Debt Managers Ltd / Aktiv Kapital - debt from 1997?!

[Ernie48]

Hi all,

First post for me so apologies if it ends up in the wrong place!

Well, I received a letter from Debt Managers Ltd yesterday saying I must pay them circa £200 immediately. My overdue account has been referred to them by Aktiv Kapital. Not having heard of either of these companies before I jumped straight onto google and ended up reading some worrying stories posted on these threads about companies like these creating havoc on people's credit history!

I immediately checked my Experian file and nothing bad on there at all.

I have since called these jokers to find out what it's all about and found out that it relates to a bank overdraft in 1997. Of course I didn't acknowledge the debt. I did bank with the bank they mentioned at the time i think but as far as I was aware I closed all my accounts in about 1997 when I moved abroad.

Anyway, since I've now been back in the UK for some time (with an immaculate credit history) I am worried that this could spoil my credit file and I can't really afford the £200 or so that they are demanding! i am furious that these companies can act like this - and other stories in other posts are way worse than mine!

As soon as they said it was relating to an overdraft in 1997 I quoted the Limitation Act 1980 Section 5 and said that I had certainly never acknowledged, or even heard about, the debt. They then said that even though it relates back to 1997 and they don't have a record of when I last acknowledged/made payment towards it, I could still be liable. They are apparently going to request the information relating to acknowledgment/payment dates from the bank concerned and get back to me within 6 weeks.

My questions, should any one be able to help, are:

Should I have just ignored the letter?!
Do I still need to send one of the template letters? If so, which one? And can I still send it (recorded delivery) to the Debt Managers PO box address they give on their letterhead?
Can I contact Experian to stop Debt Managers/Aktiv Kapital damaging my credit file?
How can I make sure they don't mess up my credit rating??

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[Curlyben]

First NEVER talk to these "people" on the phone as they will try and get you to agree to anything.
Send them the Statute Barred letter and MAKE them prove otherwise..
There is a template letter to be found here: Creditors and DCAs - Letter Templates & Budget Planner
Letter M.
Is it important to start the letter:
I DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DEBT TO YOUR COMPANY in Big Bold letters.

It is best to send this request via recorded/special delivery as there are some important deadlines to observe.

[Ernie48]

Thanks Curly, I'm off to the post office now to send that letter recorded delivery. Debt Managers address is a PO Box in Edinburgh - will a recorded delivery still get to them?

[Curlyben]

Yeah all good.

[miser111]

These clowns keep sending a letter a week for me to my mums address. She returns them to sender every week unopened and labeled not at this address, yet still they keep on sending them which is now starting to wind her up.

I registered my UK bank account as c/o myself at her address when I moved abroad so I presume this is where they got it from as its the only link. Banks shouldn't be allowed to disclose your details unless you apply for credit. It is a standard non overdraft account. If so you are better making up an address.