How can stop I the calls

[lankeela]

from a debt collecting agency, its an old debt over 12 years old. They call about once a month and keep sending letters that they try to make look like court orders. When they ask me to confirm my address and date of birth I tell them I live at 10 Downing Street and they get a bit ***, but keep calling each month. It has been passed from firm to firm and although it is statute barred they keep calling. I don't really mind but I'd like to help them save on their phone bill. And please I know the obvious answer is to pay it but that ain't gonna happen.

[lankeela]

Found this which is quite useful:

http://www.insolvency...he_limitation_act.php

I don't really mind them calling, it makes a change to talk to a real person rather than go on Chatterbank.

[Androcles]

Check your phone to see if it has call barring from a particular number!

Alternatively, send them a letter detailing exactly the legal position, littering it with phrases such as "I have been advised that......."

Finally say I have given you a full explanation of the situation and am now telling you that I will not take any further calls from you on this subject. If you continue to call me, I will make a complaint to the Telephone company that I am being stalked from your number, or words to that effect.

[R1Geezer]

well, I know this is radical, but have you considered paying the debt? After all you are moaning about getting contacted, are they just supposed to let you welch on it?

[factor-fiction]

Are you sure it's statute barred. Just because someom=ne refuses to pay for 12 years isn't enough to make it statute barred. And what's the debt for- some can't be statute barred

[lankeela]

Old credit card, not heard from Barclaycard for many years, this is about the third company that have bought the debt.

[joggerjayne]

When they call, just keep saying ...

"Yep, sue me. I will claim my legal costs from you when I win"

"No, seriously, sue me."

"Please sue me. That's what you do, yes?"

"I want you to sue me, because when I am awarded costs against you, I can phone you up and ask when you are going to pay"

"Helloooo ... haven't you sued me yet?"

[DSJ]

When they next call, don't hang up. Just put your receiver under a cushion & leave it there. Leave it there all night if necessary because they will be paying for the call & won't be able to make another until the line is clear again.

This was a tip once told to me by a policeman to stop somebody making nuisance calls. It worked!

[factor-fiction]

Yes, saying "I'll just get him/her" and then putting the phone aside may deter some callers but it is unlikely to make the debt go away. How may years is ",many years"? If the debt has been sold on it doesn't matter- the debt is still valid unless no-one contacted you for 6 or 7 years (forgotten which) and provided you kept them informed of any change of address. However if you are absolutely certain it is statute barred then follow the advice given by androcoles, joggerjayne, vibrasphere and DSJ.

[joggerjayne]

If it's over 12 years old, it's definitely statute barred.

Most debts are barred after 6 years. It only needs 12 years if it was a contract made "under seal" (somewhat unusual).

It's not your responsibility to keep them advised of your address.

[Skyline D]

Statute barred just means they can't take legal action. It doesn't wipe the debt or prevent the owner of the debt from asking for repayment.

So unless you can convince a court that the calls are nuisance then you have to put up with them.