Can you be made to pay a debt that is 40 years old that you have only just found out about?

Today my mother was approached by a bailiff who was looking for my father. Apparently he owes £1000 to a company he worked for 40 years ago. Thing is, my father has passed and the company closed down years ago. He was also very careful with money and the only money he had ever borrowed was his mortgage. There s no way he would have knowingly borrowed or forgot to pay back a loan. My mother said the bailiff had little information and said he would post some details to her of this debt.

Surely this is done sort of scam? And if not and my father somehow does owe this money 40 years is to long to wait to start chasing for it? And who s chasing for it as the company no longer exists?

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