Ruthbridge: Help, I'm terrified of what i said

[Desperate Single Mother]

Hi all,

I'm minutes new to this site and here because i desperately needed to find out about this company called Ruthbridge - and voilla!!! I stumbled on The Consumer Forum

I fell into debt with a Barclays loan nearly 6 years ago which was passed on to Hillesden Securities and Direct Legal. As Hillesden harrassed me many years ago, i chose to ignore them instead and i have been silent for about 3 years. Since then, the debt was passed on to Direct Legal - hence futher silence from me, and 3 weeks ago, i was contacted by letter by Ruthbridge.

Well, last week, a call after many years was made to my home while i was at work. Susan Jones from Ruthbridge explained herself to my 12 year old daughter as being a friend and needed to contact me urgently - and my daughter gave her (against all my DONT DONT DONTS) my work phone number.

I was contacted at work where i explained that i couldnt talk and i was told very briefly that a bankruptcy order was soon to be taken out on me. Terrified, i called them but Susan's time and mine did not coincide as she finished work before i etc.

This morning I called them and discovered they had my mobile number. I admitted to the debt as i was arranging to pay it off monthly but she would not have it. The debt is for 1400.00. She refused point blank. She threatened a warrant by the courts to size up what i had for this bankruptcy order and i explained that my property was rented privately. She asked for my landlords name - i gave it stupdily but not his address. I dont see this would be hard to find out.

The long and the short is that they have given me a few days to come up with how much money i could get off everyone to pay off the total 1400 pounds or of the maximum figure that i can get to, so that they could then bring it to their client as an offer.

What puzzled me throughout the day was that not only did she make clear that they werent a collections agency and of their imminent intention to start bankruptcy proceedings against me with no option of any other measure, but the correspondence they have issued, states everything else but no mention of bankruptcy whatsoever. So, looking at the correspondence tonight of a Judgement or attachment to earnings, i have scratched my head a thousand times as to why there is no mention of bankruptcy - and i am losing sleep.

I also have baby twins which is a mass but lovely expense but this just proved to Ruthbridge today that i was all the more in a position to be made bankrupt. I swear when i got back from work this evening, i seriously considered the prospects of doing something immoral to obtain the money - but i am too principled - yet i am really stuck! Thanks to deciding to check up on them, i stumbled on a lot of info from your site which has proven that nagging thought i had about them as being not quite reputable.

However, in all that i have read on your site, i feel i have gone against the grain in comparison. I admitted or acknowleged my debt and avoidance of it because of previous behaviours from other debt collection agencies. I gave them my landlords name, they got through to my daughter, they have my work number/home & mobile? What can i do? Incidentally, i was never given a CCJ for the debt and it is either due to be 6 years or it has just gone over.

I would really appreciate some help on this.

Many thanks
D

[rory32]

I admitted to the debt as i was arranging to pay it off monthly but she would not have it.

Verbal admittance doesn't mean anything - it has to be in writing. To find out whether the debt is statute barred I would ask them for a statement of account (which is free). Send it recorded delivery and don't sign the letter.

Also send them this letter Harassment by telephone - response letter and include something about not phoning you at work.

[Perseus]

Hey DSM,
I'm sorry you've got this worry along with a young family.
The first rule is - don't panic.
You've made a good step forward by looking for answers...

Just a few questions to get things in order first:-

What have you received in writing from Ruthbridge?
Have you kept any letters etc from Barclaycard abuout the debt from years passed?
Have you been issued a default notice?
Have you received anything to say that the debt has been assigned (legally passed over) to Ruthbridge, or anyone else?
Can I assume that you are also on benefits - working part time?

Once the above are answered, it will guide the responses you need.

There are template letters to be used, and from now on - do not answer calls from the DCA, do not call them.
Everything must be in writing to defend your position, and as proof of what has been said/agreed ok!

Chin up - do not panic.

Perseus

[Desperate Single Mother]

Hi Perseus,

Many thanks for your reply. The answer to your questions are as follows;

1. I've received 2 letters from Ruthbridge. The first a letter of instruction from their Client Direct Legal & Collections - Assigned from Barclays Bank. The 2nd letter i 'flung' somewhere but i remember that there was nothing regarding bankruptcy on it as they had made contact just before that and alerted me to that.

2. It was a Barclays loan and yes i kept much of the letters. There were many and i have a huge folder on it. I threw the letters in their but never sorted it out. The cowboys also charged me 90+ pounds each month out of the payment of 100.00 pound a month i was making. Therefore, about 6 pounds was going to the debt on my overdraft until they gave me a loan instead.

3. Incidentally, i checked my full credit record with both experian and equifax about 3 weeks ago. Barclays registered a default i think, but then marked it satisfied when they passed on the debt. Hillesden Securites then went on to register continuous defaults against me and i couldnt believe that this has ran on up until it was passed on to Direct Legal, who also have registered defaults against me - during my period of silence and no contact. I counted 6 years from Hillesden Securities and was questioning whether this should still be on my record now?

4. This Ruthbridge letter states being instructed and i think the others did. All stored away at the moment but i can dig that out tomorrow and check it all.

5. I'm working nearly full-time/ 30 hours - and yes, working tax, child tax credits tops it up.

I certainly wont answer anymore calls from them, phew, lol. I was nearly ready to sell my soul. Well at least i'm laughing about it now.

Thanks alot Perseus
D

[Desperate Single Mother]

Hi Rory, thanks for that;

Dont sign the letter??? So do i write the letter in the 3rd person - if that made any sense. Forgive me, i'm so new to this that i think i'll be an expert on it once it's over.

Statue barred, means the 6 year period has passed?

The idea of the harrassment letter is brill. What about not questioning my 12 year old?

[rory32]

The reason for not signing the letter is that you may later have to do a CCA request. This asks for a copy of the credit agreement that would have been taken out at the time of the loan. Without this, or if the agreement doesn't comply with the Consumer Credit Act, the debt is unenforceable even in a court of law. Do not sign letters to DCA's because it is very easy to scan and paste signatures onto documents. They have been reported to have done this in the past. If you feel you must sign letters sign them in a different way than you normally would.

Statue barred, means the 6 year period has passed?

Yes. Which means that they can no longer enforce the debt.

What about not questioning my 12 year old?

They shouldn't be discussing anything with your daughter. They have stated they are a friend to try to get round the Data Protection Act. Ask for a copy of their complaints procedure. They have to provide you with this, if they don't you can report them to the FOS.

Once they supply you with their complaints prcedure obviously complain about this deception. They then have 8 weeks to respond. If they don't respond to your satisafction you can then report them to the FOS. If the FOS investigate the complaint they charge them for it. The starting price is £400.

[Percival Wigglesbottom]

While you are there, tell them the manner you which to be contacted. That is definetely not to be contacted at work ever again. Immediately go through the complaints procedure with the possibility of a FOS charge the first call that transgresses your instructions. They are like particularly nasty little children that need a sharp lesson to curb their ill behaviour.

[manf]

hi dsm i hope you dont mind me reading your thread but im going through the same thing with ruthbridge as are a lot of other people on here

and just like you i was petrified............. but im not now thanks to the wonderful advice given to me on this fab group which i am following to the letter
i know it is very worrying and when i first had a letter from these ....... i was physically sick but some of us are all in the same boat so try not to worry.............
and be strong for your kids i know we are all going to fight these t*****s together x

[PriorityOne]

I would be inclined to send them a CCA request now.... adding the words I DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DEBT TO YOUR COMPANY at the top, just in case it hasn't yet gone over the statute-barred timeframe.

It sounds as if this debt has been sold on, so if there is no CCA.... Ruthbridge will be stuffed. If it's over 6 years old, then they are stuffed anyway.

Send the CCA by rec. delivery and keep the receipt. A CCA request only costs £1 (enclose a PO)... and as advised, don't sign it.... just print a "sig." on there....

I will go and find the CCA link for you....

[PriorityOne]

Scroll down to Letter N.

Creditors and DCAs - Letter Templates & Budget Planner

While you are waiting for a written response to thes request, do not have any more dealings with them over the 'phone. This is what they want... as it is there only way of telling you complete bowlarks in order to get a payment from you.

If you need a bog off letter, I will post one up on here later... which will address most kinds of scheming to try and get hold of you.... From now on however, make a note of all calls (even attempted ones) to your home, work, anywhere at all.... log them by time and date. If you have a name, then log that as well.

[payingonlyencouragesthem]

Originally Posted by Desperate Single Mother

I certainly wont answer anymore calls from them, phew, lol. I was nearly ready to sell my soul. Well at least i'm laughing about it now.

Thanks alot Perseus
D

PM me if the urge returns

[Hopeful1]

Hi DSM. I'm just subscribing to offer my support as you've had all the good advice you need for now. Keep posting your progress and everyone will help you as much as they can.

Working full time, a 12 year old AND twins - you must be exhausted :o All the more reason to get this situation under control.

Best wishes

[patrickq1]

yes good luck to you we all support you now YOU ARE IN CONTROL not them and it is on YOUR TERMS and do not accept any phone calls nor discuss your business over the phone from now on letters only

[sosumi]

Originally Posted by Hopeful1

Hi DSM. I'm just subscribing to offer my support as you've had all the good advice you need for now. Keep posting your progress and everyone will help you as much as they can.

Working full time, a 12 year old AND twins - you must be exhausted :o All the more reason to get this situation under control.

Best wishes

Just wanted to echo what Hopeful said.
Plus, I'm dealing with DLC/Hillesden. They're the same company, and seem to choose between the two when they write.
Subscribing, and best wishes!