Debt collectors company trying to collect a debt from 2003

[olddebt]

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.

If it’s a government or council debt, there is no statute barring. Depends what the debt was for.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6502069/statute-barred-debts

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

This with bells on. I despair at nearly every thread on MN about debt, defaults, CCJs or debt collection because they're always full of very confident posts giving completely inaccurate information.

If you've never dealt with debt or debt collection in a professional or personal capacity, just accept you don't know the ins and outs and keep quiet!

Shyster asks for help mumsnets calls her out what a fab thread my faith in womankind is quite restored this morning. Pay your debts and this stress doesn't happen it's really not hard now is it.

Whilst many of you are answering that morally she should pay it back. Legally it’s no longer enforceable. If the company genuinely believed she owed the money they could have taken her to court a long time ago.

Love all those posters on their moral high grounds 🤣 Absolutely don't acknowledge the debt, they can't pursue you, as several (sensible) posters have already said. If the monies owed from 2003 then they should have noticed it earlier !!!!!

OP has has already acknowledged it.

Irs jot the moral high ground is it though? It's basically having morals surely. You borrow, you repay.

They did since 2016, 13 years after the debt, was any of the debt paid in 2003.

Oh I definitely agree....but that's not what the OP is asking. Not up to me to tell her she should have paid it. She knows that

Yes, that's my point....13 years later. If I'm owed money, I notice 13 minutes after its due 🤣

Then what’s the point of this thread?!

Only if in in the initial 6 years. Once the 6 years has passed it can never be reset, it is Statute Barred, they can chase but cannot take legal action to recover the money.

She didn't want to apparently. Nice.

I’ve been in a similar spot where debt collectors kept coming back, and it felt like it was never going to end. A couple of years ago, I decided to get some help and reached out to a debt recovery Manchester (Frontline Collections). They really helped me figure out the best way to handle things, and I felt more at ease once I had a professional involved. They helped me understand my rights and how to move forward without things escalating. It might be worth considering if the letters keep coming.

The Limitations Act 1980 applies, unless it is HMRC, in which case pay it.

Limitation Act 1980 - Wikipedia

No one here knows the Ops circumstances or the value of the debt or reasons for non payment. She didn't ask for moral guidance.

OP as it is such an old debt just send the Statue Barred letter. Presumably it isn't even the original company, just a scummy debt collector trying to intimidate you into paying?

The morals of (not) paying what you owe notwithstanding, the debt collection industry is totally out of control in this country. They will happily chase people for debts they don't owe just because they have the misfortune of having a name in common with the debtor. They use tactics that would rightly be illegal in any other industry, even hounding people to death without consequence. Paying your debts is the moral thing to do but let's not pretend the devil needs an advocate here.

Who do you owe the money to?
And why do you think you're so special you don't need to pay it back?