Gone Away Information Network GAIN

[Mike Miller]

Can anyone help with a question I have about the GAIN.

I understand GAIN information is held for 6 years. Is that 6 years from the
date you were marked as a 'gone away' or is it 6 years from the date of the
last updated link.

For example, I left an old address 12 years ago. I have my new address which
I have been at for 12 years. I have now been traced to my new address by a
collector collecting a very old debt (from 12 yrs ago). Is it likely they
will update the GAIN records which will start a new 6 year probem at my
current address?

I am going to pay this debt now it has caught up with me, but I wonder if it
has opened up a new can of worms with the credit reference agencies.

Thanks.

[John Redman]

Post by Mike Miller
I am going to pay this debt now it has caught up with me, but I wonder if
it has opened up a new can of worms with the credit reference agencies.

If you acknowledge the debt it restarts the clock. If you don't, they have
to prove you owe it, which will be tough after 12 years.

[Adrian Boliston]

Post by John Redman

Post by Mike Miller
I am going to pay this debt now it has caught up with me, but I
wonder if it has opened up a new can of worms with the credit
reference agencies.

If you acknowledge the debt it restarts the clock. If you don't, they
have to prove you owe it, which will be tough after 12 years.

The clock is restarted each time you *or they* acknowledge the debt (eg if
they send a statement of account showing the debt, a chasing letter or any
other letter referring to the debt).

If you move house without telling them and they continue to send letters to
your original address then presumably these letters still count as valid
acknowledgements.

[Ronald Raygun]

Post by Adrian Boliston

Post by John Redman
If you acknowledge the debt it restarts the clock. If you don't, they
have to prove you owe it, which will be tough after 12 years.

The clock is restarted each time you *or they* acknowledge the debt (eg if
they send a statement of account showing the debt, a chasing letter or any
other letter referring to the debt).

How can they acknowledge a debt? The can only allege it.
I think you must be mistaken.

[Jonathan Bryce]

Post by Mike Miller
For example, I left an old address 12 years ago. I have my new address
which I have been at for 12 years. I have now been traced to my new
address by a collector collecting a very old debt (from 12 yrs ago). Is it
likely they will update the GAIN records which will start a new 6 year
probem at my current address?
I am going to pay this debt now it has caught up with me, but I wonder if
it has opened up a new can of worms with the credit reference agencies.

What sort of debt is it? How long ago did you last acknowledge liability?

Most debts are out of time after 6 years, so tell them to go away.

[Mike]

Post by Jonathan Bryce
What sort of debt is it? How long ago did you last acknowledge liability?
Most debts are out of time after 6 years, so tell them to go away.

Thanks for the replies...

It's an old credit card debt. I read about the limitation act and this may
apply, however I dont want to be blacklisted again or have any credit
reference agency defaults logged against me again if I go down this route.

[Jonathan Bryce]

Post by Mike
Thanks for the replies...
It's an old credit card debt. I read about the limitation act and this may
apply, however I dont want to be blacklisted again or have any credit
reference agency defaults logged against me again if I go down this route.

They can't register a default for something that isn't due, and anything on
the file must be removed after 6 years anyway.

They are just trying it on. They do that quite frequently. Tell them to go
away, and they will eventually.