Lloyds TSB chasing me for a debt that isn't mine

Big_dog

Hi, I opened an account with Lloyds bank back in the 1980s. When I married my husband he joined Lloyds bank as well. Later in the mid 1990's he started a business (sole trader) and used my bank account as a business account. He had his details added to the account and that worked out well for many years. In 2002 he went to a debt agency and had his loans and HP's managed for him. One of those loans was an overdraft arranged by him on the account that I opened many years ago. Although I had a debit card and a cheque book sent to me I didn't manage the account. The statements came with both our names on them and the full name and address of the company that my husband owned. So in all intents an purposes it looked and acted like a business account. When my husband went to the debt management company he acknowledged the debt and Lloyds TSB communicated with him (not me). My husband arranged a repayment and kept to that until he finally went bankrupt in 2007.
Suddenly I'm getting threatening letters asking for the balance. The latest from 1st Credit (Little Street London). I've always denied that this is my debt and have asked for proof that I arranged any overdraft or loans. So far no proof has arrived.
has anyone any advise for me?
Thanks

tallyhoh

As its a joint account they will chase both or either of you. Especially the one they think they are more likely to get money off.

poorandindenial

They need to prove that you own the debt before they can make you repay it.

If the account was in jt names you may well be liable (although I am sure that for joint credit they would need both signatures) but they still need to prove this.

Check out http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/ for template letters that you can use to dispute the debt and for more info about what to do in this sort of situation and do give them a call or email them to check what your rights are and what you should do next

Don't sign the letters you send them, there have been stories of scanned signatures being pasted into documents that supposedly show agreement to debt.

cassy

im sorry to say but

joint account is joint debt, if one went bankrupt the other is stil liable for the debt

Big_dog

Thanks for all the replies. I will look into the joint debt. I know that I didn't sign or agree to any overdraft.
I've always denied that this is my debt. Didn't I read that there is a time limit to chase debts that are denied?
I'm also puzzled that they haven't taken me to court yet if they are so sure of it. Lloyd's have passed this to so many debt collection agencies so far.