LauraM:

I know who owns the debt as they searched my details about a year ago, but did nothing with the information they got from it. I find that rather odd, don't you?

Is there a chance of having the default removed if I negotiate a payment plan or would they want the debt settled in full first, I have no CCJ's at all only this one default on my record.

Odd, not really. If you think that there is hundreds of millions of debt owed, it is going to take an awful long time for these companies to chase people. Your debt is just one item on a vast lists of debts. I suspect that they go after those that owe the most first and possibly the easiest targets. If you have told them of your circumstances before, perhaps they have decided that once the default was applied to not contact you again.

In regard to the payment of the debt, the default will not be noted as satisified until they have received payment of the outstanding. Citizens Advice should cover this off in their letter to the company concerned.

Huckster

Thank you for your speedy reply, I hadn't thought about going through someone else but will contact my local CA today to see if they can help with this, I just want it settled so I can get on with my life debt free.

I am a member of Experian and so keep up to date with my credit profile so as to avoid fraudulant use of my details and so on, I know who owns the debt as they searched my details about a year ago, but did nothing with the information they got from it. I find that rather odd, don't you?

Hopefully I can get a speedy and satifactory resolution to this.

Is there a chance of having the default removed if I negotiate a payment plan or would they want the debt settled in full first, I have no CCJ's at all only this one default on my record.

Laura x

laura

This must be very difficult for you and you are wise to deal with the outstanding debt.

What you should not do is make any phone calls to the people concerned. Also do not write from your current address, as once they get hold of your address, the letters and phone calls will start up again.

I would advise that you do the following.

1) Obtain your Experian credit record report, which you can apply for online. They offer a free 30 day trial, but remember to cancel, otherwise you will end up with a monthly subscription. The reason for obtaining the credit report, is that the debt has probably been passed or sold on to an outside debt collection agency. You may therefore need to write to a different company.

2) Phone Citizens Advice to see if they can help. They may be willing to write to the people concerned to explain the circumstances and arrange an affordable repayment plan. http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

The good thing about getting Citizens Advice to write on your behalf, is that the company will obviously then have to write back to CA, but also that they will be more likely to accept the payment plan, if it comes from CA.

It is possible that you may experience a delay in obtaining help from Citizens Advice, but I believe it is worth waiting. After all you have not been contacted for 18 months.

Good luck

Huckster

I have a defaulted debt on my credit profile from Next Directory from 2006. I got the debt after an ex-partner ordered goods and refused to pay and I couldn't afford to as I was a single mum struggling with two severely disabled boys.

I avoided the debt, with all the stresses and strain of dealing with my sons disabilities until it was passed to the collections department and the phone calls, threats and harrassment started. I would receive phone calls at all times of the night and day, they would be abusive and threatening, even though I informed them of my circumstances and asked them to stop calling and contact me by letter only. After asking them to stop the calls, the calls increased to several times a day with threats that they would increase unless I paid the debt in full. I did offer a payment plan, but it was rejected without consideration and the threats continued. After a while I became difficult myself when dealing with the calls and they would leave me in tears, especially on bad days with my sons and during a time when I thought I may lose my eldest. It seemed to become a game to the tele team, one even joked about having several people call one after the other.

Don't answer the phone I hear you say, but I had to be in contact with the specialists that were dealing with my sons, hospitals etc. I couln't afford to miss calls.

Eventually after a couple of months, I moved house, changed my number and waited for them to catch up with me...18 months on they haven't, but I want the debt settled and off my credit history. I have no other bad debt, make all my payments on time, have excellent banking history, only buy what I can afford and never use credit cards or try to live beyond my means. I am petrified of contacting the collections department for fear of the harrassment and threats starting again. I am on my own, with two severely disabled boys and recently diagnosed with a severe neurological disorder myself, stress makes my condition so bad that I am totally incapacitated for 3-4 days at a time.

What can I do to resolve this and get this debt cleared with the least amount of stress for me and my boys.

The debt is for just under £1,600

Thank you in advance for any advice.