Can they take me to court?!

[Aimeeeeee]

Over 7 years ago, my internet broke (not my fault) and I contacted the provider to sort it out. Twice nobody showed up when they were meant to call out, days I had to take off work, and I lost out on pay. It took over a month and it still wasn’t fixed. I changed networks as a result. As well as it costing me, I had spent hours on phone calls and chasing them, so I refused to pay my £25 bill that month for the service they hadn’t provided me.
They chased me for a bit and then sold the debt to an outside debt collection agency, I ignored them and then it was sold to another one. I’ve been getting random letters about it since. Yesterday I got a call from a legitimate local solicitor telling me I need to pay some random company in Essex (I’m in Scotland) 12 grand or they’re taking me to court. Can they do that? I still have the emails with the network provider, but obviously no call records. Are they trying to spook me?

Yes check out groups
on Facebook, I’d start with Beat the Bailiffs is a good one that’ll help you.
Theres a 4 letter process you can do to debt buyers to get them off your back

A £25 debt going to £12k?!

Surely that cant be right!

I think you need to contact CAB before doing anything

When was the default date, and when was last time you acknowledged the debt in writing?

Six years from the default date (assuming you haven't acknowledged the debt in writing or made a payment towards it, and no legal action has been taken) the debt becomes statute barred. This means that while it technically still exists, it cannot be legally enforced and will no longer appear on your credit file.

Check with CAB, but I believe it is 5 years in Scotland.

Do not acknowledge the debt in writing or make a payment. Doing this 'resets' the clock. If you are sure the debt is statute barred, call them back and inform them of this. They should confirm and stop chasing the debt. You may need to call the Essex company instead/as well.

Firms who buy debts like this are notorious for baseless legal threats, scarry letters etc. They buy bad debts for pennies on the pound and the theory is that enough people pay up out of fear/ignorance to make it worthwhile. They usually offer a substantial discount, followed by a threat to take you to court for the full amount plus extortionate fees/costs. It's all designed to scare you into paying up.

Have you acknowledge the debt at all in that time? I think the statute of limitations for them to take action is six years.