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Original poster

Should I pay debt collectors?

12 replies

Peppapigforlife · 05/03/2022 15:58

I have two old debts from 2016. I left the country and forgot about them. Wasn't planning to come back so wasn't so worried about my UK credit score. Situation changed and I had to come back. I haven't heard from either of them since I've been back 2.5 years.
Just had a text and call from a debt collection company and looked online using the reference number they gave me. The two debts total to over 2k. It said interest would go on if I didn't set up a payment plan. So I just clicked on the option to set one up and set it at £1 a month for each. But now I've just seen online that if it's been 6 years since last contact or payment with creditors, you don't have to pay it back. It says to cancel the parent plan I have to call the company, but I don't want to, in case that counts as contact? Does the contact with creditors also mean contact with debt collectors? It's definitely been six years since I last paid for one of the debts and the other one will be six years later on this year.
So, should I cancel my card so they can't take a payment and restart the six years or continue to just pay, to keep them at bay and protect my credit score (it's gone up since I've been back). If anyone knows more than I do, thank you!

OP posts:
ChatterMonkey · 05/03/2022 16:01

I would imagine setting up the payment plans would count as contact so you've already reset the 6 years?

KhaleesiOfChaos · 05/03/2022 16:13

You owe the money and can obviously afford £1 a month each or you wouldn't have set it up without much research.

It's your debt. Pay it.

And I say that as someone who has no life because all spare money goes on paying off debts racked up during my marriage.

Huckleberries73 · 05/03/2022 16:15

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

SpicePumpkin · 05/03/2022 16:17

You've re set the clock on the 6 years. They will likely take you to court for a CCJ if you don't carry on paying it. It will also likely be on your credit report as a default anyway. Have you checked all the credit agencies?

You owe the debt, you should pay it.

CorvusPurpureus · 05/03/2022 16:29

Regardless of the morality either way (& you do owe the money), you've just a) re-set the 6 year clock & b) told a DCA that you're rattled enough to be worth pursuing.

So they'll have you firmly in their sights now.

These companies buy up debt that is statute barred, ie over 6 years old, or nearly there.

The original creditors will have sold it on, for pennies in the pound, because they have tried & failed to find you in the UK when you first defaulted. They've decided it's not worth the hassle to pursue it themselves.

For the DCA it's absolutely worth the hassle because hassling is literally their business! They buy debt cheaply knowing that plenty of debtors will manage to evade them until the 6 years is up then tell them to fuck off. So when they do get a response from a debtor, they aren't going to quit.

They've got their teeth into you now & another 6 years to chase you. Letters, bailiffs, court costs...

I'd take the £1/month deal & lump it, honestly. This is not going to go away.

Original poster
Peppapigforlife · 05/03/2022 16:38

@spicEpumpkin yes it is on my report as a default. My worry is if I start paying £1 a month will this affect my current credit rating, as the debt is set to be paid off by 2117? The six years had already passed for one of them when they contacted me.

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/03/2022 16:52

You acknowledged it by looking it up.

LaurieFairyCake · 05/03/2022 16:53

Ok.

The debt that's over 6 years is UNENFORCEABLE - so they can chase you to their hearts content but they can't legally force you to pay

So yes, you can cancel that payment plan

The problem is the other one - contacting them to cancel the payment plan IS contact but so might setting up the plan in the first place - this debt is still legally enforceable so they could take you to court and secure a CCJ against you. Now if you don't have any money then they can only get out of you what you can afford even if that's a £1 a month.

Thanks
Original poster
Peppapigforlife · 05/03/2022 17:04

@LaurieFairyCake yeah this is what is ambiguous with the second debt. I've cancelled my debit card so no payment will go through. I looked online and it says you have to acknowledge the debt 'in writing' for it to count as contact, so I'm hoping me logging into their website doesn't legally count. They also don't have my current address as I've moved so I haven't had any letters. It says you can write to them for proof that you've made a payment within the last six years and ask them to leave you alone.

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 05/03/2022 17:06

Get advice from CAB. They handle this type of enquiry every day.

Original poster
Peppapigforlife · 05/03/2022 17:11

Thank you @mrsmoastytoasty

OP posts:
ThisisMax · 05/03/2022 20:59

So you are looking for advice on how to evade/avoid your debt?

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