Credit Card debt sold to debt recovery agency but does not show on credit file?

Question

My friend had around £18k of debts on various credit cards from 2001, after missing payments and defaulting a few times, and having had a few ccjs, she eventually went with a debt repayment co, she then lost her job and moved twice, but did NOT tell any of her creditors, its has now been 2 years since she has contacted or paid any of these debts. Now she has had 2 debt recovery agencies find and contact her about 2 of these debts they had 'bought' from the original creditor, requesting payment. However when she checked her credit file, it is in fact fair, (803 out of 1000) and none of these previous debts show. What does this mean? does she have to pay these people? surely if the debts are not on her file they have been squashed and she should no longer have to pay them?? Any advice appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

Really ? So she went back to Court and had the original CCJ's overturned ???

Don't be silly - she may have run away from her debts but (as she has discovered) debts don't "go away" that easy ...

... and refusing to pay until they ruin her Credit Rating is not a good choice ...

The Debt Recovery agents will have 'purchased' the debt for as low as 10% ... she should offer to pay them 25% and be prepared to go to half ... (ignore their stupid charges - these are just attempts to squeeze a bit more out her)

NB. CCJ's WILL be registered against her ... if not, then maybe some-one has got the wrong Credit file (they could be registered against her old address and they may not have picked up on the fact that she is the same person, expecailly if she has a common name and moved without telling anyone :-) )

But don't worry - the Debt Collectors know where she lives now, so you can be sure if they don't get something they WILL tell the Credit agencies who & where she is, and the agencies will then update her file .. and the CCJ's still stand so the Bailifs will be round soon ...

Answer 2

Not all debt collectors register with all 3 credit reference agencies.

Also they are probably acting as agents and the original creditor still "owns" the debt. So check for the original creditor.

The first thing to do is get reports from all 3, Experian, Equifax and Callcredit.

The second thing is that the credit reference isn't a proof of debt - after all I could owe a business partner £5000 but its unlikely it would show on my credit file. Doesn't mean he can't get a CCJ or make me bankrupt.

Debt doesn't go away, companies just sell it on to worse and worse companies for less and less money. Eventually someone was bound to catch up with you.

However...

If you haven't made a payment or admitted to the debt in 6 years it should be unenforceable in court. If they get a court judgement against you - it is enforceable forever.

If you want further advice email me.