Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciated.

[meandnooneelse]

Hi all,

First post on this website.

I have a number of outstanding unsecured debts from over eight to ten years ago. They are 17k + including ridiculous interest and PPI etc but in real terms less than or around 10k I think. I went through a tough time in my life when I was younger and made a few mistakes, racked up debt in my name with an ex girlfriend and had a gambling problem and emotional issues. I was out of work with severe anxiety at one point and hit rock bottom. I gambled any money I had. But I found strength from somewhere and gradually started to get out of the deep black hole I was in.

I am now in a much better place emotionally and no longer have a gambling problem and haven't for a good few years. I am living with my partner many miles away from where I used to live. I have now received a letter from B, C & W saying they are trying to contact me and that they confirmed my address via a credit link through a credit reference agency.

Since moving here I have not applied for any credit and I have not registered on the electoral roll. I have only changed my address with my bank and registered with non-credit services such as job sites etc. I do not know how a credit reference agency would obtain my address???

I believe my debts should be statute barred by now as I do not think I have acknowledged them or made a payment for over 6 years. I want to check my credit file online to see if my debts are over 6 years old but I am thinking by doing this and providing all my details to the credit reference agency they may make this information available to debt collection agencies???

My partner doesn't know about my past debts and I know I need to speak to her about it, but I am now worried the DCA will trace the telephone number of my partners home and start ringing too. Is this likely???

I do not want to respond to them and I hope by ignoring them this is the best thing to do. I just want to start a new life and I cannot do this with these people on at me again after all this time. I do have a conscience but I believe these people made enough money out of me when I paid their interest rates back in the day when I was paying them, and I feel they approved the final and two largest loans when I was at my most vulnerable just because their systems were flawed and they wanted their bonuses.

If anyone can advise me what I should do or can answer any of the above questions I would really appreciate it.

Many thanks.

[ncf355]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

Well,

they would have gained the address from your bank account - banks register current accounts with CRA's.

I'd be inclined to write via recorded mail and ask them to detail what they wish to contact you about and state you require all comms to be in writing only.

[meandnooneelse]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

Thank you for your advice.

My bank account is a basic bank account with no credit facilities so would my bank still file my details with a credit reference agency?

There is no privacy these days.

I do not intend to write to them. I do not intend to have any contact with them. I just hope they cannot phone the house where I am living now???

[wales01man]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

There are specialist firms that trace people its not that hard to find someone and get their address as for privacy that went out with the ark

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

There are specialist firms that trace people its not that hard to find someone and get their address as for privacy that went out with the ark

It has been quite hard for Barclays, or whoever owns my Egg card, to find me in 4 years, despite my having accounts with Barclays since 2008! :grin: :grin: :grin:

I am going against my own advice here, because I'd say it's better if your creditors can write to you, to avoid nasty surprises such as CCJs, Statutory Demands and even Bankruptcy Petitions!

A lot of people come here posting they have just looked at their credit file and there's a CCJ on there they knew nothing about. Some find out when the Land Registry contacts them saying they have an application for an Interim Charging Order on their home. Less common (but a lot scarier) are stories about people having been bankrupted over a debt of £1k or £2k, when they'd never received any paperwork. :scared: :scared: :scared:

It is possible to have a CCJ obtained by default, set aside, but you need to show the court the creditor had your address at the time the claim was issued, as well as having a viable defence. This is where I go against my own advice, because I've had accounts with Barclays since 2008, 3 years before they bought the Eggs, and I've got a pile of statements a mile high to prove they had my address if they ever obtained a CCJ against me.

[Inca]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

Please don't bury your head in the sand and 'hope' the debts are Statute Barred,,,you need to confirm it.
Each case is individual (obviously) and what happens in one persons case won't necessarily happen in yours.
It matters not a jot HOW they found you tbh,,they HAVE found you and they need dealing with.
Firstly though,,I'd talk to your partner so no nasty surprises crop up,,it will be better coming from you and you will feel better instead of being constantly 'on your guard' for letters/phone calls etc. (been there,done that,nearly had a meltdown)...we all have a past,,parts of which we are not particularly proud of,but it's best to be honest when stuff crops up. (that's only my opinion of course)

[Nibbler]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

Thank you for your advice.

My bank account is a basic bank account with no credit facilities so would my bank still file my details with a credit reference agency?

Yes. Barclays record their basic account with the CRAs.

[Nibbler]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

I have now received a letter from B, C & W saying they are trying to contact me and that they confirmed my address via a credit link through a credit reference agency.

If it is just at that vague confirmation or trace stage without them saying exactly what they are after, I would be inclined to ignore them for now.

Not ignore them for ever necessarily, but at least wait before biting until they write with details of the debt they are after. That is the MO of BCW. They write a cautious confirmation letter at first as a sop to OFT guidelines and data protection, but even without a response they then suddenly forget all that and start aggressively chasing the actual debt giving some details.

So I would hold off reply at the very least until you have more info on what this is. Then if you need to you can respond from a position of knowledge, rather than biting on an unknown bait.

[violethill]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

i have also been traced by these people first i got a verification letter so i ignored it that was 7 days ago today i got a letter with the full details of the debt a very old provident loan infact its only 5 months off staue barred i never verified i was the person iv sent them an email stating they have the wrong person and have sent very private information to the wrong person are they now legally wrong

[CleverClogs]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

They may have breached the Data Protection Act 1998 if they had not verified that the address was correct - and one might reasonably doubt that sending a letter asking for an immediate response if one was not that person would really count as verification!

After all, letters do go missing in the post, or are delivered late...

[violethill]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

does anybody know if this is not showing on my credit report are bcw just trying it on .

[CleverClogs]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

does anybody know if this is not showing on my credit report are bcw just trying it on .

If it does not shew up on your credit report, it is likely that your dates are wrong and that the alleged debt is more than six years old.

[ODC]

Re: Buchanan Clark & Wells traced my address how? Statute barred? Any help appreciat

It is very likely that BCW sent a similar letter to others with a similar name and age in and around the area. Personally i would sit tight until the come up with something more substantial.