Intrum Letter claiming I owe money

LochnivarUK

Good evening,

A relative received a letter regarding a debt of just over £1500 from Intrum threatening to send characters from "Verify" to the property if the letter wasn't responded to within a certain amount of time (I've only just got the letter).

Previously, Intrum had been emailing me which I did not respond to. I did once speak on the phone to them over a year ago but categorically refuted all knowledge of the debt or being the person they were looking for. They do not have my number nor any other details than an email address and this old postal address where I no longer live.

I know I had an account with this bank many years ago but that shut over 20 years ago and I am fairly sure I paid it off so part of me is not even sure this is my debt!  Either way, if it was for the bank it claims it is then it is, without doubt, statute barred as I haven’t acknowledged it in writing or paid towards it.

Do I go radio silent and ignore the fishing expedition from Intrum? Or do I send a statute barred letter?

My main concern is a goon turning up as my relative is vulnerable and I don't want them experiencing any stress from whatever this debt is.

I'm tempted to send a prove-it letter, but I'm sure if its related to the bank they say it is then I know I haven't had an account with them for over 20 years and it's 110% statute barred.

Does Intrum have a reputation of pursuing court/CCJ even if they know a debt is statute barred but they’ve had no response to letters thinking they can win by default? I know if I CCA'd them they wouldn't have any paperwork but I'll cross that bridge if it gets to that formal stage down the line.

How best to handle this? Will they honour a statute barred letter if they know that I know it's barred or will they act in an underhand manner and force me to go full FCA on them down the line?

Appreciate any advice.

fatbelly

Verify are nothing to worry about. They have no rights so if they do turn up your relative could just ignore them or tell them that you don't live there.

I think, as they have written, and it is presumably your name on the letter, that I would send a prove-it.

If it is what you think it is that would be the time to send a stztute barred letter. Any problems, maybe post on debt-free wannabe.

user1977

I suspect it's more likely that they're looking for someone else with the same/similar name.

dumpster_fire2025

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82010748#Comment_82010748

If it was just letters then sure but since they've also been emailing the OP that seems unlikely.

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82010787#Comment_82010787

Would be an optimistic bank to be contacting a customer using an email address from 20+ years ago, but possible I suppose.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82010943#Comment_82010943

OP states he has received emails.

user1977

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82010959#Comment_82010959

Yes, but we don't know what the source of their address was.

LochnivarUK

Thanks for the advice all - I think the reason they have my email is that Capquest were dealing with something unrelated about 10 years ago, that debt was cleared but I wouldn't be surprised if they were chancing their arm trying to email me based on that and the similarity of the name.

I may go straight for a prove-it letter and then a statute barred. Part of me really just wants to ignore the buggers though, I did before and they went away for over a year.

fatbelly

Go about things in the right way and hopefully they will leave you alone for good

Ectophile

There's no reason why they have to be separate letters.

Your letter would be along the lines of "it's not my debt, and even if it was, it would be statute barred."

LochnivarUK

That's very helpful Ectophile, thank you. I have read that Intrum (Verify & TM Legal etc) often ignore statute barred notices etc and push ahead with continued contact hence why some advice I've read on this forum recommends not contacting them at all.
I suppose if I do send them and they continue to pursue I will have to contact the FCA. I have won a complex Ombudsman case in the past that got all the way to court, it's just a palaver I was hoping I could avoid but it appears these chancers like to push the envelope.