I took out a mobile contrat at 17 now the r after me

[carole1b]

I was silly at 17 got in with the wrong crowd and took out a t mobile contract. I sold the phone and moved house, i only got it as I knew i was moving I was only 17 and gave them my id but no proof of age was asked for. I am now 22 and i have had a letter from a debt recovery firm to say they want �500 for T Mobile and that the debt was sold to this agency in 2006. I know what i did was wrong and i am no longer into things like that, but i just have not got the money to pay. Does anyone know if they can demand the money if i can prove the contract was given to a under 18 year old. I am worried and i know i did wrong but can any one help

[vehelpfulguy]

I am afraid your problem is wider than just your phone debt.

You will now be listed as a "bad debt" and in future if you try to get a loan or a mortgage or a credit card you may well be turned down because of this debt.

If you dont pay off this debt you may be saddled for years as a bad debt and it could have all sorts of other implications.

[Panic Button]

Make them a silly offer. Say it is this, or �5 a week.

You might be surprised what they will accept to clear it off their books..

[carole1b]

is there any way i could get them to write it off do you think ? As they should not have given me it in the firat place as I was under 18 at the time. When are debts written off i thought after 5 years they did not bother to chase you. I know its my own fault and its caught up with me but i have no money even �5 a week is a lot I only work part time.

[bednobs]

no, they will not write it off, and no, they will still be bothered to chase you. next thing will be that they will take you to court for a county court judgement, meaning you will find getting any sort of good rate credit in the future virtually impossible. then they might send bayliffs round to rcover things from where you live to the value of the debt. be a grown up about it and pay it. It really isnt the companies fault you defrauded them is it?

[terambulan]

I read from ur responses u r trying to put the onus of blame on the mobile company. It's not a wise move to threaten action against them as they will dig in their heels and and charge u huge interests etc.

Even if u can afford �1 a week they will see you as trying and will appreciate ur efforts........they may even offer u another phone?

Accept u were in the wrong to sell their property (the phone) and dont look for loopholes as there aren't any. Phone them to make an offer of settlement.

[Tups]

I'm sure the others are right. Unfortunately, there is no room for compassion in Business these days and especially not in the mobile phone industry! They are a bunch of thieving b*stards who get their hooks into the vulnerable because they have to meet their targets in order to keep their jobs. At the age of 50 I was nearly caught by them but used my 14 days cooling-off period wisely and cancelled the contract. I do sympathise with you if you've learned your lesson and you are now sensible. But now you are 'grown up' you need to act grown-up and accept responsibility for your previous actions. You could write to them, accepting you were in the wrong and tell them how much you can afford to pay each month. On the other hand, you could go to the CAB first, admit to them you were in the wrong and ask them what your next step should be. It's worth a try ... good luck! (Let us know what happens)