Mum and son 'harassed for a 27-year-old debt' they say do not owe
by Nikki Jarvis
nikki.jarvis@essnmedia.co.uk
A Sanderstead man and his elderly mum are being hounded for a debt – which they claim is 27 years old.
The debt of £1,280 allegedly relates to an Abbey National account Mike Parsons had in 1982.
Mr Parsons, of Arkwright Road, is adamant he has never owed anybody any money and is furious he and his mum, Margaret, 77, are being sent letters asking for payment by debt collectors CapQuest.
Mrs Parsons, of Foxcomb, New Addington, started receiving the letters calling for payment in June this year.
She said: "Mike hasn't lived here for over 30 years and I was scared they would catch me unawares one day and try to come into my house."
CapQuest tracked down Mike's address in a way he claims left him feeling "tricked and conned".
He said: "Someone rang up saying I had a telegram waiting for me – who gets telegrams these days?
"So I said 'no, you are from CapQuest' and from that moment they have known where I live.
"I have got a Porsche on the driveway and now I am constantly scared someone is out there trying to tow it away.
"I want to go to court and face them because the judge would laugh in their faces.
"I would rather pay out £2,000 to my solicitors before I give them a penny.
"Why on earth would Abbey National have not chased me up for this debt 20 years ago?"
Mike is concerned for other people who may be going through the same problem.
He said: "People like me are all right because I can afford a solicitor, but what about the vulnerable single mothers and old people?
"They just get so scared they sign up for payment plans when they might not even owe anything."
Mike's solicitors have sent out two letters to CapQuest to deal with the matter.
But the group operations director for CapQuest (which has bought the debt), Tommy Musgrave, doesn't believe the debt is 27 years old.
He said: "We believe he last used his Abbey National account 12 years ago.
"We have not received anything from his solicitors – CapQuest will, and do, speak with representatives of debtors, whether they are solicitors, debt management companies or debt counsellors.
"We have not been 'harassing' either Mr Parsons or his mother and merely asked her if we could speak to the individual with whom we have business.
"Any correspondence we sent would have been addressed personally to Mr Parsons."
11 Comments
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by Kevin Hall, Caterham Reigate Toowoomba
Sunday, December 27 2009, 7:44AM
“Banks etc will often sell bad debtsr for 15% of face value before writing it off.
However knowing the intimidating tactics debt collectors use I would suggest going to see the Manager of your nearest Abbey or other former instuitutional lender and inform them that any negative action accasioned to you, your family or property will be reciprocated personally to them as employers, in kind, of such agents.
Nothing more and nothing less and then do it and make them accountable.
Did they mind the state bailing them out so you too can come it with any bank who depended on our collateral financial backing.
Make them thinjk twice about whom they offload or sell bad debts to.”
by Mr.Angry, Purley
Friday, November 27 2009, 4:55PM
“I was chased for 3 years for a parking ticket (non council) by a private firm who kept saying they will send someone to visit me.
Without a County order you can treat them like a trespasser and no one came. It cost them a fortune in mail!”
by Oonagh Dennehy, South Norwood
Thursday, November 26 2009, 2:37PM
“Please keep us informed, it sounds a very interesting case.”
by thisisengland, net
Thursday, November 26 2009, 2:10PM
“Keep records of all correspondence and contact, then go to a solicitor and make a claim for "emotional stress" from their harassment. Not only will they leave you alone, you might also get a pretty penny out of them. Turn the tables on them!”
by Mad, South Norwood
Thursday, November 26 2009, 6:42AM
“That will be because when you closed the account you were 1p in debt. Due to bank charges, this will now have spiralled to £1200 pounds, but as the supreme court has said, this is perfectly fine and legal. I am sure your solicitor has advised you on statue barred. Bailiffs will try anything and they have a weird way of finding your address.”