From what I have learn't what you say is true although I have no idea of full deatils or where they can be got. I have been told on many occasions that the vast majority of these debts were written off around 1993 as is was 'most unlikely' that any recovery could be made. The reason that all of this has resurfaced now is two fold. The market etc is good and most of us are supposed to have disposable income - if anyone has excess please send it my way and secondly that these debts have been 'purchased' by agencies who are on very high commision rates for what they get so they don't care how they go about it. The rate that is thought by those I have spoken to is around 50% - the most hihgh level person who confirmed this was my MP Bob Russell.(posted 8496 days ago)So yes the debts were 'written off' but only so the budgeting etc of the lenders could be balanced and that there were no shadows over their books thus incresing shareholder value/profit etc. The chasers get most of the money but the lenders get some too which is all extra pocket money for them.
As the debts were written off perhaps this is why documents are not forthcoming - they might have been disposed of!!