months, assuming you haven't communicated in writing with either. Wait to see what come back, and ask advice here before doing anything else.

The Prove it letter is specifically designed to allow safe communication.

MyRealNameToo

Moose321 said:

Hi Everyone, is it possible to find out how much a debt company like Link Financial/Lowell etc bought a debt for using Freedom of Information Act? Thank you.

Freedom of Information only applies to public authorities not to the private sector so no.