Pip's UE Diary

[Pip]

Re: Pip's UE Diary
Pip's account no. 7
Sainsbury's
Start date: June 2004
Balance as of Dec 2011: approx. £7,000
Last "full" payment (i.e. within their stipulated minimum): Sep 2010 (approx).
Last DMP payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued Feb 2011.
Status: Last payment in Dec 2011 (smaller amount in Dec 2011 than the regular DMP payment had been up to that month)

2012
JAN CCA request sent to Sainsbury's Bank (Royal Mail delivery conf. printed)
JAN CCA received-- emailed Niddy -- Niddy says
JAN Sent Missing Prescribed Terms letter to Sainsbury's

----Lots snipped, please see post #7 for full diary

2016
OCT Letters from Sainsbury's Bank + Cabot in same envelope --- Account has been sold to Cabot Credit Management Group as of August (not October date of letter).
NOV Letter from Cabot We really want to help you. We understand that you may not be able to pay ... What could happen if you don't talk to us? -- Credit file may be affected // -- We may have to consider other ways to recover your debt // -- You will receive calls or letters until you contact us // -- The outstanding amount will remain due. // Have a great day and we look forward to talking to you very soon.
DEC Letter from Cabot We have previously explained that there are several options available ... // We do need to hear from you so that we can help you take positive steps towards agreeing an affordable repayment plan ... // If you're having any difficulties in being able to pay then it is important you tell us. // Your account may be reported on your credit file and may affect your ability to obtain credit ...// If we do not hear from you we will continue to contact you to help you resolve your outstanding balance.
2017
----Lots snipped, please see post #7 for full diary

DEC Letter from Cabot We help thousands of customers set up affordable repayment plans each month and we would like to do the same for you. An illustrative example [£1000 debt, £50 disposable monthly income; pay £41.67 a month for two years/£16.67 for five years]. These solutions are for illustrative purposes only. Any solution we can offer you will be based on what you tell us about your financial situation and any goals you may have to repay your account. Talk to us etc.
2018
MAY Letter from Cabot External agency recovery notification -- This letter is to notify you that as we have not come to a mutual agreement to repay your account, Cabot will be passing your account out to Ruthbridge Limited, a debt collection agency.
MAY Letter from Ruthbridge (in same envelope) We have been instructed by Cabot Financial Europe Ltd who have passed to above debt to us for collection of the outstanding balance. As we have now been appointed their agent, you should now make sure you contact us and not Cabot. We are authorised to negotiate repayment of the debt with you. We would like to resolve this matter taking into account your current financial situation and working with you to agree repayment terms that are affordable with you. // We are able to discuss various repayment options, these include: // Repayment of the debt by realistic instalments over an agreed period, subject to your financial circumstances and periodic review. // Early settlement of the debt by payment of a single lump sum. Under these circumstances if may be possible to agree a significantly reduced figure to be accepted as a settlement on the account. // To avoid any further action it is important that you make contact with us on the telephone number above so we may work together to agree a solution in line with your personal circumstances. // You should be aware this debt will remain outstanding if ignored and we urge you to work with us to get the matter resolved as quickly as possible.

Just got this today. I think the debt is now statute barred, and I wouldn't know how to respond in such a case, but I'm happy to keep quiet and ignore this as there's nothing threatening, and there's little Ruthbridge can do as they don't own the debt!

[Still Waving]

Just got this today. I think the debt is now statute barred, and I wouldn't know how to respond in such a case, but I'm happy to keep quiet and ignore this as there's nothing threatening, and there's little Ruthbridge can do as they don't own the debt!

That's exactly the right thing to do.

[Pip]

Re: Pip's UE Diary
Pip's account no. 7
Sainsbury's
Start date: June 2004
Balance as of Dec 2011: approx. £7,000
Last "full" payment (i.e. within their stipulated minimum): Sep 2010 (approx).
Last DMP payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued Feb 2011.
Status: Last payment in Dec 2011 (smaller amount in Dec 2011 than the regular DMP payment had been up to that month)

2012
JAN CCA request sent to Sainsbury's Bank (Royal Mail delivery conf. printed)
JAN CCA received-- emailed Niddy -- Niddy says
JAN Sent Missing Prescribed Terms letter to Sainsbury's

----Lots snipped, please see post #7 for full diary

2016
OCT Letters from Sainsbury's Bank + Cabot in same envelope --- Account has been sold to Cabot Credit Management Group as of August (not October date of letter).
NOV Letter from Cabot We really want to help you. We understand that you may not be able to pay ... What could happen if you don't talk to us? -- Credit file may be affected // -- We may have to consider other ways to recover your debt // -- You will receive calls or letters until you contact us // -- The outstanding amount will remain due. // Have a great day and we look forward to talking to you very soon.
DEC Letter from Cabot We have previously explained that there are several options available ... // We do need to hear from you so that we can help you take positive steps towards agreeing an affordable repayment plan ... // If you're having any difficulties in being able to pay then it is important you tell us. // Your account may be reported on your credit file and may affect your ability to obtain credit ...// If we do not hear from you we will continue to contact you to help you resolve your outstanding balance.
2017
----Lots snipped, please see post #7 for full diary

DEC Letter from Cabot We help thousands of customers set up affordable repayment plans each month and we would like to do the same for you. An illustrative example [£1000 debt, £50 disposable monthly income; pay £41.67 a month for two years/£16.67 for five years]. These solutions are for illustrative purposes only. Any solution we can offer you will be based on what you tell us about your financial situation and any goals you may have to repay your account. Talk to us etc.
2018
MAY Letter from Cabot External agency recovery notification -- This letter is to notify you that as we have not come to a mutual agreement to repay your account, Cabot will be passing your account out to Ruthbridge Limited, a debt collection agency.
MAY Letter from Ruthbridge (in same envelope) We have been instructed by Cabot Financial Europe Ltd who have passed to above debt to us for collection of the outstanding balance. As we have now been appointed their agent, you should now make sure you contact us and not Cabot. We are authorised to negotiate repayment of the debt with you. We would like to resolve this matter taking into account your current financial situation and working with you to agree repayment terms that are affordable with you. // We are able to discuss various repayment options, these include: // Repayment of the debt by realistic instalments over an agreed period, subject to your financial circumstances and periodic review. // Early settlement of the debt by payment of a single lump sum. Under these circumstances if may be possible to agree a significantly reduced figure to be accepted as a settlement on the account. // To avoid any further action it is important that you make contact with us on the telephone number above so we may work together to agree a solution in line with your personal circumstances. // You should be aware this debt will remain outstanding if ignored and we urge you to work with us to get the matter resolved as quickly as possible.
MAY Letter from Ruthbridge We have received no response to our previous attempts to establish contact with you regarding the unpaid defaulted account above. In an effort to amicably resolve the situation we are prepared to offer a discount to settle the balance of up to 70%, subject to criteria. The payment must be received in our offices no later than [less than a week's time!]. The payment would be accepted in settlement of your liability and will also ensure that you are not pursued for the remaining balance at any point in the future by us or our client. // If you fail to contact us to discuss this offer further, propose an alternative arrangement for the repayment of the balance or advise us of the reasons why you are unable to pay, we may return the account to our client who may look at alternative activity. // We would rather resolve this matter amicably and ask that you contact us to make this possible. If you are in a postion to take advantage of our settlement offer once your remittance has been received and cleared, our client where applicable will update the credit reference agencies to mark your account as partially settled.

Well, it didn't take them long to write again, but I'll be filing and ignoring this one as well. Seems the worst they can threaten is to send it back to Cabot "who may look at alternative activity"...

[Pip]

Re: Pip's UE Diary

Pip's account no. 3
Lloyds TSB
Start date: Jan 2004
Balance as of Dec 2011: approx. £13,000
Last "full" payment (i.e. within their stipulated minimum): Sep 2010 (approx).
Last DMP payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued November 2010.
Status: Last payment in Dec 2011 (smaller amount in Dec 2011 than the regular DMP payment had been up to that month)

2012
JAN CCA request letter sent to Lloyds TSB (Royal Mail delivery conf. printed)
JAN Letter from B*L*S*** Collections saying payment plan is now in arrears [payment into DMP reduced in December]. "To avoid action, blah, make payment with debit or CREDIT CARD. Contact CAB or CCCS."
JAN Identical letter to one above from B*L*S*** Collections, dated/arriving one day later
JAN Reply to CCA request received from Lloyds TSB -- Niddy says !

>>>> snipped -- see post #3 for rest

2017
DEC Letter from 1st Credit We are aware that you have raised a dispute/query on the above account. // What happens next // We will contact the original creditor to request any information they hold relating to a dispute in relation to this account. It may take several weeks for them to gather this information. We will suspend collections activity on this account whilst we endeavour to obtain these documents.
// What you can do: Please send us any information you have in relation to your dispute/query. This can include: details of what the dispute relates to; copies of any letters from the original creditor relating to your dispute; copies of any letters to the original creditor. // Please be assured that 1st Credit will assist you in resolving any outstanding queries.
2018
MAR Letter from Intrum 1st Credit is now Intrum. Pay this month and we will write off 90% of your balance. You should be aware that the period for recovering your debt by court action has expired, so we will not be issuing court proceedings to enforce payment. However, your debt still exists and legally we are within our rights to continue to ask you for repayment.

A first! A DCA being kind enough to tell me it's statute barred! Does this mean I can write to them to tell them to stop contacting me? Or will they say, "We're asking, not demanding, so we'll continue to write to you".

[Still Waving]

You could thank them for their letter, then say "But really - why go to the expense of asking?"

[Joanna Connolly Solicitors]

2018
MAR Letter from Intrum 1st Credit is now Intrum. Pay this month and we will write off 90% of your balance. You should be aware that the period for recovering your debt by court action has expired, so we will not be issuing court proceedings to enforce payment. However, your debt still exists and legally we are within our rights to continue to ask you for repayment.

I'm not sure what they mean when they say "within our rights to continue . . "

The FCA handbook CONC 7.15 sets out when they can and can't pursue a SB debt > https://www.handbook.fca.org.uk/hand...ate=2015-10-26

Although it may only apply if the borrower has told the debt owner the debt is SB (7.15.8) despite the fact they have told you that it is!

If their ongoing correspondence becomes tiresome maybe you need to tell them that the reason you're not paying is because the debt is Statute Barred.

CONC 7.15.8

R

01/04/2014

RP

A firm must not continue to demand payment from a customer after the customer has stated that he will not be paying the debt because it is statute barred.
[Note: paragraph 3.15b of DCG]

Di

[Pip]

Although it may only apply if the borrower has told the debt owner the debt is SB (7.15.8) despite the fact they have told you that it is!

If their ongoing correspondence becomes tiresome maybe you need to tell them that the reason you're not paying is because the debt is Statute Barred.

Thanks very much, Di!
I'll leave them to it for the time being. Will be nice if the other DCAs also write spelling it out for me! It was quite nice hearing it from the horse's mouth without me needing to tell them first ...

[Pip]

Re: Pip's UE Diary

Pip's account no. 6
RBS Mint
Start date: March 2000
Balance as of Dec 2011: approx. £5,000
Last "full" payment (i.e. within their stipulated minimum): Sep 2010 (approx).
Last DMP payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued Nov 2010.
Status: Last payment in Dec 2011 (smaller amount in Dec 2011 than the regular DMP payment had been up to that month)

2012
JAN CCA Request sent to RBS
JAN CCA received -- emailed Niddy -- Niddy says (post #92)

---- snipped, see post #6 for rest ----

2016
JUN Letters from RBS and Cabot in same envelope: RBS letter: We have sold your account to Cabot Financial (UK) Ltd. Cabot Financial (UK) Ltd has instructed Cabot Financial (Europe) Ltd to manage your account on its behalf. [Hmm. I wonder if this is relevant; copied it here just in case].
Cabot letter: Your experience with Cabot will be different // Phone us in the next 7 days and our personal consultant will work with you to find a mutual solution. // Have a great day and we look forward to hearing from you very soon.

---- snipped, see post #6 for rest ----

2018
MAR Letter from Cabot: Save £3,500 and close your account this Easter! This Easter Cabot are reaching out to more customers to help them become free of their accounts, and you're one of them! What you could pay: £1,500; Your saving: £3,500! We can talk to you about whether this offer is affordable for you and we can be flexible on how you can pay this amount depending on your situation.
2019
MAR Letter from Cabot: Welcome to Cabot. We are part of the Cabot Credit Management Group that own your Mint credit card. We have recently confirmed you are living at the above address and need to make you aware that we are now responsible for helping you manage your account and receiving your future payments. // Next Steps: We want the repayment process to be as easy as possible for you [...] Bottom of letter states: "Cabot Financial (Europe) Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Cabot Credit Management Group Ltd". Second enclosed sheet states: "Cabot Financial UK Ltd has acquired your account and is now the legal owner. This letter is a notice of assignment and it is important you keep this letter at all times. Cabot Financial UK Ltd has appointed Cabot Credit Management Group Ltd to act on its behalf in relation to all of its accounts purchased. Cabot Credit Management Group Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA and has appointed Cabot Financial (Europe) Ltd, Hillesden securities Ltd t/a dlc and Apax Credit management as appointed representatives. You will be provided with reasonable notice as to which firm in our Group is administering your account.

Hmm. This has appeared out of the blue, after not hearing from them for a year. Not sure why they're saying "Welcome to Cabot". This should be statute barred by now though. I won't be bothering to break my 6 year+ letter silence about this account ..!

[nightwatch]

I received a nice shiny 3 page leaflet from them, telling me all about their new and updated website. Where if I register my interest in repaying the account and use their budget planner ( read I +E ) I could have a £25 gift paid to any outstanding account as a welcome gift.

[The Tech Clerk]

£25 gift well that is not going to cost them anything, as any amount if paid to them over above they paid for an alledged debt is a gift to them. Going back to childish letters circulated by DCAs decade or so ago, (we are here to help you give us funds which we want to extort from you) come to mind. ?

[Joanna Connolly Solicitors]

Re: Pip's UE Diary

Pip's account no. 6
RBS Mint
Start date: March 2000
Balance as of Dec 2011: approx. £5,000
Last "full" payment (i.e. within their stipulated minimum): Sep 2010 (approx).
Last DMP payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued Nov 2010.
Status: Last payment in Dec 2011 (smaller amount in Dec 2011 than the regular DMP payment had been up to that month)

2012
JAN CCA Request sent to RBS
JAN CCA received -- emailed Niddy -- Niddy says (post #92)
JAN Sent Missing Prescribed Terms letter
FEB Received letter from RBS: We have met our obligations under s78(1). We see no reason to enter into further correspondence about alleged CCA breaches. We do not consider this account to be in dispute. Contact CAB or similar if you continue to doubt the veracity of what we have told you about our having complied with our obligations under s78(1).
MAR Letter from RBS: (and a terse one at that): THIS IS A FINAL DEMAND FOR PAYMENT // We currently require £xxxxxx.xx from you. If we do not receive payment within the next 14 days, the account will be sent to a debt collection agent. Even at this late stage, this can be prevented and we are still willing to discuss a payment programme.
APR Letter from Allied International Credit (AIC): Your account has been passed to us by RBS Card Services to act as a collection agent and we will now be dealing with your a/c. // We offer a flexible approach [...] different options that suit a wide range of personal circumstances [...] You may have been unable to find a suitable repayment plan on this account previously and we believe that we can help you repay the account. [nice!] We will be in contact with you during the next seven days by letter and/or phone in order to discuss your repayment options in detail. In the meantime, if you want to contact us you can phone us on a Glasgow number even though the address on the back of the envelope is a Bristol one. [Thanks for the offer but I don't think I'll bother.]
APR Sent Account Sold In Dispute letter
APR Letter from Allied International Credit (AIC): We note that you are requesting a copy of the consumer credit agreement relating to the above account. We are happy to do this for you; however, our client, RBS Card [sic], requires a fee of £1.00 for a copy agreement. Should you require copy statements a fee of £10.00 will be required. Please send fee this directly to AIC.
NOV Letter from Fredrickson International Ltd: Your details have been passed to us by MINT to act as a collection agent and we will now be dealing with your account. // Please telephone us to discuss your repayment options in detail. // If we do not hear from you we will be in contact with you by letter and/or phone.
NOV Sent Account Sold In Dispute letter
NOV Letter from Fredrickson International Ltd: Our client confirms they complied with your CCA request (copy of CCA enclosed). // Our client believes the outstanding balance is lawfully due to them. We confirm that we are acting in good faith and our actions have been lawful. We and our client deny harassment and any such claim will be vigorously defended and you are put to strict proof of such serious allegations. // This matter relates to a debt that you are contractually obliged to pay. As we have no record of a valid dispute in this matter, and as we have clarified our position and that of our client we look forward to hearing your payment proposals within the next 21 days. If we do not hear from you in that time collection activity may resume.
NOV Letter from Fredrickson International Ltd: Dated one day later than the above Thank you for your recent letter. We have referred the matter to our client and will revert to you as soon as we have received instructions. In the meantime, we confirm that we have placed the account on hold.
DEC Letter from Fredrickson: We wrote recently and invited you to contact us to discuss repayment proposals but we have failed to receive a satisfactory response from you. // To avoid further debt recovery action being taken you must contact us within the next seven days. // blah default registered on your credit file may adversely affect future applications for credit.
DEC Replied to Fredricksons referring them back to their November "account on hold" letter
DEC Letter from Bryan Carter Solicitors: Fredrickson have asked us to write to you in connection with this outstanding debt as they have failed to receive a satisfactory response from you in their requests for payment. Freds would still like to set up an affordable repayment arrangement with you and you should contact them to discuss repayment options. // Please note that if you do not contact Fredricksons to discuss repayment arrangements further debt recovery action may be taken against you. // This is a serious matter and you may wish to take independent legal advice.
DEC Letter to Bryan Carter referring them to previous Freds letter
DEC Letter from Fredrickson: Despite a letter from Bryan Carter Solicitors you have failed to discharge a debt with our client. // We are prepared to offer you one final opportunity to pay before recommending to our client that further debt recovery action be taken against you.
2013
JAN Letter from Fredrickson: Our client confirms that they complied with your request for CCA documents in January 2012. // Our client believes the outstanding balance is lawfully due to them. // This matter relates to a debt that you are contractually obliged to pay. As we have no record of a valid dispute in this matter, and as we have clarified our position and that of our client we look forward to hearing your payment proposals within the next 21 days. If we do not hear from you in that time collection activity may resume.
APR Letter from RBS Mint: Our collection agent has been unable to contact you or agree a suitable repayment plan therefore your account details have been passed on to Wescot Credit Services Ltd [good grief -- third account that's now with that lot] to act as our new collection agent. Any account queries should be addressed to this agent until further notice. // Wescot will contact you in the next 14 days to confirm receipt of your details. They will then look to discuss your repayment options in detail.
2016
JUN Letters from RBS and Cabot in same envelope: RBS letter: We have sold your account to Cabot Financial (UK) Ltd. Cabot Financial (UK) Ltd has instructed Cabot Financial (Europe) Ltd to manage your account on its behalf. [Hmm. I wonder if this is relevant; copied it here just in case].
Cabot letter: Your experience with Cabot will be different // Phone us in the next 7 days and our personal consultant will work with you to find a mutual solution. // Have a great day and we look forward to hearing from you very soon.
JUN Letter from Cabot [less than a week after the last one]: We really want to help you // Your personal consultant is waiting // What could happen if you don't talk to us? -- Credit file affected // -- We may have to consider other ways to recover your debt // -- You'll receive calls and letters until you contact us // -- Outstanding amount will remain due. Have a great day ...
JUL Letter from Cabot: What you should do now... We have explained that there are options available and we want to help you find the most suitable solution. We do need to hear from you so that we can help you take positive steps towards agreeing an affordable repayment plan and becoming free of this debt. If you're having difficulties paying it is important to tell us. // Your account may be reported on your credit file and may affect your ability to obtain credit now and in the future [Bit late for that!] When you start making payments on your account you will begin to reduce the balance shown on your credit report. // 3 simple steps: Gather details of your income and expenditure, call us on 0345, work with us to agree an affordable repayment plan. If we do not hear from you we will continue to contact you to help you resolve your outstanding balance.
AUG Letter from Cabot: Our offer to you // We understand it can be difficult to clear your account in a short period of time ... // We believe that we understand debt and we wanted to share our thoughts with you. [??!]. We will work with you to understand your financial situation. If we can find an opportunity for you to repay this account in the short term, then we will help you make that happen. We own your account and are prepared to reduce the balance in order to help you become fee of this debt sooner. If you would like to take up our offer [they haven't mentioned any figures or offer], then call us. If this is not suitable then you need to advise us of your proposal to clear your account. This account may affect your credit rating and ability to get credit in future. Ask our team if your account is registered[??]
SEP Letter from Cabot: Despite repeated attempts to contact you, we have been unable to gain your commitment to repay your debt. // The balance is due and we have advised you of several options that are available ... // You can manage your account by repaying an amount on a monthly basis ... // You should be aware that this account may be on your credit file as an outstanding debt ... // If you start making payments towards your account then your balance will reduce. // If we don't hear from you we will continue to contact you so that we can try and help you take steps towards being free of this debt.
OCT Letter from Cabot: Your Next Steps ... We have tried to contact you ... Please contact us // Our aim is to help you take steps towards being free of this debt and we want to work with you to make that happen // If you give us details of any income you receive together with your bills and other priority expenditure, we will try to set up a repayment plan that suits you. We hope to hear from you soon.
NOV Letter from Cabot: Give our Personal Payment Plans a try / So far we haven't had the opportunity to speak to you and find out what kind of plan might suit you. Which is why we have put together that we think will help you pay off your account. // Is this affordable for you? [Pay X quid a month for TEN YEARS!] Once you have cleared your account, you will receive a letter to let you know your account is closed.
2017
FEB Letter from Cabot: Take positive steps to repaying. You have a balance waiting to be paid. This account may be appearing on your credit file. Having a defaulted account showing on your credit file can impact your ability to get credit. You may have difficulty renting a property, getting a mortgage or taking out a phone contract. // By starting to pay back your account, the amount shown on your credit file will start to go down and can start to repair your credit file. // What you could do: pay in full; monthly repayment plan; discount. If this account does appear on your credit file we can talk to you about how each of these options would be reflected on it. Talk to us. Please contact us within the next 3 weeks; we will be trying to contact you.
MAR Letter from Cabot: We would like to hear from you as we'd like to help you clear your account. We will tailor your repayment around your budget, so that it is fair and sustainable. // We've enclosed and income and expenditure form ... // If you would rather be free of this account quickly and could make a partial payment towards the total balance, then let us know. We can offer you a discount on your account if its [sic] affordable for you. Please contact us within the next 4 weeks to discuss your account; we will be trying to contact you.
APR Letter from Cabot: Tell us your budget, save £50. We want to help you start positively on your journey to repaying this account. Once you start paying back your account, we will reduce your balance by £50. // All you need to do is call us and fill our a budget form, we will make sure that you can afford important things like bills, food and rent then work out what spare money you have. // We will then discuss with what [sic] you are comfortable paying from this amount and set up a repayment plan tailored to suit you. // Call us... 4 weeks to claim this offer.
MAY Letter from Cabot: We are hoping a new approach could help you be free of this debt. You may have questions about who we are, how your account got to us, or what can be done to move forward with your account. We believe our team will be able to help. // If you contact us, our consultants can help you understand what is happening with your account and they are experts in setting up repayment plans that fit your individual circumstances. // Our goal is to understand what will work best for you and we will always ensure that what we agree is affordable for you. Talk to us.
JUN Letter from Cabot: How we can help // We help thousands of customers set up affordable repayment plans each month and we would like to do the same for you. An illustrative example... £1000 balance, £50 disposable income a month ... pay £16.67 a month for five years // These solutions are for illustrative purposes only. Any solution we can offer you will be based on what you tell us about your financial situation and any goals you may have to repay your account. // Talk to us // We understand that every customer's situation is different and once we know more about your income and expenses, we can work with you to find the most suitable solution for you. Of course we will ensure that all of your priority bills are up to date and that any repayment plan we agree is affordable for you.
JUL Letter from Cabot: As we have still not been successful in finding an appropriate solution, we are considering sending your account to an external debt collection company and urge you to contact us within the next fourteen days. // Is there anything else we can do to answer your questions or to help you with your account? // If your circumstances allow, we may be able to offer a discount that would allow you to be completely free of this debt. If you can't afford to do this then we can look to arrange a suitable monthly repayment plan over a longer term that suits your situation. // Please contact us as soon as possible as your account could be sent to an external debt collection company.
JUL Letter from Cabot: Your balance is waiting to be paid. You need to repay this amount. There are different options to choose from: Pay in Full "Why should I pay in full?" You can pay off your account completely over a few months, if this account is on your credit file once we've received your final payment we'll update you credit file to 'satisfied'. // Discount offer "How much of a discount?" It will depend on how much you can afford. You can either make an offer yourself, or talk to us about your affordability first so we can offer you a discounted amount. "Can I pay this off over a few months?" Yes, if this is the right plan for you. "How will this affect my credit file?" If this account is on your credit file, we will update your credit file to show 'partially settled' with the amount set to 'nil', this will show that the amount has been paid off but with a smaller amount. // Monthly repayment plan "How much will I have to pay?" Complete a budget form and we will work out a plan based on what you have spare each month. We will never ask you to pay back more than you can afford. "How will this affect my credit file?" We'll update your credit file each month as you start paying off your account, once you've made the final payment the account will be updated to 'satisfied'. // Contact us -- call us or email us to discuss your account.
AUG Letter from Cabot: Your balance is waiting to be paid. You need to repay this amount. Different payment options for you: Pay in full You can break this up over a few months. Monthly repayment plan Pay off your account on a monthly basis at an amount that suits your budget. Discount Get a discount on your account, and pay it off in one payment or over a few months. // Where your account is showing on your credit file, once you have paid off your account in full it will be updated as "satisfied". We will update your credit file to show any regular payments. If you get a discount on your account, your credit file will be updated to "partially settled" with balance set to "nil". Contact us to discuss your options. We will make sure any plan you agree is affordable for you.
SEP Letter from Cabot: We would like to give you the opportunity to be free of this account, so we've come up with an alternative solution for you. We can help you be free of this debt. What you owe: £4,000 --> What you could pay: £1000 --> Amount saved: £3000. We do want what's best for you, so if you want to take us up on the offer we need to make sure that you're up to date on all your priority bills and make sure that this is affordable for you. // We could also be flexible with how you pay this amount dependant [sic] on your situation. // If this isn't an option for you we have lots of different repayment plans that you can choose from, we can tailor them to your situation. // Claim this offer, don't miss out // Call us in the next 14 days to take advantage of this offer.
OCT Letter from Cabot: You need to repay your account with us, your balance is £XXXX. You can set up a repayment plan with us and pay off your account at a sum you can afford. // How much will I have to pay? You can work your repayment around your budget. Complete and send us the enclosed income and expenditure form. With it you can work out how much money you could spare per month on repaying your account. You can also do this over the phone. // We can discuss with you what amount you would feel comfortable paying, as we understand there are other things that need to come first. // If you would rather be free of this account quickly and could make a lump sum payment towards the total balance, then let us know. We can offer you a discount on your account if it's affordable for you; this will appear as a partial settlement on your credit file where it is showing, with the balance being shown as 'nil'. Talk to us Call us on xxx to discuss your options. Our Customer Consultants can answer any questions you might have and offer you guidance. We will be trying to contact you; so please get in touch soon.
NOV Letter from Cabot: Save £x,xxxx.xx on your account. We would like you to be free of this account with us, so we want to offer you a 25% discount! If you pay this amount you will be completely free of this debt. // Pay £xxxx to close this account with us. You can either do this in one lump sum or over several months depending on what's affordable for you. // If you choose to take us up on this offer, where your account is showing on your credit file, when you make this final payment we will update your record as 'Partially Settled', with a 'nil' balance outstanding. This will indicate the amount has been cleared but with a lesser amount than the balance. Call us and talk to one of our Customer Consultants about this offer. If a discount is not affordable for you at this time, they can help you set up a monthly repayment plan. // Contact us within the next 4 weeks to take advantage of this offer; we will try to contact you so you don't miss out.
DEC Letter from RBS Mint: Important information about ring-fencing. The MINT card you use is provided by The Royal Bank of Scotland ("RBS plc"). We need to let you know about some changes we're making to the way our business in structured. // Your banking business will transfer to Adam & Company plc which will then be renamed The Royal Bank of Scotland plc at the time the Ring-fencing Transfer Scheme (RFTS) takes effect. As a result of the RFTS, you'll see a change of our Companies House and Financial Services Register details on the communications and documents you receive from us. Your banking relationship will stay the same. etc.
DEC Letter from Cabot: Next steps // We have tried to contact you on a number of occasions so that we can understand your financial situation and discuss a payment plan that is affordable and fair. Because we have been unable to contact you, we are now going to instruct a company called Resolvecall to visit you at your home so that they can put you back in touch with us. If you would prefer to speak to us directly then please call us within the next 7 days. If you need financial help then we can point you towards organisations that provide free independent financial advice.
2018
MAR Letter from Cabot: Save £3,500 and close your account this Easter! This Easter Cabot are reaching out to more customers to help them become free of their accounts, and you're one of them! What you could pay: £1,500; Your saving: £3,500! We can talk to you about whether this offer is affordable for you and we can be flexible on how you can pay this amount depending on your situation.
2019
MAR Letter from Cabot: Welcome to Cabot. We are part of the Cabot Credit Management Group that own your Mint credit card. We have recently confirmed you are living at the above address and need to make you aware that we are now responsible for helping you manage your account and receiving your future payments. // Next Steps: We want the repayment process to be as easy as possible for you [...] Bottom of letter states: "Cabot Financial (Europe) Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Cabot Credit Management Group Ltd". Second enclosed sheet states: "Cabot Financial UK Ltd has acquired your account and is now the legal owner. This letter is a notice of assignment and it is important you keep this letter at all times. Cabot Financial UK Ltd has appointed Cabot Credit Management Group Ltd to act on its behalf in relation to all of its accounts purchased. Cabot Credit Management Group Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA and has appointed Cabot Financial (Europe) Ltd, Hillesden securities Ltd t/a dlc and Apax Credit management as appointed representatives. You will be provided with reasonable notice as to which firm in our Group is administering your account.

I'm interested to see that latest letter which "Cabot" sent to you

Di

[Pip]

Diana Mayhew

Hello Di, here it is! Pretty strange that they put in small print on the third page that it's a notice of assignment, even though they bought it nearly three years ago! They also like to tie things in knots about their diverse and confusingly similarly yet inconsistently named array of companies ...

It could simply be that they've been exhausted the entire merry-go-round of letters without a response from me and they're starting again from square one!

[Pip]

Re: Pip's UE Diary

Pip's account no. 6
RBS Mint
Start date: March 2000
Balance as of Dec 2011: approx. £5,000
Last "full" payment (i.e. within their stipulated minimum): Sep 2010 (approx).
Last DMP payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued Nov 2010.
Status: Last payment in Dec 2011 (smaller amount in Dec 2011 than the regular DMP payment had been up to that month)

2012
JAN CCA Request sent to RBS
JAN CCA received -- emailed Niddy -- Niddy says (post #92)

---- snipped, see post no. 6 for rest

2018
MAR Letter from Cabot: Save £3,500 and close your account this Easter! This Easter Cabot are reaching out to more customers to help them become free of their accounts, and you're one of them! What you could pay: £1,500; Your saving: £3,500! We can talk to you about whether this offer is affordable for you and we can be flexible on how you can pay this amount depending on your situation.
2019
MAR Letter from Cabot: Welcome to Cabot. We are part of the Cabot Credit Management Group that own your Mint credit card. We have recently confirmed you are living at the above address and need to make you aware that we are now responsible for helping you manage your account and receiving your future payments. // Next Steps: We want the repayment process to be as easy as possible for you [...] Bottom of letter states: "Cabot Financial (Europe) Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Cabot Credit Management Group Ltd". Second enclosed sheet states: "Cabot Financial UK Ltd has acquired your account and is now the legal owner. This letter is a notice of assignment and it is important you keep this letter at all times. Cabot Financial UK Ltd has appointed Cabot Credit Management Group Ltd to act on its behalf in relation to all of its accounts purchased. Cabot Credit Management Group Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA and has appointed Cabot Financial (Europe) Ltd, Hillesden securities Ltd t/a dlc and Apax Credit management as appointed representatives. You will be provided with reasonable notice as to which firm in our Group is administering your account.
MAR Letter from Cabot: Pay 10% of balance to close your account with Cabot. We want to give you an opportunity to close your account with Cabot. With a one-off payment you could be free of your account. We would like to discuss whether this offer is affordable for you. We can discuss your situation with you, and if it's more affordable we can arrange for you to break up this discounted offer over a period of time. Once you have made your final payment we will send you a letter to confirm your account has been closed and we will stop contacting you about this account.

Cabot giving an even more "generous" offer to be rid of this statute barred account. With regard to this account, I have not once been in contact with Cabot since they bought the account in June 2016. They have started sending text messages to my main mobile which is a new development. When I changed address 10+ years ago, I gave them a new secondary mobile phone number which was for a PAYG SIM in an old phone that I had on silent all the time ..! So I'm not sure where they have my proper number from. Continuing to ignore anyway, and they've only sent two messages since October. Bit weird though!

[Still Waving]

Edited:

Similarly I have replied to only one of Cabot's letters since they were assigned an account in June 2014. This was one where the OC had confirmed in writing that they could not provide a copy of the original agreement. I told Cabot that in 2014, and they responded with the usual blah about the debt still being payable. They sent only two letters after that over the ensuing 4 years.

They have been quiet since last summer and, since the account became Statute Barred almost a year ago, I thought they had realised that and given up. However, they recently referred the account to Global Debt Recovery Ltd, who have now "escalated the account to our Collections Department".

Needless to say, I have not responded to GDR either, and await their Collections Department's letter.

[Pip]

Cabot have sent me a text message saying they wrote to me recently "regarding an available offer".

In another curious development, my current account bank (with whom I've never had any borrowing) has written to say that after consideration they have decided to remove the basic overdraft facility. This was a £500 overdraft in place that is offered to customers as standard with that current account. It's been useful a few times where I've inadvertently overdrawn towards the end of a month, but I've hardly used it. Just seems strange that they've decided to stop this at this time when the debts are statute barred, whereas the whole time prior to this when were things were a mess with arrears etc. they kept it in place. I'll just have to make sure it never accidentally goes overdrawn ...