moral/stupid dilemma regarding old debt

[misdee]

i have had a letter today in my maidan name, asking me to confirm an address for a debt for a place i moved to 6years ago, and left 6years ago in sept.

it doesnt say what debt it is regarding, and i really cant recall owing anything from that period as we sold the flat and cleared everything.

do i call and confirm, and find out what it is, or is it past the legal deadline for chasing old debt?

i would like to find out what it is regarding and clear whatever it is (probably a small amount if it is), i think thats the right thing to do.

but legally, where do i stand?

(i know i might get flamed for this, but i really dont know what to do, and do think i cleared everything from that period)

anyone?

i think i should call them. at least then i wont feel worried at all.

ok, have hjust googled the company telogram, and it seems they are dodgey. they arent even collections dept i dont think.

oh i dont know what to do. i'm pretty certain i dont owe anything from that period, as everything was cleared.

it says if i dont make contact by the 8th april they will call my neighbours to find out if i live here. but they have my maiden name, neighbours know me by married name. why would they involve my neighbours? surely thats really dodgey.

Misdee, a similar thing happened to me with an old debt. It had prescribed(?) ie, was so old as to be written off, but some unscrupulous companies buy up these details and harass people. I knew of the debt - I'd tried to pay it off long ago. It's a long story...
But anyway, i sought advice fron CAB and handy solicitor friend who told me to ignore them as I was no longer in any debt to anyone involved. I was also told about people being chased for debt that didn't exist, like you.
They have no right to ask your neighbours.
Definitely dodgy!

Oh, and do not call them - if you admit to anything, even if it is not certain, they can legitimately chase you.

usually the time limit is 6 years but that 6 years runs either from the time when the debt became due OR from when the debtor acknowledged it, if later. So as nicky says, don't call them - you don't want to run the risk of acknowledging the debt.

the tactic regarding your neighbours is just a threatening tactic, just a bit of bluster.

Dusty is right - don't call them, the 6 years will start again.

I used to work as debt collector for electricity company and if someone left owing money we would write to the neighbours on either side as there was always a disgruntled ex-neighbour who would grass them up!!!

They may well contact the neighbours but I would just bluff it if they asked you about it which, let's face it, would be rather brazen!

Ignore the letter, don't even acknowledge it by returning it etc, lots of things get lost in the post practice your "letter??? What letter??" [confused emoticon]

If you have no reason to think that you might have outstanding debts then I would ignore. If you think that you might have an outstanding debt then contact them but be aware that you can then be pursued for the debt if it is legitimate. There is also the risk that the debt isn't anything to do with you but that you will get harrassed anyway. This can actually be quite stressful as the debt will have been assigned to a debt collector and the original company will be of little help.

ignore it

limitation act applies after 6 yrs so you sd be ok

ok. we moved there in dec 01, cleared everything owing through january/feb, so anything missed, if missed at all, is over 6years ago.

so i can safely ignore?

sounds that way!

I think so misdee. As long as it's not mortgage arrears, then diff rules apply iirc

I would certainly 100% ignore it

def not mortage arrears, mortage was all paid off with the sale of the flat.

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