[James Yeah]

Just a quick question as i'm having a few problems.


 When i was younger, i got into a bit of debt and never paid it all off.  Recently I started paying my old debts off but they had all been transfered to a debt collection agency as they'd be hassling me, sending me letters and texting/phoning me a lot.  I still have 1 debt of around £400 to pay off ( I've cleared nearly £900 already yet i haven't received a single letter from them to say i've cleared these debts which is a bit worrying in itself, although they are listed as being paid to the company on my bank/card statements)

Now the thing is i've credit checked myself with experian and it says my credit if perfectly fine, no outstanding debts etc.   

So has this company scammed me into paying debts that are already cleared or no longer exist?

I'm a bit lost as to what to do, i don't want to pay back £400 if i don't have to/it doesn't exist and it's not listed on my credit report but i also don't want to keep getting letters and i don't want to risk them putting a bad mark on my credit report and messing me up in the long term.

Thanks for your help.

[dave]

Have you had a word with anyone like the citizens advice bureau?

[JamesD]

Do some research on the company and speak to the FSA (financial services authority).

[shark]

Try posting here: http://boards.fool.co.uk/dealing-with-debt-50079.aspx

You should get good advice.

[James Yeah]

Thanks for your help.

I just contacted citizens advice bureau and they put me through to the National debt line who were very helpful.

Apparently something about not paying for 6 years means the debts are statue barred meaning they can't ccj or send bailiffs etc.

I have to send a letter of limitations asking the debt company to prove i owe the debt, if they can't do this then i can get it cleared and maybe the money i've paid them refunded.

Fingers crossed i should be able to get the remaining debt cancelled and stop being harassed by a scummy debt collection agency who make threats they aren't allowed too.

Cheers for your help guys, it's been a bit of a stress dealing with all this lately.

[Mike Tyson]

If its any consolation mine and the other halfs unsecured debt is well and truly into 5 figures. 

[Jaspersharpe]

That 6 yr thing is true, debts over that age are not enforceable provided you do everything correctly.

Just write the correct letters (as you have done) and they will leave you alone.

These companies are just scammers who buy the old debts for fuck all and try to scare people into paying. They have no power and the law is on your side.

[James Yeah]

Cheers Jasper that's good to hear.  They scared me into paying nearly £900 but i'm going to do all i can to get that back from them.

The national debt line are sending me the letters to sign and send off to the debt company so hopefully it should be over with soon.

They're bastards though, had i know all this i wouldn't have paid them a penny but getting letters/texts/calls threatening court action and bailiffs is a bit scary and it obviously worked on me

[BB]

 

[Jaspersharpe]

They're total cunts but they can't do anything. Once you go down the official channels they know the game's up and give up. You might find that they give you an "offer" to pay half the debt or something. Just ignore them obviously (however much you'd like to tell them to fuck off!) and stick to the procedure that National Debtline tell you.

[James Yeah]

I've already had a couple of those "make a bid and see if we accept your offer" letters  Sadly i took them up on 2 of them before thinking something was a little dodgy.

Oh well, live and learn i spose.  Least i have a clean credit report and won't get turned down for things i need.

I just hope that the letter of limitations stops them from harassing me anymore and cancels everything.


Thanks again for your help, it's a bit of weight off my shoulders for sure

[Bubba]

Your Experian credit history can still appear clean until you default on credit card payments or get a CCJ against you.

Never, ever talk to debt-collection cunts over the phone.

Apart from advice others have given, the Consumer Credit Counselling Service are exceptional, they have stopped a non-stop barrage of hassle and now my (over £20k) debts are all being handled by them paying small payments to each creditor. They are a charity and their services are totally free.

[Bowie]

another avenue of help is community legal advice (org.uk). useful website and telephone case management service. the number of folks accessing it has increased massively as you can imagine as a result of the credit crunch.
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