Help! Re: Credit rating and legal issues

About "debt recovery" and legal issues.

I lived for 3 months in a housing association flat (a hellhole, but thats beside the point) and moved out February 2005. In December 2005 I recieved a letter from them saying I was £411 in arrears, they also said they had contact me in February, which they did not.

I immediately wrote back saying I disputed and please send a copy of letter from Feb and the dates of the arrears. I got a letter back in mid Dec saying they had no copy of previous correspondence as the person who was to have sent it no longer works for them. They also said they had "proven" I am in arrears so I must pay. (Still did not provide the dates). I was out of the country and started a new job and did not get back to them right away. (It's been about 6 weeks since their last letter).

This morning I received a notice from a "debt recovery agency" saying I have 7 days to pay the money.

I have written to both the housing assocaition and debt recovery saying that I dispute it, they have no records, and that I have been trying in good faith to resolve this.

The debt thingie threatens me with court though. And, having only lived here a year, my debt is already very fragile. If I pay the money, which I do not believe I owe, I will save my credit, but lose a lot of money, which I will never get back when they are proven wrong. If I don't pay, my credit is shot to shit.

I did not have a bank account at the time I lived there and would have paid in cash. Although I had receipts then, I don't now.

Suggestions?

Can you not go into the housing association offices in person and speak to someone? And ask for the evidence you require? A breakdown of the outstanding bill?

I understand your problem fully.

If you dispute it and refuse to pay anything the debt recovery company will just go ahead and register a county court judgement against you and then your credit will be screwed up.

If you tell the collection company that you can only afford to pay a small amount per month they legally have to take it as you have offered to make full payment over time.

Your best bet is to a) visit the housing association b) speak to the citizens advice bureau as soon as possible.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.