Can you be taken to court for old debt?

09-24-2009, 12:34 PM

My Grandmother received a letter this morning from a debt collection agency saying the were taking legal action due to an outstanding debt from a Littlewoods catalogue to the amount of Â£700. She called them and told them that she's had a stroke and can't remember ever having a Littlewoods catalogue. They said it's for an old address, one which she hasn't lived at for about 5 or 6 years. They've told her she can either pay Â£500 now to clear the debt or set up a weekly payment plan. Either way, she's a pensioner and can't afford this.

What happens if she refuses to pay (she really has no memory of ever having a catalogue with them)? Can they take her to court over this? What would this mean for her?

She lives in Scotland, btw.