bad debt

[itsahardlife]

about ten years ago i ran up two credit cards at 2000 pounds on each and also a bank loan for 1000 pounds i had a really good job and then my girlfriend had a baby and because or complications she was really poorly and inintensive care for a month the company i worked for gave me my p45 when i returned to work and i could not afford to pay them back so i didnt i have never applied for credit since they wrote letters but i ignored them i now regret not paying them and am willing to pay to them but i dont know how to go about it or will it be wrote off by now

[PrinceRainie]

If you still owe the money then you should still have been receiving letters either directly from the lender or possibly from a debt collection agency. Either way, they will still want their money.
Even if the debt has been "written off" they will still chase you for payment. If they did do this, then they would probably have issued you with a default notice to you (which would appear on your credit file as a T8 or default)
The debt is still payable even after this point. If you have not responded to the defualt notice then eventually after several further attempts to contact you, the lenders may eventually go to the County Court and seek repayment through a County Court Judgement (CCJ).
Basically, give the original lender a call or write them a letter offering them some kind of repayment plan. It would be unusual if they said no, as any repayment is better than none in their eyes.
Good luck

[innocenti]

First of all DO NOT CONTACT THEM. How long ago were the debts? When did you last make payment? If you last made a payment over 6 years ago then the debt is statute barred and cannot be chased through the courts. However if they got a CCJ then the debt can be enforced.

If you feel that the debts were over 6 years ago or close to it then do not contact them and if they contact you ignore it. Say the debts are 5years and 5 months old and you write to them offering a payment plan then you are resetting the clock and making the debts "new" again.

Personally I would just leave it and wait for them to contact you. If the debts are statute barred with no CCJ in place then you dont have to repay the money (legally).

[itsahardlife]

hi the debts are ten years old it has been a few years since a debt collection letter came tto my parents house because thats where we were living at the time but my mum phoned them up and told them she has not seen me for ten years

[innocenti]

If there isnt a CCJ then they cannot make you pay. Personally I would leave it and see if they contact you.