Resolved Question

I'm British, backpacking abroad, a letter arrived asking for payment of a debt or face court, what can I do?

OK, i am from the UK, but currently travelling, I will be travelling for at least the next 6 months depending on funds. I called my parents back home and they tell me I have a letter from a solicitor demanding £1200 for an over payment of my wages 3 years ago in my old old job (first i have heard of it!). They want the money in 7 days or they will issue court proceedings. I don't have the money to deal with from where i am it as i am working here and there to make money, the pay is poor and i can only phone home once a month for a short time.
I told my parents to send the letter back saying i do not live at this address and they do not have a forwarding address because that is true. I don't have a UK address any more.
What is likely to happen? What can they do in my absence? What is by best course of action?
Thanks

Additional Details

**Can someone higher up please flag that horrible spammer please? thx x

1 week ago

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

We`ve got letters like this about 1 year ago. In our case it was a fraud. Over the internet we found forums with other (almost) victims. They all supposed to pay for somethin from ages ago, for something they couldn`t remember or they had no prove of payment anymore. In OUR case is was a dirty trickster.

100% 1 Vote

There are currently no comments for this question.

Other Answers (3)

• A mess. Ask for evidence of the over payment and ask why the employer hasn't asked for it before now. Keep on the move but when you come back to the UK see an employer solicitor. It is likely that you will be able to come to some arrangement with your ex-employer after such a long time. You may even not have to pay the money back if it was accepted in good faith, as the fault is your employers not yours. As a Union Official (now retired) I had to deal with a case exactly like this. The out come was my member didn't pay...The whole matter was dealt with over the telephone, in one day.

  Source(s):

  0% 0 Votes
• they can do nothing in your absence. Ask for proof of the payment and check this against your bank statements the bank will provide you with a copy if necessary. Lots of debt collection agency's use the court threat but cannot follow through as it is past the limitations statute (2 Years) before they ask for the first payment.
  
  Secondly so what if you go to court if you have done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear and they would have to provide evidence.

  0% 0 Votes
• This sounds so dodgy - I work in payroll and you would know within a year maximum if there was an overpayment. As for demanding payment in 7 days and the letter being allegedly from a solicitor - rubbish, any decent employer would contact you direct and then you would come to a mutual agreement on how to repay the money. So - all signs point to SCAMMER! These kind of letters demanding payment for one thing or another are cropping up time and again If it is a genuine solicitor it could always be forwarded to the Law Society to cause them trouble. Think its the Law Society that governs lawyers - google it but don't vex, enjoy your trip!

  0% 0 Votes