Disputed 15 year old "debt"

[Droopy]

Greetings

I am new to the Consumer Action Group and I have spent quite a while looking around.

It seems that you are doing great things here and I could use a little advice myself.

 

Bit of History

I have just spent seven years in a Debt Management Plan with Payplan (who I can definitely recommend)and I have just become debt free (or so I thought) after repaying over £40k.

It damned near killed me (seriously – I had a major heart attack half way through) and it was recommended I declare myself bankrupt more than once, but I stuck at it and I finally paid everything.

Problem

I have just received a letter from 1st Credit looking for me. Not wanting to stick my head in the sand, I called them, to be told by the nice man that I owed some £2.5k on a Lombard bank loan going back to an address I moved away from 15 years ago. Tis jogged my memory as I will explain, but I told him that I wouldn’t be making full payment today as I disputed the loan was mine and asked him to supply me with a copy of the agreement. His said he would supply this and I bid him goodbye.

 

Lombard Bank

This “debt” from Lombard bank first raised its head around 8 years ago. I honestly don’t recall having dealt with them and I don’t think this debt is mine.

This debt has been sold and re sold several times and 1st Credit have tried to collect before. Every time a new company tries to collect, every 2 years or so, I ask for a copy of the credit agreement and dispute the debt. They then tend to go away only for a different company to try and collect a couple of years later.

I have checked my Equifax records and there is no mention on my file.

Is there any way to stop these people keep dragging this up? It appears they have no more proof that I am responsible for this loan than I have.

Any help would be gratefully received

Thanks

Scott

[havinastella]

Hi and welcome to CAG!

 

This debt would be Statue barred.

 

When they finally send you some details, let us know.

 

DO not speak to these people on the phone ever.

[Droopy]

Hi Havinastella,

 

I am havinanaldidietcoke

 

I picked up the "don't speak " thing whilst trawling around and it does seem like good advice.

 

Will shout up when i hear from them again

 

Thanks

 

Scott

[rdm2006]

or you could send them the statute barred letter and be rid of them

[Droopy]

Can i do this ?

 

I don't recall ever making a payment as i don't recall taking out the loan. If i did, it was 15 years or more ago.

 

I am contacted every couple of years by a succesion of Debt collection companies

 

Sccott

[PGH7447]

send the stat barred letter, and let them prove otherwise, but beware the "phantom" payment [problem]

[Droopy]

UPDATE

 

Hi all,

 

Had another letter from the nice chaps at 1st Credit offering me a discount if i paid them now.

 

They have clearly taken no notice of me disputing the debt, so i have reiterated my point and sent the "statute barred" letter by recorded post

 

i shall await their next move

 

[42man]

Let me guess it read like an 'annual statement'......and was 3 pages in size. You have done the right thing so far, but please keep us posted.

[Droopy]

Not heard a thing since i sent the statute barred letter

[intend]

Hope it has solved the problem but fear it will merely be passed around at some point in the future.

[cerberusalert]

Not heard a thing since i sent the statute barred letter

 

You shouldn't do, the must adhere to OFT guidelines and suspend any collection activities until such time that they can prove the debt isn't Statute Barred. In reality they should notify you that they have closed the file.