Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Original poster

Debt collectors company trying to collect a debt from 2003

68 replies

olddebt · 07/12/2024 21:43

As the title says. Since 2016 they’ve been trying to get me to pay some money back and I have ignored this, apart from in 2022 when I politely but firmly explained that I wasn’t in a position to pay anything back and if I was I wouldn’t be doing so. But every couple of years they come back. Is there any way to stop this? DH saw a letter and is now fretting.

OP posts:
Sanguinello · 07/12/2024 22:15

Is this your student loan?

reesewithoutaspoon · 07/12/2024 22:15

It would be stupid to pay it as this 'debt' isn't to her original creditors. This is a debt collection firm.
companies who have debts that haven't been paid off and its not worth chasing sell these debts to these collection companies who buy them at a fraction of the original debt in the hope they can get some of the debtors to pay.
They buy the debts for pennies in the pound from the original creditors.

DoreenonTill8 · 07/12/2024 22:24

How shitty of you! So you acknowledge you owe them but are do arrogant you feel you don't have to pay?

Isatis · 07/12/2024 22:51

OldTinHat · 07/12/2024 22:07

When you engage with them, by phone, letter, whatever, the six years starts again.

You need to ignore, ignore for six years ànd don't engage or acknowledge.

Only if she accepts that she owes the debt whilst communicating with them.

LifeisNOTlikeemmerdalefarm · 07/12/2024 23:16

Do you owe this money if so pay it back.

Pandasnacks · 07/12/2024 23:21

If you pay it back in full in one go that may stop it going on your credit file?

colesr · 07/12/2024 23:25

Pandasnacks · 07/12/2024 23:21

If you pay it back in full in one go that may stop it going on your credit file?

It would not be put back on

Blondeshavemorefun · 07/12/2024 23:27

FlabbergastedByTheGorgons · 07/12/2024 21:55

You owe it, you should pay it. You've had years to gather the funds.

This why didn't you pay it ?

What was it for and for how much ?

BitOutOfPractice · 07/12/2024 23:30

What exactly did you say in the 2022 phone call? You may have shot yourself in the foot there.

WatchOutForBabyHaggis · 07/12/2024 23:32

olddebt · 07/12/2024 21:45

@Doggymummar this is really bad advice. The debt is not on my credit file, and hasn’t been since 2009. Starting to pay it back now would put it back on.

No op, it won't.

*Edited to say...not that I think you should start paying it. But setting up a payment plan wouldn't make it reappear on your credit files.

Semiramide · 07/12/2024 23:36

You seem to know more about the ins and outs of this than most of the people responding to your post, so I'd suggest you just plough on with this as you consider best. Maybe consult with CAB or a debt help charity if you want actionable advice.

tinytemper66 · 07/12/2024 23:40

I am confused. Do you actually owe a company or such like money?

GranPepper · 07/12/2024 23:42

olddebt · 07/12/2024 21:43

As the title says. Since 2016 they’ve been trying to get me to pay some money back and I have ignored this, apart from in 2022 when I politely but firmly explained that I wasn’t in a position to pay anything back and if I was I wouldn’t be doing so. But every couple of years they come back. Is there any way to stop this? DH saw a letter and is now fretting.

You need to say what jurisdiction you are in as advice otherwise may be inadvertently misguided

jmh740 · 07/12/2024 23:49

olddebt · 07/12/2024 21:50

It isn’t council tax. Thanks. The statute barred letter does actually apply to us so I will send it off.

It won't if you admitted to the debt in 2022

dixon86 · 07/12/2024 23:55

Person owes money and complains of being chased for it

Bjorkdidit · 08/12/2024 07:02

Where does the OP say she's admitted the debt?

If it was from 2003 it's statute barred. As for whether the OP should pay from a moral standpoint, it's quite likely she's paid back what she owes and 'the debt' is due to interest and charges as at the time lenders just piled these on every time someone paid late or missed a payment.

This company is trying it on. They buy up old debts for pennies in the pound and try to trick people who are not aware of the legal protection they have into paying. Pretty disgusting behaviour really.

But this thread illustrates why it's usually a bad idea to ask for financial advice on Mumsnet because a lot of people post nonsense.

OP, as well as Citizen's advice, National Debtline has some useful information:

https://nationaldebtline.org/get-information/guides/statute-barred-debts-ew/

Statute barred debts | Time limits for recovering debts | National Debtline

https://nationaldebtline.org/get-information/guides/statute-barred-debts-ew

Richiewoo · 08/12/2024 07:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

FitAt50 · 08/12/2024 08:06

Bjorkdidit · 08/12/2024 07:02

Where does the OP say she's admitted the debt?

If it was from 2003 it's statute barred. As for whether the OP should pay from a moral standpoint, it's quite likely she's paid back what she owes and 'the debt' is due to interest and charges as at the time lenders just piled these on every time someone paid late or missed a payment.

This company is trying it on. They buy up old debts for pennies in the pound and try to trick people who are not aware of the legal protection they have into paying. Pretty disgusting behaviour really.

But this thread illustrates why it's usually a bad idea to ask for financial advice on Mumsnet because a lot of people post nonsense.

OP, as well as Citizen's advice, National Debtline has some useful information:

https://nationaldebtline.org/get-information/guides/statute-barred-debts-ew/

She admitted the debt in 2022, so that would mean it's not statue barred.

Soontobe60 · 08/12/2024 08:12

Bjorkdidit · 08/12/2024 07:02

Where does the OP say she's admitted the debt?

If it was from 2003 it's statute barred. As for whether the OP should pay from a moral standpoint, it's quite likely she's paid back what she owes and 'the debt' is due to interest and charges as at the time lenders just piled these on every time someone paid late or missed a payment.

This company is trying it on. They buy up old debts for pennies in the pound and try to trick people who are not aware of the legal protection they have into paying. Pretty disgusting behaviour really.

But this thread illustrates why it's usually a bad idea to ask for financial advice on Mumsnet because a lot of people post nonsense.

OP, as well as Citizen's advice, National Debtline has some useful information:

https://nationaldebtline.org/get-information/guides/statute-barred-debts-ew/

The OP admitted to the debt in 2022 when she spoke to them on the phone.
I cant stand people who do their best to avoid paying back what they owe - such entitledness.

JoJothegerbil · 08/12/2024 08:26

If the debt was in 2003 and they didn’t contact you until 2016 for the first time then the debt is statute barred at that point. The waters are muddied because you spoke to them in 2022 but they shouldn’t have been contacting you then anyway. Get some advice OP.

Serene135 · 08/12/2024 08:49

Why didn’t you pay them if you owed the money?

StormingNorman · 08/12/2024 08:53

olddebt · 07/12/2024 21:59

I didn’t send a letter. I spoke to them on the phone.

It isn’t on my credit file and I plan for it to stay that way. It would be beyond stupid to pay it back now.

Show quote history

One woman’s stupid is another’s moral.

PalmedOlive · 08/12/2024 08:55

Debt advisor here. Do NOT write to them as it reset the debt time limit and they will have another six years to take you to court and then pursue you post judgment for the debt. Clock won’t be reset if you call them. Or seek advice on how to repay it or set up a payment arrangement.

PalmedOlive · 08/12/2024 09:06

Also as above certain debts eg council tax have no time limit

EasternStandard · 08/12/2024 09:16

Bjorkdidit · 08/12/2024 07:02

Where does the OP say she's admitted the debt?

If it was from 2003 it's statute barred. As for whether the OP should pay from a moral standpoint, it's quite likely she's paid back what she owes and 'the debt' is due to interest and charges as at the time lenders just piled these on every time someone paid late or missed a payment.

This company is trying it on. They buy up old debts for pennies in the pound and try to trick people who are not aware of the legal protection they have into paying. Pretty disgusting behaviour really.

But this thread illustrates why it's usually a bad idea to ask for financial advice on Mumsnet because a lot of people post nonsense.

OP, as well as Citizen's advice, National Debtline has some useful information:

https://nationaldebtline.org/get-information/guides/statute-barred-debts-ew/

it's quite likely she's paid back what she owes and 'the debt' is due to interest

Where does the op say she's paid back what she owes?