Default for ancient debt

[MysteryCarer]

Hello

I'll try to be concise but also provide all relevant information

I've recently noticed a new default entered onto my credit report - both Experian and TransUnion, but not Equifax. The date of the default is January 2025. I usually only check my Equifax report which is how this hasn't been noticed until now.

The debt is for £74 and the company is JC INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION LLC. All it says is "Account Type: Multi Communications" which could really mean anything. The thing is, the address next to the entry is ancient - I haven't lived there for 10 years - and I haven't been contacted by these people at all. I have always been on the electoral roll so I'm easily found. There has been one interim address between this old one and my current address.

I raised a dispute with Experian and TransUnion. Experian have simply said that JC have said the details recorded are correct and won't do anything further.

From my browsing on this board I don't believe it's allowed to record a default after such a long period of time - and in any event, they haven't contacted me.

I'm wary of contacting them because I'm worried I might inadvertently open up some old can of worms and be liable for this. I could pay it but I'm on a very very limited income as I'm the sole carer for a parent with Dementia and, as I'm sure you all know, Universal Credit and Carer's Allowance is not very much.

I would like to get this default removed but I'm very unsure how to go about dealing with this - it doesn't seem at all straightforward to me. Any suggestions / guidance would be very much appreciated.

[echat11]

Hi Mysterycarer

Welcome to LB

The debt maybe 'statute barred'.

Have you received any correspondence from and any 'debt collectors'?

[MysteryCarer]

Hello

I haven't had any correspondence, no. I simply can't imagine what the £74 would be - I can imagine something may have got forgotten when I moved some ten years ago but I'm not sure what and I'm not sure why I've never heard anything else. I only discovered the default accidentally.

I did do some reading around before posting in case someone had had the same issue but couldn't really find anything. I am sure this debt, whatever it is, would be statute barred but my question then is how to deal with this and get the default removed ? My understanding is that issuing a default notice resets the "statute barred" timer but it seems from my research that a default must be issued within a reasonable amount of time when a customer stops paying.

This is my dilemma - what to do ?

[echat11]

Hello

I haven't had any correspondence, no. I simply can't imagine what the £74 would be - I can imagine something may have got forgotten when I moved some ten years ago but I'm not sure what and I'm not sure why I've never heard anything else. I only discovered the default accidentally.

I did do some reading around before posting in case someone had had the same issue but couldn't really find anything. I am sure this debt, whatever it is, would be statute barred but my question then is how to deal with this and get the default removed ? My understanding is that issuing a default notice resets the "statute barred" timer but it seems from my research that a default must be issued within a reasonable amount of time when a customer stops paying.

This is my dilemma - what to do ?

The Terms and Conditions would state that after 3 missed payments the account would be Defaulted if the breach isn't rectified.

JC INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION LLC buy debts.

Send the following letter to JC INTERNATIONAL ACQUISITION LLC. Make sure you get Proof of Postage.

You can add that a Default marker has been placed on your Credit File, if that marker is not removed, you will
lodge complaints with the Financial Conduct Authority, the Information Commissioners Office and Trading Standards.

https://legalbeagles.info/forums/for...ed-debt-letter

Update when you get a response.

[MysteryCarer]

Thankyou - I'll send off on Monday and with Proof of Postage.

Will update !

[MysteryCarer]

Hello again

I've received a reply from JC Int'l

It seems the account is between 01/11/2024 and 11/01/2025 and is for a Sky Glass service to my old address. I left this address in the autumn of 2016 - moved to Maidenhead and was there until autumn 2019 and then have been at my current address in Cornwall, and on the Electoral Register, since then. I was also on the Electoral Register in Maidenhead; I was (still am) scrupulous about moving things like that.

Obviously this account is within the statute of limitations but it's not mine. They've asked if I can supply proof I left this address 10 years ago or proof that I was not residing at this address during the current period. Proving a negative is really quite difficult. I am on the electoral roll here as mentioned, any my driving licence is also at this address. I suppose I could supply bank statements but I'm reluctant to do this because I am quite mistrustful.

They have provided the mobile number and email associated with the account, neither of which are mine. The email address contains my own surname and this seems to be the basis on which they've gone for my credit record which seems spurious to say the least. What I mean by this is that if my surname were Smith, the email address given is xxx

I'm open to suggestions on how to proceed going forwards.

[MysteryCarer]

echat11 do you have any suggestions ?

I wondered about serving a SAR to flush out all the information they have.

[MysteryCarer]

echat11 do you have any suggestions ?

I wondered about serving a SAR to flush out all the information they have.

[echat11]

echat11 do you have any suggestions ?

I wondered about serving a SAR to flush out all the information they have.

Can you remove that email ASP, that's urgent.

Yes send a SAR, none of the facts match.
The incorrect information they have sounds very dubious.
It's like they are trying to build the facts around the account,
rather then have the account with the facts.
Update when you get a response.

Once you get it, you may need to lodge a complaint
With JC International and the ICO.

[MysteryCarer]

I think I'm being stupid but I can't see how to edit my post. However, that is not the actual email address (my surname isn't Smith) - it's just there to illustrate the point.

I'll send the SAR off today.

[echat11]

I think I'm being stupid but I can't see how to edit my post. However, that is not the actual email address (my surname isn't Smith) - it's just there to illustrate the point.

I'll send the SAR off today.

O.K.

[MysteryCarer]

Just to update that no response has been received within the one calendar month since the SAR was received. I can prove receipt as I sent “Signed For”

I will send a letter to remind them and allow 14 more days and say that if they do not fulfil the SAR within this time I will raise complaints with the FCA, ICO and may resort to court action.

Is there anything else ? It seems monstrously unfair that they can just slap a default on my credit file and essentially get away with it - the onus being on me to prove the debt is not actually mine.

[echat11]

Just to update that no response has been received within the one calendar month since the SAR was received. I can prove receipt as I sent “Signed For”

I will send a letter to remind them and allow 14 more days and say that if they do not fulfil the SAR within this time I will raise complaints with the FCA, ICO and may resort to court action.

Is there anything else ? It seems monstrously unfair that they can just slap a default on my credit file and essentially get away with it - the onus being on me to prove the debt is not actually mine.

Update when you get a response.

[MysteryCarer]

So I now have the response from JCIA which contains very little. There are some printouts from what I presume are their internal systems which show this to be a SKY GLASS debt. They do have my name and DOB correct and there is a copy of a "Notice of Assignment" letter sent to my old address on 14 February 2026. There are some spreadsheets which I think show SMS messages being sent but there is no indication of a phone number. The email address they have is not mine and is a generic Hotmail address that contains my surname as part of the email address.

There is no credit agreement or anything of that ilk. The debt was run up at the end of 2024 and start of 2025 and I left this address at the end of September 2016. I was not on the Electoral Roll after that date and I have been on the Electoral Roll at my current address since the start of 2020. I have communicated this to them and stated that my living at my current address since 2020 is a matter of public record.

What to do next ? Clearly it's not in their interest to do anything other than demand this money but I am adamant the debt is not mine and I'm not going to pay it. How can I now force the issue ? I've complained to the 2 credit reference agencies and they've just replied that they've checked with JCIA and have been informed the records are correct and that's that.

Should I start a formal complaint with JCIA ? ICO seems an "iffy" option as, nominally, they've complied with the SAR although I can't help feeling that if this is all the information they have it'd be laughed out of court if it ever got that far. Is there a way to start court action ? I'm not afraid of the legal process but my means are very limited as I'm basically receiving UC/Carer's Allowance each month and that is all.

[echat11]

So I now have the response from JCIA which contains very little. There are some printouts from what I presume are their internal systems which show this to be a SKY GLASS debt. They do have my name and DOB correct and there is a copy of a "Notice of Assignment" letter sent to my old address on 14 February 2026. There are some spreadsheets which I think show SMS messages being sent but there is no indication of a phone number. The email address they have is not mine and is a generic Hotmail address that contains my surname as part of the email address.

There is no credit agreement or anything of that ilk. The debt was run up at the end of 2024 and start of 2025 and I left this address at the end of September 2016. I was not on the Electoral Roll after that date and I have been on the Electoral Roll at my current address since the start of 2020. I have communicated this to them and stated that my living at my current address since 2020 is a matter of public record.

What to do next ? Clearly it's not in their interest to do anything other than demand this money but I am adamant the debt is not mine and I'm not going to pay it. How can I now force the issue ? I've complained to the 2 credit reference agencies and they've just replied that they've checked with JCIA and have been informed the records are correct and that's that.

Should I start a formal complaint with JCIA ? ICO seems an "iffy" option as, nominally, they've complied with the SAR although I can't help feeling that if this is all the information they have it'd be laughed out of court if it ever got that far. Is there a way to start court action ? I'm not afraid of the legal process but my means are very limited as I'm basically receiving UC/Carer's Allowance each month and that is all.

Send a SAR to SKY, see if they have more information, that may unlock where this error has come from.