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Original poster

I am suddenly being chased for really old debt

136 replies

nutcracker · 22/12/2007 09:39

Basically in June 2001 the house I lived in with Xp was reposessed as he gave up his job, and we left.

At the time I owed money to a couple of catloges and 1 credit card.

Basically, I never informed them of change of address etc which yes was wrong but we had much bigger higher priority debts to pay off and couldn't cope with them all.

Anyway, fast forward 6 and a half years later and now suddenly they all want their money. I have had 2 letters from debt companies saying I owe money, one for £533.36 and one for £397.30.

I rang one of the companies asking when the debt was from and he said 4 years ago. I said i think you will find it has been over 6 yrs and under the debt limitations act you are not allowed to chase me for this money. He said no thats incorrect. Apparently if they have tried to contact me over the past 6 years, wether i recieved the letters or not then that means that it hasn't been 6 yrs since the last contact and so the debt limitations act won't apply.

The company I just spoke to have said they will send me copies of all of the lettes I have been sent.

So now what ?? I am in a wose financial position now than I was all those years ago so there is no way I can pay any of it, I am struggling as it is.

I have just had enough of this. I know I borrowed the money etc but it wasn't just stuff for me, it was mainly stuff for our home but obviously as it was all in my name only I will be chased for it and xp won't have to pay a jot.

I am sick of never being able to get straight. If I have to pay this off there will be no point in me looking for a job anymore because if I get any extra money I will end up paying it out.

OP posts:

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 22/12/2007 11:40

i know uve tried to get a job we have chatted about it before and how hard it is..i just meant if its hard now it will be harder still as the years go by..btdtgttt

WendyWeber · 22/12/2007 11:45

nutty, contact CCCS

DD2 owes loads of money on credit & store cards - she lived way beyond her means for about 3 years, never mentioned it to us, paid the minimums for ages and then nothing - meanwhile interest was racking up.

CCCS have sorted it all out for her - she owes £3-4 grand, and as a student when the agreement was set up, she was just paying £39 a month (estimated to take 10 years to pay off but at least everybody's happy).

She is currently having a year off from her degree, working and earning more, and has increased payment to about £70 which halves the repayment time.

The main thing is to stop them charging you any more interest!!! Get on to CCCS today please (it's free!)

CarGirl · 22/12/2007 11:46

Fantastic advice WW.

WendyWeber · 22/12/2007 11:47

Oh, just seen about the Barclays loan - if you're struggling with those payments then tell CCCS about them too.

TheBlonde · 22/12/2007 11:48

Don't do anything until you speak to the CAB or similar

As I understand it doesn't matter if they have tried to contact you what matters is that you have not written to the creditor admitting you owe the debt during the last six years.
link

They are trying it on imho

bookofchristmascarolsmum · 22/12/2007 11:48

More to the point, going back to college could give you access to student welfare funding, emergency loans to tide you over and maybe even bursaries plus childcare allowances - all valuable income whilst you study. Sometimes you can get a grant/busary if you can't work during the summer vacations. Plus if you're studying you can use this as a negotiating tool with creditors sometimes. The careers advisors will be there to help you get a job if you want one and they'll be used to mature students with commitmemnts.

Please don't give up, there is help out there .

bookofchristmascarolsmum · 22/12/2007 11:51

WW- it might be worth your daughter seeing if she can get a 0% credit card deal and move the balance so she's paying off more quicker. Providing that she destroys the card once she gets it and doesn't spend on it!!

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/12/2007 11:58

I am not trying to sound got at, but people suggesting I get a job is laughable as every day for the past god knows how long, I have been looking for a job and got nowhere.

I don't want to go back to the access course so thats not an option. The other course i was going to join have said I have to wait until next Sept.

The debt with Barclays isn't for £15000 it is for £6000 but by the time I pay it back I will have paid back more than double that.

OP posts:

soapbox · 22/12/2007 11:59

Nutty - what happened? The last time I saw you posting about the access course you were really enjoying it. What went wrong?

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 22/12/2007 12:00

i wasnt suggesting you got a job i was responding to the bit where you said it made you not fell like trying to gwet one

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 22/12/2007 12:00

so yes it would be worth getting a job but i know how hard it is as i cant get one myself even in a pub

SantaBabyBeenAnAwfulGoodGirl · 22/12/2007 12:01

so you dont want to add being too old into the mix

bookofchristmascarolsmum · 22/12/2007 12:02

Nutcracker, I'm not being patronising here or I hope that I don't sound it. Have you got office skills? You might be better off temping for a year whilst you wait for the next course. Temping can pay quite well.

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/12/2007 12:03

It is too much Soapy, too hard, not what I want to do, I dunno, it's just wasn't working. I did fuck up with it basically yet again.

If i got a job the people I owe money too will just want even more so it won't make my kids any better off if I get a job, so no point.

I will eventually find something i'm sure, and be in exactly the same position financially or possibly worse, I realised this a long time ago.

Thank you all for the advice, I will sort it out eventually I am sure.

OP posts:

hatrick · 22/12/2007 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/12/2007 12:05

Unfortunatly not christmascarolsmum, and temping would cause a prob with my benefits too as every time a contract ended i'd be waiting weeks again for my money to be sorted out.

OP posts:

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/12/2007 12:06

I considered it Hatrick, but the house and garden wouldn't pass an inspection and I can't afford to sort any of it so that it would.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 22/12/2007 12:06

The fact you've struggled to find a job etc makes me think perhaps you should consider bankruptcy, have you looked into it?

morningpaper · 22/12/2007 12:08

That means Barclays are charging you nearly 20% on your loan - that is criminal. You really need some proper advice to sort this out.

WendyWeber · 22/12/2007 12:08

nutty, when you go to CCCS they contact the people you owe money to, tell them how much you can afford to repay (however small it is)and organise a repayment schedule - once they've agreed that's it, fixed repayments and no more interest and they can't keep nagging you for more.

They do an annual review but if your circumstances don't change neither will your payments.

CCCS should be able to tell you if you do have to repay these old debts or not - from that link TheBlonde posted it looks like you may not have to.

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/12/2007 12:08

I have Cargirl but really am not keen on going down that route for various reasons.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 22/12/2007 12:10

that's fine I understand it's not an easy option but as long as you've considered it and know it's not for you. 20% is a huge rate please seek advice and see if you can get it sorted.

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/12/2007 12:10

I owe the money though at the end of the day, all of it. Although Barclays have seriously taken the piss with the loan I had from them.

OP posts:

morningpaper · 22/12/2007 12:11

Yes you need to sort it out

You could consolidate all these debts and be paying around £60 a month, I reckon

Get some advice, you can deal with this

Original poster

nutcracker · 22/12/2007 12:12

I really have to get off my butt and tidy up now but thanks everyone.

OP posts:

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