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Original poster

Got a letter from a debt collector on an account I closed 2 years ago!?

19 replies

hexie · 17/12/2017 18:04

Any advice appreciated here!!
I cancelled my TalkTalk account 2 years ago, April 2015. On the phone, they told me I was paid up and the account was closed. I moved out of the property I had the account at and didnt get any further emails from them, and the direct debit was cancelled.
Yesterday, I got a letter through from a debt collectors agency, they haven't asked for any money yet, they just want me to make contact with them.
I haven't contacted TalkTalk or the debt collector yet.
What do I do? :(

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 17/12/2017 18:24

Just ignore it. If they’re asking you to contact them then they will be “fishing” for information, ie trying to trick people into accepting debt is theirs, even if it isn’t. Just bin it and forget about it.

For your own peace of mind maybe check your credit record though, just to checkthetes nothing nasty re talk talk on there.

Viviennemary · 17/12/2017 18:29

I'd ignore it. It could even be a spam e-mail anyway. Good idea to check your credit rating.

Original poster
hexie · 17/12/2017 18:34

Okay, will definitely ignore it then! Is it worth calling TalkTalk to ask whats happening on their end? Just because the letter said my account had been handed over to them, and had my name on it?

OP posts:
TotemIcePole · 17/12/2017 18:35

Ignore it. You coukd log on to your account and check its £0.

PersianCatLady · 17/12/2017 18:44

It could be a scam to get financial information from you.

Ignore it.

TotemIcePole · 17/12/2017 18:45

Google "Talk Talk Debt Collectors"

Loads of posts come up.

They are probably as shit as B.T.

Original poster
hexie · 17/12/2017 18:58

Okay, thank you everyone! Smile

OP posts:
MissSophieB397 · 20/12/2017 16:12

@hexie hi hexie just thought I'd comment on this, I work for a debt collections agency. They are better to talk to than the company themselves, we offer settlements and can be real helpful. We aren't all animals! I'm not sure which agency has contacted you, but ignoring it doesn't help like the other comments advise. It doesn't go away like that! But if your in any fin diffs or have any disputes, they will help you sort it. Smile

scurryfunge · 20/12/2017 16:15

MissSophie, the op doesn't owe any money.

NumbNelly · 20/12/2017 16:18

MissSophieB397 talk to them about what? It wouldn't matter if the OP did have any finance issues because she doesn't owe money.

sinceyouask · 20/12/2017 16:18

Sophie, don't pretend you are there to help people, ffs Hmm

Praisebe · 20/12/2017 16:18

I had this with an old phone account from 2014. I paid some of this debt off before i realised it was a scam what gave them away was the 20% off voucher they sent me to help clear the debt Hmm i got the money back through my bank and to this day i get spam mail with similar offers of 20% off various debts i supposedly have. Just bin and ignore OP and check they haven't infiltrated your credit score if they do have your contact info

gamerchick · 20/12/2017 16:19

They’re probsbly looking for the person who has the same name. I got one from a collection agency for a company I have an active account with so rang them up asking what they were playing at. It ended there. Fishing letters in hope of snaring someone.

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 20/12/2017 16:21

I used to work in debt recovery.

Check directly with talk talk
Check your credit rating
If you have had it confirmed that you owe nothing, ignore the debt collectors or report to the police as a scam.

SandyDenny · 20/12/2017 16:24

I'm sure there are some perfectly nice people who work for debt collection agencies, they aren't all horrible and trying to rip you off.

You often read about issues where companies pass on debts that the customer doesn't know about. Talk Talk may well have cocked up. As long as you don't give away any information I don't see what's wrong with ringing them if you're the kind of person who will worry yourself about it and would prefer to get it sorted out.

MissSophieB397 · 20/12/2017 18:26

I wasn't stating she owes anything or "trying to be nice" I'm simply advising her to contact them and if she doesn't owe anything and she isn't the person they need to contact, then they will stop sending her letters. Ignoring it doesn't do anything, all that will happen is the account will be passed to another agency and it goes round in circles. We have it a lot where I work Smile

mumonashoestring · 20/12/2017 18:30

Ringing the company doesn't always do anything either - certainly doesn't stop them 'conveniently' forgetting to make any record of your call and selling the debt on to another collection agency.

If they keep on pestering you OP have a look on MoneySavingExpert for a template for a 'prove it' letter; a letter which uses the correct terms to formally demand evidence of the debt or for them to stop contacting you.

MissSophieB397 · 20/12/2017 18:38

@sinceyouask actually, we are there to help. We aren't even classed as debt collectors anymore, we work in "contact centres". The financial conduct authority doesn't allow debt collecting like they used too, nearly all calls are just for advice dependent on the circumstance. No need for the sarcasticness on something you possibly know little about, I was giving OP some advice 😊

MissSophieB397 · 20/12/2017 18:40

@mumonashoestring completely depends on the company, I don't know how half of the collection agencies get away with not noting every call - we would get sacked if we didn't! Not sure if OP has said who it is but it's worth calling them and if they don't seem genuine or if they just demand money, then contact talk talk. Or speak to talk talk direct Smile

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