Err, that was clever. I was so upset that I never finished the post. Thing is my depression and anxiety has been worse recently. I've burst into tears at my desk and similar. I've been putting off going back to the doctor only because - as I said - I don't really want to go back on antidepressents. I'd just about made my mind up to go back but now I fear they'll find the timing suspicious. They haven't even made a decision yet but I've already convinced myself that they'll be chasing me for three grand I don't have and I can't stop myself worrying (anxiety sucks that way) about something that hasn't happened yet. So I was hoping for some advice on what my options will be if I do find myself needing to pay back this money. Thanks, Becky

Hi, First a bit of background. In 2001 both my parents, whom I had been caring for died within a few months. I promptly had a breakdown and spent the next few years on income support with disability premium (or whatever it's called). After a period on anti-depressants and some cognitive behavioural therapy I got my current job in autumn 2004 and I got the disabled component of tax credit as well. Every year I've renewed it when the pack came and they never once asked about my health until today (I even asked whether they needed proof I was still sick a couple of times and they said no) when I got a letter saying the needed to check the information I'd given them was right. They wanted evidence of the qualifying benefits I had received last year (er? what I was working last year? no benefits) or details of how I qualify for the WTC disability element. I rang up and spoke to them and the guy took details about my depression and said I'd get a letter soon and I didn't need to send anything but now I'm worried sick because I don't take anti-depressants any more except when it worsens. I was still on them when I first applied. Looking at the piece of paper with the qualifying conditions on it I'm not sure I qualify any more even though I still randomly break down in tears sometimes at my desk. I go to the doctors when it flares up and get support when I need it, but I'm not sure it classes as regular. I could live with them stopping, I'd have to rework my budget but it's doable. Ditto if they want this year's payments back. But if they decide I wasn't entitled last year I'm totally screwed (pardon language). I don't know how I'd pay it back. The stupid thing is them stressing me out this way is likely to put me back on the tablets . I don't want to go back on the tablets.

I hope people don't mind me bumping but it's been a couple of days and no reply. Becky

Haven't been around much. I only turn up when the DCA's appear. and lo and behold a DCA onto me about my old Student Loan from 1993 - must be Spring again. Seriously they only come out of the woodwork in Spring and Summer. Last year it was JBDL and this year it's these guys. I've had two letters (and a couple of phone mesages) from the outfit mentioned in the subject line about my student loan debt. A student loan debt which - I hasten to add - I would never have had to pay at all to date if I hadn't had a nervous breakdown in 2001 and completely failed to defer. I understand why the law was that way in principle but there should have been some allowances for ill health. Thing is I can't remember when I last acknowledged the debt in writing. It was sometime between Summer 2001 and Summer 2003 (my memory from 2001 until autumn 2003 is a bit hazy due to the aforementioned breakdown) - now obviously this makes a difference because if the former it's statue barred (since it's an old style student loan - but then I wouldn't be having this trouble with a new one since there's no deferment form) but if it's the latter it isn't yet. ... Worse. I just remembered something and now I'm trying to remember if I wrote to anyone during that stupid incident in 2004 (which is a very long story involving another DCA writing to me about the debt but using my late mother's name...) I know I exploded at them when they accused me of lying about being dead (I'd thought it was for one of mum's debts and sent them a death certificate - which I assume wouldn't count as acknowledging the debt given the level of cock up going on) - but can't recall if I did it on the phone or in a letter. I *think* I called them but given my phone phobia I can't be certain. I suppose I should at least be grateful this mob can get my name right. I know I exploded at the SLC over the phone when even after I exploded at the DCA they still wrote to me in my mother's name and claimed they couldn't alter their computer. Anyway here is my question? Should I send a statue barred letter now or try and hold out until the end of next year? I can scan the letters they've sent me if you want. Becky

What did your MP say? The local council here got their court order in 2001 but the baliffs didn't turn up until 2007 (no idea why). I did some checking and it seemed they could do this so I pulled the money together and paid them. If your MP didn't resolve it it could reappear at any time. Becky

Yeah, that was my summise. She was disabled and I was her carer so we were financially linked due me being on virtually everything credit related she had. Even the loan-o-doom was joint. I was only surprised since she's been dead for seven years. Can you even check a file after the person is deceased? (Though hell her credit rating was likely better than mine is right now). Yeah I'll have to do that once I don't have a sore throat. Can't talk at the moment. But how will I prove to them that I'm not this other person? I'd never do anything so fundamentally dishonest as apply for credit in a false name. Becky

Couldn't say with reguards to Business Rates. I had to pay some old business rates last year after more than six years but they had a court thingy on those which changes things. But yeah old-style student loans are covered by the Limitation Act. New style ones aren't but they didn't come in until 1998 and I had mine in 1993. Debt Factsheets - Liability for Debts and the Limitation Act Becky

I just got through checking my credit report and there's an alias on it and I have no idea who this person is (except that they aren't me). There's no credit checks or debts I don't recognise on the report so I doubt it's a fraud thing. So I'm a little baffled as to where they got it. Thing is this "alias" is my first name and initial with my mum's maiden name as surname. I've definately never used this name. Has my data got mixed up with some other poor bod with a similar name or should I be worried about fraud in spite of there being no attempts to gain credit that aren't mine (and precious few of those due to my history)? Should I try and get it removed? If so how? My mum's name is also linked to mine (not as an alias) on the report which in one sense is fair enough since we were financially related as well as genetically... but she died in 2001, should it still be there? Shutsumon

Pardon me bringing my thread back from the dead but there's been a development. It's been nearly four months since I sent the "prove it" letter to JBDR and there's been not a whisper since... Until this morning. I'm off work with the sore throat from hell and can't speak above a whisper at the moment. So I'm here when the postie delivers a letter (normal post) from "Geoffrey Park Bourne solicitors" acting for JB Debt Recovery. Same reference and it's with reguard to the Student Loan. Well at least I know the reference number similarity is just a coincidence. Well at least I know what they're talking about now, but were they hoping I'd forget I'd written to them? Now I'm pretty sure that I haven't formally acknowledged this debt since sometime in 2002 (the law is an ass - having a nervous breakdown in 2001 ought to be a valid reason for forgetting to defer but no...) when I was sending budgets out with the help of the CAB. However I can't say that it was quite more than 6 years with any certainty. Should I send a statute barred letter or a CCA (it's an old-style student loan so the CCA applies) letter? It's not even that I object to paying it back in principle... I just object to paying it back when I wouldn't have to if I hadn't had the nervous breakdown (I'd still be eligible for deferment - I've never earned enough to have to make payments - if I hadn't completely failed at life for several months after my parents died). I just want them to shut up and go away until I am earning enough to pay the minimal amount I do owe them (it's less that £600). I bet if they declared a deferment amnesty a load of the old style loans they are chasing would turn out to be deferable. It'll never happen though. *wanders off grumbling about the stupid deferment law* Shutsumon

I need one other thing clearing up for me. Is it true that a certain amount of time after the "overpayment" you lose the right to dispute. I'm really quite concerned for my friend here because she was never overpayed at all and she's being bullied quite viciously by them. I'm not talking about the sort of overpayment caused by their inability to process changes in circumstances but the fact that she was never paid the payments in question at all. I'm just glad I've had no problems with the tax credit people yet though I do constantly reject offers of overtime because I'm worried it might muck my claim up. Becky

According to the Royal Mail website the 'prove it' letter to JBDL was delivered today. I sent it first class recorded delivery so that's pretty bad I think. No proof of signature yet but it says that can take a few days. So I guess I just have to wait and see what they come back with. Then I'll know and be able to decide how to proceed. Becky

Thanks! That should do the trick. I'll print it out and give it to her on Monday. Becky

Yep, I haven't had a reply from JBDR yet so no idea if it has happened. It does seem odd though that the ref numbers are so similar. I'm still waiting on a reply from JBDR to Monday's letter. I suppose I could CCA Connaught in the interim and see if they respond by saying it's not theirs any more. Shouldn't they have told me if they passed it on? Becky

A friend of mine has a major problem. The tax credits people are claiming she was overpaid for a period about 4 years ago. She wasn't and when it came up 4 years ago she got them to agree to that and say it was sorted out. Now they are after her for the same alleged overpayment! Her previous employer agrees the said tax credits were never paid (this was at the time tax credits were paid through your wages). The tax credit people are using typical tactics - threats of court, jail, baliffs etc and no one will even look into it. She's appealed and been ignored and they've bullied her into paying back £40/month she doesn't owe! I've heard the tax credits people are pretty good at keeping notes and recordings so I figure if she SARs them the evidence of the previous resolution will be in there. I've also suggested she contacts her previous employer since she may need her testimony that said payments were never received if it gets to court (she's stopped paying because they tried to raise her payments even farther). However the only SAR template I can find is the charges one which isn't really suitable and I'm not good at adapting things. Help please, Becky

Still no proof of receipt on the royalmail website but I'll give them a few more days. Got a print out of my SO from the bank for the LTSB/Connaught one - I guess the six digit payee ref is what I'm looking for? Interestingly I notice that said six digit reference shares the first 4 digits in common with the JBDL 7 digit one that was left on my phone. Are these two DCA's connected? Is it a weird coincidence? Have Connaught sold on the debt to JBDL without telling me? I'd be extremely unhappy if that were the case since I've been paying my £150 faithfully every month. Only time will tell I guess. Becky