Debt barclaycard, vanquis and Littlewoods

[Claire1979!!]

Hi all trying to help my cousin after her break up and trying to sort out her finances..

 

She has a barclaycard debt  Default Balance £3,619.00 

Account started 24/07/2015

Default Date 05/07/2019

Last payment made 38 months ago.

In the hands of link for around 18 months 

 

She has a vanquis debt Default Balance £3,372.00 

Account started 24/07/2015 

Default Date 31/01/2020

Last payment made 30 months ago.
In the hands of lowell   
 

SHOP DIRECT FINANCE COMPANY LTD Default Balance  £1,054.00  

Account started   11/11/2016

Default Balance  £1,054.00  

Default Date 30/03/2023

Last payment made 14 months ago.

Now in hands of lowell. Annoying 2 days after I tried to make a small payment in hope to stop it going to debt collectors.

 

My plan originally was to make a small payment to shop direct going forward monthly however now it’s gone to lowell. They have sent an email with both the vanquis and shop direct balance on. And I’m concerned if I try to pay the 1 they will take money off both and start the default date at a newer date on the older debt. 

The first 2 will be off credit report 2025/2026 but the newest one will be 2029. How would you advise I should I proceed? 
 

in the process of clearing 3 credit cards with a low balance which have not been defaulted as well and this should be finished and clear within 3 months 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[London1971]

The one thing that matters most here,

 

Has your cousin move since taking the debt out? If so she needs to write to Lowell and Link by post advising them of her new address. 

 

Once she has done this, just ignore everything unless it's a letter before claim or a claimform.  Ignore all calls and emails. Do not pay them a penny

[Claire1979!!]

No she’s lived at same address for about 10 years.

 

There are debts to a water company too but I’m sorting them out. 
 

Facts are her and her partner have spilt he’s left her right in it. 
 

Shes working part time and now claiming uc. So things are getting there. She’s buried her head for the last year. I’ve aimed to clear the things that haven’t defaulted first. And are making more than the minimum repayment to those. So at least I can repair some of her credit rating it’s only 284 at the moment. But once her 2 credit cards are clear then I will be having her to spend a limited amount on 1 monthly and pay that straight off. 
 

I honestly thought I could make a small payment towards the shop direct so it wouldn’t end up in hands of debt collectors but that’s not to be. Plus that will now be on her file for 6 more years 

 

 

[dx100uk]

water bill is the priority here

current one still with the water co?

 

pers id not be paying any DCA anything.

 

 

[Claire1979!!]

No last years water gone to debt collectors. I’ve been paying this years direct to water company. But I’ve been told as soon. As she pays 6 months paying there’s a fund that will clear half of the arrears and after another 6 months of payments clear the rest. 

[London1971]

Don't pay a penny to the DCA at all, it won't make any difference to her credit rating and will spin out the statute barred date.  In a few years they will be Statute Barred and also off her Credit file.  Don't obsess about Credit Score either.

 

The main things are priority such as Rent, Council Tax, Food etc.  If she's on her own she can claim Council tax discount also

[Claire1979!!]

Do I need to write to debt collectors to try and bat them off at all 

[London1971]

Nope, don't do anything, ignore anything they send you unless it's a letter before claim or a claimform. Then you come here for advice.

 

It's more than possible nothing will happen anyway, out of about 20 debts I had with DCA's only 4 ever went to a CCJ and that was only because I'd failed to inform them of my new address.

 

Ignore any calls or emails, but always read your post, just in case it's one of the above.

[Claire1979!!]

Cheers you’ve put my mind at ease for her now. She’s not been very organised and I’ve stressed she’s got to keep all mail and pass it to me. 
 

Lowell are sending emails at present 

[dx100uk]

block, and bounce.

 

dx