Hi - wondered when they would show their heads above the parapet again. Follow the templates closely - they worked for me! They will try to grind you down with threatening letters whilst ignoring your own, send things to them by recorded delivery, and don't talk to them on the phone - be very careful. From what I can gather, they buy up other companies' closed accounts and then fire off "you owe us" letters regardless of whether or not you do. It helps if you can treat it as a game..... not easy I know but it does help. Under no circumstances admit you are liable even if you think you might be (after 3 years, unless you have evidence, it's difficult to be sure in yourself - I know they tried to claim off me after 15 years - ludicrous of course cos statute barred). wat3r

Hi - just a quick update on my situation. Received an "account closed" letter from Red Debt today because of the statute barred "debt" (to recap - as far as I know have never had a Barclaycard let alone owed them money). So hooray and thanks for all the help I got from you all on this thread! I would have been totally lost if I hadn't found you. One thing though, I did invoice Red Debt/Lowells for my time in January (see earlier posts) - do you think I should press for payment of the invoice (plus the interest I said I would collect if not paid after 30 days)? Keep on with the good work.

Extract from Yorkshire Evening post 7th August 2007 - Note - James Cornell of Lovells and the general blurb noting the listed names' achievements - makes you proud, doesn't it!!!! Region's best business leaders shortlisted YORKSHIRE'S top bosses' organisation is preparing to name the region's most successful business leaders. The Institute of Directors (IOD) for Yorkshire and the Humber has announced the shortlist of candidates for its Director of the Year Awards 2007. The awards, now in their third year, celebrate the achievements of the region’s most hardworking and innovative business leaders. Nimble Thompson, IOD regional chairman, said: “The response we have had to the awards this year has been staggering. We received a huge amount of entries and our awards ceremony in September has already sold out. “The awards recognise the tireless hard work and outstanding achievements which set certain individuals apart from their peers. We want to help celebrate the success of those people who achieve incredible results for their companies and contribute to the prosperity of this region.” The short-listed individuals are: Angelena Fixter, Avalon, Knaresborough; Anita Massarella, Anita Massarella Design, Leeds; Ann Watson, EMTA Awards Ltd, Dewsbury; Colin Glass, Winburn Glass Norfolk, Leeds; Deirdre Bounds, i-to-i, Leeds; Gary Parker, Integra Buildings Ltd, Brandesburton; Gavin Wheeldon, Applied Language Solutions, Metham, Holmfirth; Geoffrey Raspin, Harrogate & District Advocacy Scheme, Birstwith, Harrogate; Graham Smith, Paragon Healthcare; Ellis Fairbank, Kids Unlimited, Burley in Wharfedale; James Cornell, The Lowell Group, Leeds; Jay Bhayani, Watson Esam, Sheffield; Kevin Linfoot, KW Linfoot plc, York; Martin Kelly, Accent Group, Bradford; Paul Sewell, The Sewell Group, Cottingham; Peter Chappelow, M and M Direct, Ilkley; Tracy Taylor, Abbey Taylor, Sheffield. Winners will be presented with their awards at a black-tie gala awards dinner at Leeds Town Hall on September 6.

Hi - if Mr whatisface was made Young Director of the Year by the Yorkshire Institute of Directors in 2007, how interested would they be to hear that websites such as this (both Lowell and Red Debt) and the scale of the problem, and, since presumably there was some publicity surrounding the Award, how interested might the local press be?

Hi - have been following all the posts re Red Debt and Lowell (see my posts on the Red Debt thread). Yes I support the campaign to Watchdog etc. I did actually email Watchdog myself referring them to the Red Debt Site and also contacted the Trading Standards people. No reply from either but if all of us are backing TWS' approach to Watchdog etc, then that might elicit a response. As mentioned in my posts on the Red Debt thread, I am about to invoice Red Debit for dealing with their unsolicited and unwanted correspondence in January 2008, and since I received yet another letter today, the clock is ticking on the February invoice. Good luck to everyone.

Hi - I have already prepared my first invoice. I received another letter today (ignoring my own previous 2 letters to them - 1 statute barred letter and the other sending a further copy of it). I am billing them at the rate of £100 per hour. They will never pay up of course unless by some strange mischance an administrator decides to process the invoice without querying it. Suing might be costly unless there is a personal way of doing it (ie rather than use solicitors), but the consensus seems to be that these people will eventually stop - oh but it's tedious. I am sending them the proforma letter about harrassment. Won't get me anywhere, but at least I can then submit a further invoice for "work in February". Game on!

Hi - had my third letter last week (which totally ignored the statute barred letter I sent them the previous week). It advised me that "this debt will not go away" - very professional, I don't think. Sent them a copy but also advised them that if I receive any further demands or communications I will start invoicing them for my time. I have already prepared my invoice for January and propose to send it to them if they write to me again.

thanks. I will go to see my bank tomorrow and then hopefully in a day or so be able to bash back to Red Debt/Lowell with the statute barred letter. Have also contacted the OFT just in case they aren't aware as I couldn't find any mention of Red Debt on it . Just thought I'd like to stir something up anyway.

Hi - I've just joined today as on arriving home from Wales this evening, after 5 days looking after my old mum, I have found a letter from Lowell Portfolio/Red Debt Collection Services dated 14/1/2008, saying that I owe Barclaycard nearly £2000. A letter arrived while I was away for Xmas saying that they had been instructed to trace me from a previous address and I should confirm that I was the person mentioned in the letter. Since I did not know that I had left that address owing any money, I ignored the letter - two weeks later I received the letter re the Barclaycard alledged debt. As far as I know I have never had a Barclaycard, but I was at the address they quoted in their letter more than 17 years ago. I can't think that I would have taken out a Barclaycard and forgotten about it 1) because I don't like Barclays Bank and 2) because I don't like credit cards. My bank has advised me to request a check on old statements going back that far (I have luckily been with my bank 27 years with very few problems either from them or for me) and that I don't get in touch with RDCS until I can confirm whether or not I had a Barclaycard and when the last payment was made (or not as the case may be!). I found your letter about the statute barred claims very interesting and once I have the information from my bank, I will write off a suitable letter. Hope this is the correct action. Is there anything else do you think I should be doing? My credit rating at the moment is ok but I do know that in the very late 1980s/early 1990s I went a bit loopy (for want of a better word) and it's made me think that despite never intending to take out a Barclaycard I might have. Incidentally, I have never been approached by Barclaycard or anyone else about any outstanding debt at the address that Lowell gave (or any other address come to that).