Control Account PLC Debt

[medicine]

Hi

Can someone please advise me on how to handle this debt?

 

When I was at university I borrowed some money to pay my rent as my student loan had not been paid.

 

My loan didn't arrive until the end of the academic year

 

so after the late fees added on the amount owed came to £295, which I could not afford to pay.

 

I moved house after finishing uni, about two years ago, but they have managed to track me down.

 

I have ignored several letters from the university threatening legal action,

and this morning I got a letter from control account plc threatening serious legal consequences if I do not pay within 5 days.

 

What would you advise me to do?

 

Thanks for any advise in advance!

[dx100uk]

ignore them

 

they have no legal powers

 

they are NOT BAILIFFS.

 

penalty fees are a penalty and are reclaimable too

 

so I think they are just chancing their arm.

 

dx

[medicine]

Thanks dx

Just got another letter this morning, it says act now - this won't go away

It states the letter is a notice of intention to apply to the court, and that I have one final chance to settle the debt before they seek to apply. I apparently have seven days.

Seems like they're just trying to intimidate me, what would you advise, keep ignoring them?

[dx100uk]

oh yes

 

just if.mights & maybe's

 

read it properly

 

dx

[medicine]

Just got another letter this morning. It says:

 

Without prejudice.

 

We have now been instructed us to apply for a civil claim against you to recover your debt. If we are successful you will have to pay legal costs, interest etc

 

You have 48 hours, if you don't pay we will go ahead with the civil claim without contacting you.

 

What do you think I should do, still carry on ignoring it?

 

Thanks

[dx100uk]

instructed does not mean WILL.

£295 is a very small sum to bother with court.

 

have you ever spoken to the uni about this directly since they first wrote?

 

it might well be that they have not investigated the facts behind why you had this loan

being that the late approval of your main student loan.

 

so really it was out of your control.

 

don't forget these debt chasers just simple get a spreadsheet of details to fire off at

they don't investigate the debt

so p'haps the uni placed it out to farm without investigation themselves?

 

dx

[medicine]

Just got another letter this morning, almost a month after they gave me 48 hours to pay before court action.

This one has a list of things they say they may rely on in court, listing a contract, credit application and invoices. They then claim they will provide me copies on request. I doubt they have any of those things though. They say that I need to provide a full written response to the claim within 14 days.

 

One thing that confused me is that at the end of the letter it says if I choose to pay now that I should send a cheque made payable to the university. I was under the impression that debt collection agencies purchase the debt for a few pennies on the pound and then fraudulently collect it all from the debtor. If this is the case why are they asking for a cheque made payable to the university? Does control account PLC do things differently?

 

I was thinking of writing a response asking them to provide proof that I owe control account PLC any money, which they wont be able to do, and warning them that if they continue harassing me as a third party interloper that I will take them to court. But this response relies on them having bought the debt, which seems unlikely if they are asking for a cheque made payable to the uni.

[dx100uk]

dca's can be involved in a debt in two ways

 

they chase for the OC

 

they buy the debt, and fleece the debtors for the whole amount, after paying pennies

 

ignore them

 

dx