debt ? chasing me after 8 years

[frazzled74]

i have just received a letter fom a debt collecing company, chasing me for a debt of £300 in my ld name from an address that i oved from 8 years ago.they say that i owe yorkshire bank, i have no recollection of ever having any debt with yorkshire bank so i have asked them to supply more info.I did have a problem with debt about 11 years ago but am sure that it was all paid off. If this does turn out to be my debt, how come its only just surfaced, and if i still have no recollection of it, how do i prove that it wasnt me?advice please

get yourself down to the CAB.

IIRC, mortgages withstanding, debt usually lasts for 6 years from last date of contact.

ask them to prove the last date of contact and supply information regarding the debt and a contact person at the bank

The debe may be statue barred as more than 6 years old. Do not acknowledge it is the normal advice but you have already done that.

Speak to CAB or pop over to moneysavingexpert forums. Lots of help on there.

If it is an old debt then it's probably been bought from Yorkshire Bank for a penny in the pound by a debt collection agency.

If so, they will be very persistent and aggressive about collecting it as they'll know full well you don't have to pay them. I think if you offer them anything then that may give them the right to collect so don't make any offers until you've spoken to CAB.

the woman on the phone sounded a bit suprised when i told her that i had moved from property 8 years ago, also my name didnt change until 5 years ago so i was hardly incognito. I am sure that i would remember a yorkshire bank debt, i could understand it if it was a book club or catalogue that i had lost track of(although still unlikely).

Get yourself down to CAB. That is probably the best advice given here. Honest.

Almost certainly statute barred so don't panic. Remember you do not have to prove that you don't owe it, they have to prove you do and frankly even if they can after 8 years it is between you and your concious if you pay. They cannot legally enforce it.

Don't worry about it and don't allow them to threaten you.

thanks for advice, have had a look on mse and looks like statute barred so will wait for them to contact me again .in the meantime wont lose any sleep.

Message withdrawn

Definitely statute barred unless there is a CCJ against you because of it, and if so, they would be telling you that, and even then they can only legally chase you if the CCJ is 6 years old or less (unless they get a judgement extending it, unlikely)

I received a letter from a debt collection company around 8 weeks ago saying they had bought a debt of £90 from vodafone, this was also in my old name and from my old address, this debt was apparently from 4 years ago. I contacted the company on the letter and they said they would provide more information within 6 weeks, I am still waiting so am now wondering if it was just a con trying to get my bank details!!

thanks dilemma, that letter will be good if they do get back in touch.