Many thanks. Will try and get some legal advice tomorrow if I can, then I might get some sleep! Thanks all.

there are no statements just letters, it is so long ago and I don't remember what happend to all the books. Interest was charged for the first year about £10,000 is that and other charges.

Hi All, have the info down from the loft. It would appear that I have nothing regarding the business or the property all I have is letters from the banks, solicitors and 2 different debt collecting companies. First letter was from Yorkshire Bank in April 1994 regarding the account and how we were going to pay outstanding amount. Next lot of letters started in 1997 same thing again. didn't hear from anyone again until Sept 2005! A letter from the bank telling me they were 'alarmed that they had been unable to communicate with me regarding the outstanding amount' I have lived at the same house since 1997 and the same bank has been paying Yorkshire since that time so I don't know where they thought I had gone. I then started to get letters from solicitors, contacted an online advice solicitor who gave me some helpful suggestions and duly wrote off asking for the info that had been suggested (had to pay £10 to bank to supply me with info). Got a lot of papers back with a letter saying that unfortunately not all info was available??? and as the account had been passed to Group Collections they could only supply the information they still held. printed sheets with what looked like 'double dutch' on them! Never heard anymore. April 2007 another letter from the solicitor, I wrote back saying nothing had changed. August2008 I received 2 letters from some company called NCO saying that the bank had referred me on to them, I took no action. January 2009 Received a 'Bank Statement' from Yorkshire and a letter telling me I would receive a statement every six months till the debt was settled (£5 a month to pay £30,000.00). May2009 Received the letters mentioned yesterday. Have gone through paperwork and discovered this is classed as neither a loan or a mortgage but a 'current' account that is overdrawn by said amount and is 'unsecured'. As always and advice or suggestion is much appreciated. Buzzbybell

I will certainly get the stuff out of the loft but will have to wait till partner finishes work tomorrow as I cannot get up there. The property was a chip shop and the home was a flat above but if i remember correctly the thing was bought as a business with living accommodation. I have just googled the name of this credit management company that have now bought my account and actualy ended up back in this forum but on another thread. Not sure if it is relevant but the Credit Company have this down as a 'current account' type??????????

The bank put the property (business and home) up for sale after I gave the keys back, they said there was a shortfall so I owed the balance. I do not recollect signing anything new.

The whole thing was done as one, probably a business loan, will have to get all the paperwork out of the loft. Welshmam2009, thanks for your help,and you too postggj. Think I will see if I can get a solicitor or accountant on Monday, have heard that you can get a quick chat free.

sorry welshmam2009, think I am overlapping on this. The ex b******d of abroad about 10-11 years ago.

thanks postggi, Yes I have always paid the token amount asked for, by the sound of things that was my mistake. The reason for the amount owing is that the bank sold the business to the first buyer at a very reduced amount. Just as is happening in this recession no doubt.

Thanks for the reply Welshmam2009. Never even crossed my mind to go bankrupt at the time too busy trying to manage all the paperwork and two boys under the age of three:sad: Yes my partner and I have a joint account and I think my name may be on one or two utility bills. Apparently there is no CCJ or anything like that on this debt.

Hi Folks, Sorry if this is in the wrong place, just found you today. Hope someone can advise. Approx 14 years ago I lost my home and business due to recession and a lazy (now ex) husband. I voluntarily handed the keys back to Yorkshire Bank and Was moved into housing by local authorities. About six months later received a letter from Yorkshire Bank informing me that they had sold the property and that I owed them approx £30,000. As you can imagine I was gobsmacked as I thought once I had handed the building back to them that would be that. Silly Me. Someone came to visit and went thru income and expenditure etc and came to a figure that they thought I should pay each month. I wrote and said I would pay £5 they accepted. This went on for years (one or two hiccups in the first 2 years with threats from debt companies etc caused by me paying a couple of months in advance) Anyway I actually forgot all about it -sort of- still paid £5 via Direct Debit and in my original surname (I changed that via deedpoll about 10yrs ago for personal reasons). I never heard from Yorkshire Bank or anyone else after that for about 6yrs. when all of a sudden I received a phonecall and a couple of days later a letter asking me to pay the debt immediately, I have never stopped paying the £5 which from what I have read on the forum has been a mistake. More recently I received a 'statement' from Yorkshire Bank with a letter informing me that I would receive a statement every 6 months, this I duly filed. Today however I have received a letter from Yorkshire Bank with an enclosed letter from APEX Credit Management Ltd, they are both informing me that Apex has bought the account and all rights etc etc, it also states that It knows I have a payment plan in place but to prevent my account falling into default I must ring them and that all future payments must go directly to them once we have agreed an acceptable amount. I am a mum of three and I work part time, my wonderful partner works very hard to keep us all, my main worry is that these people can make him pay for this, we have been together for just over 12 years. The house is in his name only, he pays the mortgage and nearly all the bills, my small salary pays for a few extras. Sorry if this has been a bit long winded but I really don't know which way to turn now, should I try and get legal aid? If anyone has any suggestions or knows any facts I would really appreciate it. I have read thru some of the forum but wasn't sure if things would apply as it was a home and business combined, chip shop ground floor home up above. Would be grateful for any help at all. PS Don't know if it would be of any significance but the bank did try to imply that I had been hiding from them but I had always informed the bank that sent the payments to YB where I was.