PRA Group Chasing for 18yr Debt

Taffy100RSA
Taffy100RSA Posts: 3 Newbie
edited 15 January 2018 at 11:39AM in Debt-free wannabe
Hi All,

I have received a letter and a phone call off a company called PRA Group telling me I owe debt to 2 lenders from 1998 and 2001.

I have to be totally honest and say that I cannot recall the debt, and after some searching about PRA Group, discovered that they apparently purchase old debt and try to recover it.

As stated, I do not recall this debt as being unsettled, however when I was very young, did get into a spot of financial bother, but do not remember where this apparent debt comes from as it was so long ago.

I do not want to admit liability for the debt until i know more about PRA Group and where the debt actually comes from.

They have told me on the phone that the last payment on the debt was circa 2000 and 2001 respectively.

I've also read something about statute barred debt. Is this Statute Barred...?

any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,

TaffyRSA
«13

Comments

  • National_Debtline
    National_Debtline Posts: 7,998
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    Organisation Representative
    Hi Taffy and welcome to MSE,


    Unfortunately, this is not as rare as you would think. People are contacted about old debts all of the time and when a debt is this old it is understandable that you would not recall all of the details. Don't worry about the PRA Group, they are a debt collector and not a bailiff, so they cannot come into your home or try and take anything. You can deal with this in the post or via email and you can approach this in one of a couple of ways.

    One option is to send them the 'proveit' first which asks the creditor to provide more information about the debt. But don't worry, the letter specifically says that you are not accepting liability for it. Once you know more you could still argue the age of the debt, or you could go straight in with an argument of limitations (especially as they have said the last payments were in 2000 and 2001).


    There is a piece of legislation called the Limitations Act 1980 that does state, if there has been a 6 year block of time since the debt fell due, with no written acknowledgement or payment to the debt and no county court action started, then the debt may no longer be enforceable through the county court and becomes known as Statute Barred. There is a sample letter for this too - https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/sampleletters/Pages/Time-has-run-out-to-recover-the-debt-%28sole-name%29.aspx. Best of luck,


    Laura
    @natdebtline
    We work as money advisers for National Debtline and have specific permission from MSE to post to try to help those in debt. Read more information on National Debtline in MSE's Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help guide. If you find you're struggling with debt and need further help try our online advice tool My Money Steps
  • Hi Laura,

    Thanks, I will send the Prove It letter as you state and see what happens. I will provide an update as soon as I get a response from PRA to let you know what they say in return.

    Watch this space...

    Thanks,

    TaffyRSA
  • sourcrates
    sourcrates Posts: 28,717
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    edited 15 January 2018 at 12:31PM
    Hi,

    Old debts such as this are bought up in bulk every now and again, then some dubious debt collector will chance there arm at collecting on them, knowing full well that they are statute barred.

    They are well aware of the limitations act, and they have admitted the last payment was 2001............if it was me, i`d go straight for the statute barred letter, that should put it to bed once and for all.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter
  • Hi there,

    Talk about quick response. I emailed PRA the Statute Barred Letter and they have already responded with this:

    Confirmation of Account Closure

    Thank you for your query which we received on 15/01/2018 in which you advised your above accounts have now exceeded the period specified in the “Limitations Act 1980”.

    We confirm that under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980, your debts have become ‘statute barred’.

    What this means for you:

    The above accounts have now been closed on our system, and neither we nor any other party will contact you at any point in the future, in relation to collecting an outstanding balance on these accounts.

    If you have any further questions please contact us on ........

    So, there you have it... done, sorted, goodbye PRA...!!!

    Thanks again for your help and advice.

    TaffyRSA
  • sourcrates
    sourcrates Posts: 28,717
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    Hi there,

    Talk about quick response. I emailed PRA the Statute Barred Letter and they have already responded with this:

    Confirmation of Account Closure

    Thank you for your query which we received on 15/01/2018 in which you advised your above accounts have now exceeded the period specified in the “Limitations Act 1980”.

    We confirm that under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980, your debts have become ‘statute barred’.

    What this means for you:

    The above accounts have now been closed on our system, and neither we nor any other party will contact you at any point in the future, in relation to collecting an outstanding balance on these accounts.

    If you have any further questions please contact us on ........

    So, there you have it... done, sorted, goodbye PRA...!!!

    Thanks again for your help and advice.

    TaffyRSA

    There you go, great result.

    They knew they didn't have a leg to stand on, but were hoping you were unaware also.

    Always challenge everything !!
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter
  • Art1972
    Art1972 Posts: 17 Forumite
    edited 16 April 2018 at 8:23PM
    Hi all;

    This is my first post but this topic has helped me no end. I!!!8217;ve had the same kind of letter this morning and PRA are chasing a debt of £340 from 2003 that I can honestly say I know nothing about. I signed up here a few hours ago and been hoping someone had the same thing and a way to sort this as if the debt is definitely mine then I will pay it obviously.

    Thank you so much for all the advise that I have read here and I will be e-mailing them first thing in the morning with the same letter.

    Many thanks ladies and gents.
  • National_Debtline
    National_Debtline Posts: 7,998
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Organisation Representative
    Hi Art1972 and welcome to the forum.


    I hope you get a similar outcome to that of the OP - I certainly see no reason you shouldn't. You might find our general guide to time limits for debt recovery useful for reference: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/time-limits-for-recovering-debts/statute-barred-debt.aspx


    Dennis
    @natdebtline
    We work as money advisers for National Debtline and have specific permission from MSE to post to try to help those in debt. Read more information on National Debtline in MSE's Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help guide. If you find you're struggling with debt and need further help try our online advice tool My Money Steps
  • Suseka97
    Suseka97 Posts: 1,562
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    Whilst really pleased for the OP and other poster - this really pee's me off because people who are not aware of their rights in relation to statute barred debts, or may not happen across this type of forum, may well end up paying some if not all of what PRA are chasing for :mad:

    As Sourcrates has already stated - they are simply chancing their arm and it's outrageous when they know they have no legal footing with these :mad:
  • sourcrates
    sourcrates Posts: 28,717
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post Photogenic
    Ambassador
    Suseka97 wrote: »
    Whilst really pleased for the OP and other poster - this really pee's me off because people who are not aware of their rights in relation to statute barred debts, or may not happen across this type of forum, may well end up paying some if not all of what PRA are chasing for :mad:

    As Sourcrates has already stated - they are simply chancing their arm and it's outrageous when they know they have no legal footing with these :mad:

    That’s the true nature of debt collectors unfortunately, they are not bothered how they make a profit, as long as they do.

    Recent regulation has tamed them somewhat, but there are certain DCA’s who deliberately buy up statute barred debts, then try to collect on them without divulging there true status.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter
  • Hi

    Found this thread really interesting and helpful after googling PRA group

    I thought i,d paid all my debts off recently but then got a letter from PRA group this morning saying I owed £360 from an old payday loan.

    (I,ve never seen this on my credit file which i found strange)

    I phoned them up and asked when the debt was from but they couldn,t tell me as they didn,t know. However they did say that they purchased the debt in October 2012. So now they are getting in touch with the company to find out when it was from. I am sure it is well over 6 years as i did have a heroin addiction then and took loans out wherever i could. It was quite easy to do then especially with payday loans even though i wasn,t working. i just lied on my application.

    I understand the above posters frustration at not knowing their rights and paying back money which they may not have had to. I,ve paid thousands back to all sorts of companies and only afterwards heard about debt releif orders which i would have been entitled too.

    I will await details back from PRA about when the debt was from and then take it from there or is it 6 years from when they purchased the debt?

    Very interesting forum and wish i joined sooner

    I,ve been quite ill with depression and anxiety over the last couple of years and debts and bailiffs have just added to that. Its taken a lot time and effort to get them sorted so this one was a bit out of the blue and hope i can sort it soon

    TC

    Paul
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