letter fro red debt collection

[smudger48]

Hi All,

Received a letter from red debt recovery, need some advise

[Curlyben]

Yep no worries.
What is it concerning ?

[JonCris]

Yeah but what does it say

Could be an Easter Card for all we know.

Oh & is the 'debt' over six years old as their 'speciality' seems to be in trying to recover 'time barred' debt.

The undesirable using the indefensible in trying to recover unenforceable is wot I calls it

[smudger48]

They say I owe £960 on an old bank account not used since 1999, never had a debt loke that with hsbc, they say they have purchased the debt.

what should i do?

[Curlyben]

Well for starters send them a nice simple "Prove It" letter.
As JC points out this could well be Statute Barred anyway.

Dear Sir/Madam

You have contacted me/us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself/ourselves.

I/we would point out that I/we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to (insert company name).

I am/we are familiar with the Office of Fair Trading Debt Collection Guidance which states that it unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

I/we would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. In not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

Furthermore ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

I/we would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above account unless you can provide evidence as to my/our liability for the debt in question.

I/we await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to the trading standards department and consider informing the OFT of your actions.

I/we look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully

[smudger48]

Thanks for that I will try it out

[JonCris]

If you know nothing of this alleged debt then they have probably selected you because you name is similar to someone else or at some time in the long distant past someone at you address borrowed money & didn't repay it.

Bit like winning the lottery but in reverse

Its them sending the letter & hoping they have the right person, debt, address, country, planet, solar system etc

It's know on this forum as the 'scatter gun' technique or as some would say ' the hope & pray' & is well known to members here - aren't you glad you came

[elsinore]

Thread moved.

Els

[smudger48]

I did have an old account but to my knowledge there was no outsatanding debt, and only a minimal overdraft if any. I had asked them for a statement which they said was not available.

[Curlyben]

Forgot to mention.
NEVER talk to these "people" on the phone as they will say anything to secure payment.

[JonCris]

Whilst I understand Curlies advice I wouldn't write iwould ignore them as many others have done

If you communicate you will either confirm your at that address & give them a reason to start chasing you on the spurios grounds that by writing, even a disclaimer, you have acknowledged a debt exists & it's yours thereby making it enforceable again

Going by past experience by many on this site they will send you a number of letters each more threatening than the last but will eventually stop wasting their time & the cost of postage & give up

[JonCris]

As Curly states the golden rule is NEVER EVER talk to these people either on the phone or in person - UNLESS you have the means to record them.

Everything in writing (unsigned - sig only ever printed)

[smudger48]

thanks for the advice i will let you know how things go

[forumreg1]

Bet you get letter 2 next week saying as you hadn't paid up in response to the first one, they have passed the matter to their specialist recoveries unit. Then in a month or so you'll get a Statutory Demand. All of these will happen whatever you say/write to them.

[forumreg1]

I forgot, also HSBC Bank's complaints department on 0800 881 155. Complain that they have incorrectly provided information on you to an external debt collector and you are not happy