Help with capquest

Phyre_Faerie

Hello All
First time poster here. I had a letter recently from telogram saying they were trying to trace from from an address I lived in 6 and a half years ago.
I've done a lot of googling and read posts here and with other sites.
I haven't contacted these people. What I am worried about is their doorstep agents descending on my house/hassling my neighbours. I think I know what the debt is they are chasing but dont want to call them and acknowledge the debt. It is defintly over 6 years since I made a payment on the account and I do not know if it has gained a CCJ n the meantime. Should I just sit back and wait and see what happens?
I really wish i'd never accrued the debt in the first place. I wasn't well and didnt even end up benefitting from anything I had anyway. I just need to know my rights so I can tell the OH with the right information to back me up cos he aint gonna be happy.
I'm just worried some bailiff is going to turn up and try and take his stuff away.
We have separate finances and he has bought the majority of what would be considered luxury items.
Its a real bummer as I've really sorted out my finances since then and don't default on anything now Guess I'm a bit scared!

Thanks

RAS

Phyre

First off - they cannot take stuff belonging to OH. Second off, they can only take stuff belonging to you after a protracted court procedure, about which you should know plenty before it happens.

What exactly does the letter say.

Phyre_Faerie

Ive had two one from telogram asking me to get in touch that they think I have lived in X address and they have used experian to trace me and to phone them. which i haven't. Second one's from HL legal saying they have been informed that their client (telogram) has attempted to contact me and I need to call them at the earliest oppotuinity to establish whether information held by the client is correct.
I only recieved this letter friday yet it is dated 27th mar and the deadline for contact had expired before i recieved it!:eek:
It says as a consquence we have been informed one of capquests group companys capquest debt recovery or doorstep agents scotcall will contact me after 09 april.
It says to stop this action i have to contact telogram before 9th april (bit difficult lol)
to verify the information.

fermi

Doorstep collectors are NOT baillifs. They have no powers whatsoever. If one turns up (which is very unlikely) then you tell them to leave. If they won't leave quietly then you call the police to have them turfed off your property.

HL legal are a firm that allows anyone to log onto their website and send solicitors letters automatically for 75p a go. I could send one to a pet dog with no evidence needed and no-one to check any of it was genuine. Letters from HL Legal are worthless.

Sounds like the debt is statute barred to me.

If you are in England/Wales then the period is 6 years and read:

Link: Factsheet | Liability for Debts and the Limitation Act (England/Wales)

If you are in Scotland then then the period is 5 years and read:

Link: Factsheet | Liability for debts & the Prescription & Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973

If you think the debt is statute barred then there is a letter to send in the link.

However, you might decide to sit tight until anything definite comes through the post giving more details of the debt.

rog2

You are quite right not to call CRAPQUEST. They are well known for attempting to collect on debts that are legally unenforceable.
Since you say that it is definitely more than six years since you made any payment towards the account, then the debt is most probably 'Statute Barred' and, once you have informed them that you will not be making any further payments towards this 'debt' because it is statute barred (the only reason you need give) then they can not pursue the debt through the courts, and should cease all other methods, such as appealing to your 'moral' obligations, of pursuing you.
For more information, and a template letter that you can send to CQ, have a look at the following link:

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=25_liability_for_debts_and_the_limitation_act

The 'threat' of doorstep collectors is, most likely just that - an empty threat - but, in the unlikely event of a 'doorstep collector' turning up, you have absolutely no obligation to discuss the alleged debt with them - they have no legal right of entry to your property, or to sieze any of your goods, and must leave immediately as soon as you ask them to. Have a look at the Office of Fair Trading Guidelines on Debt Collection, on the following, downloadable, link:

http://oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

Above all - do not worry - it is most unlikely that there is a CCJ against you, as you would have heard from a firm of Court Appointed Bailiffs, rather than from one of the most unprofessional firm of 'Debt Collectors' in the country.

rog2

Sorry fermi - crossed posts again - however, it won't hurt the op to hear it twice.:rolleyes:

fermi

rog2 wrote: »

Sorry fermi - crossed posts again - however, it won't hurt the op to hear it twice.:rolleyes:

It doesn't. In fact it helps to confirm that the advice is good (I hope).

Phyre_Faerie

I'd just like to say thanks. I was so worried about it and youve put my mind at rest. I'm glad I did the right thing for a change. I'll follow up the links and make sure they know they are getting zip
Cheers guys

Phyre_Faerie

Hi just an update.
I have recieved a letter this morning from crapquest. The debt is the one I thought it was and I am just going to double check my dates as I am pretty sure that it is statute barred. yay! Its just over 1100 quid and actually not as much as I thought it would be.
The letter from crapquest does actually threaten me with legal action. They have a nerve! They have given me until the 2nd of may to reply to them. Love to see them try it!
Thanks again for all the help

Ames

Because of everything I'd heard on here I really panicked when I got a letter from Capquest, but I didn't find them too bad - I sent them my SOA offering £1 and they didn't want to know, they just sold it on to someone else. I don't know if I was just lucky.

Brownies

Hi all - I recently recieved a letter from Capquest regarding a debt for about £70 which dates back to a Littlewoods catalogue I had 8 years ago. A company called Westcott finance chased me for it about 4 years ago at my parents address and I paid it in full at that time. I moved house last year and destroyed all the records relating to it as I considered the matter closed. I have written to Capquest explaining this but rather than investigagting it they have sent another letter allegdly from a solicitor saying that a field agent will call to collect the money. Every time I call they are rude and I have been cut off several times. I have managed to get a seven day stop on the collection but they are saying I have to contact Wescott Finance to get a satisfaction letter. They can't give me a number for Westcott Finance and I can't find one for them even after lots of searching. I don't want to pay as I know I already have but I can't prove it. I have read other posts that say if a debt is over 6 years old they can't chase it but I was last contacted about it about 4/5 years ago which is when I paid it. Bit worried about what to do next. It's me and my 3 year old at home so I really don't want someone coming to the door especially as all the people on the phone have been so rude. Any ideas on a next step? How can I make them prove I owe them?
Any help welcome.
The point about all this is that I could pay it but I don't owe it and don't want to be bullied!