Claims Advisory Debt Letter: Check the Firm, Fees and Scam Warnings

Are you worried about a surprise letter from the Claims Advisory Service? You might be confused about where the debt came from. You could be scared about what happens if you can’t pay.

Check the exact company contacting you and the agreement behind any fee before paying.

In this article, we’ll help you understand:

•  Who the Claims Advisory Service are, and how they work.
•  If the debt is yours and what you can do if it’s not.
•  How to stop the Claims Advisory Service from bothering you too much.
•  Ways to pay back your debt, including setting up a payment plan.
•  What could happen if you don’t pay your debt.

We know how you feel, as we’ve had to deal with debt collectors too. We know it’s scary, but we also know you can handle it.

We’re here to guide you every step of the way. So, let’s start understanding your debt and finding ways to deal with it.

Is Claims Advisory Group Genuine?

Check the exact legal name, company number, FCA reference and contact details on your letter. “Claims Advisory Service” and “Claims Advisory Group” should not be treated as interchangeable names without evidence.

The FCA has published a warning about an unauthorised clone using the Claims Advisory Group name. A clone imitates another business, so a name or company registration alone does not authenticate the caller.

Online reviews and forum posts are individual accounts. They do not establish whether your own letter is genuine or whether a fee is legally due.

The FCA warning concerns the identified clone. It should not be presented as a regulatory finding against every genuine company with a similar name.

FCA’s Warning About the Claims Advisory Group Scam

The FCA warning, first published on 19 December 2019 and updated on 16 September 2022, is headed “Claims Advisory Group (clone of UK registered public company)”. Check the original warning and independently verified contact details before paying.

The warning says the clone is not authorised and that customers dealing with it will not have access to Financial Ombudsman Service or FSCS protection. This is different from the position of an authorised firm acting within its permissions.

Use the FCA’s current firm-checking service to confirm the particular business’s permissions and contact details. Do not rely on details supplied only by an unexpected caller.

A separate historical tax dispute does not authenticate a payment demand or establish liability for a claims-management fee.

So, How Can You Have UK Claims Advisory Group Debt?

If a company is in place to win money back for you from PPI claims on previous credit (such as mortgages and loans) or from bank charges, how could you end up owing them money?

Well, the reason is that their services for helping your claim be successful needs to be paid for. This is done by taking a percentage of your claim. But on some occasions, they do not take the money straight away and ask for it down the road, just like this forum user points out:

“I haven’t got the original paperwork or if I had, I’ve absolutely no idea where it is now. Claims Advisory Group have definitely not previously taken their cut. In the phone call yesterday, they threatened legal action and obviously CCJs if the matter is taken to court. I don’t want to go down that route for the sake of £125 but at the same time some of their threats and tone of voice made me think they can go whistle…”

[Consumer Action Group Forum]

If you have received communications that you have a Claims Advisory Group debt, then this guide is for you. We help you understand your rights and how to reply to Claims Advisory Group debt letters or calls.

How to assess Claims Advisory reviews

Reviews can highlight questions to ask, but should be checked against your agreement, invoice and correspondence. Avoid assuming another customer’s experience proves what happened in your case.

If you dispute a fee, request the agreement, the service provided, the outcome of the claim and a clear calculation of the amount demanded.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

They Could Also Send a Claims Advisory Group Debt Letter

There are also reports that The Claims Advisory Group send debt letters as well. They will write you a letter asking to pay for their service by a certain date, or face court proceedings.

These Claims Advisory Group debt letters are worrying, but you should never ignore them!

Respond to a genuine demand by checking the contract and disputing any error. Asking for evidence does not automatically cancel a fee, and court deadlines still apply.

Could the Claims Advisory Group Debt Cause Me to Lose My Property?

If you owe debt and refuse to pay, the Claims Advisory Group could choose to take you to court and hope to get a court order for the debt, known as a CCJ.

After a CCJ, a creditor must obtain the appropriate enforcement authority before enforcement agents can take control of goods. A payment plan may be possible, and essential or otherwise exempt goods are protected.

Taking control of goods is different from forcing a sale of a home. Enforcement agents need the appropriate authority and must respect exempt goods and entry rules; a fee demand or CCJ alone does not authorise every enforcement step.

Prompt advice can help you understand and use the available response options. No guide can guarantee that court action or enforcement will be avoided.

How to Respond to Claims Advisory Group Debt Claims

Check the exact sender before responding. The appropriate reply depends on the agreement, disputed fee, age of the account and whether a court claim has begun.

Here are your options:

1.      Send a Prove the Debt Letter

Ask for the agreement and terms relied on, the service provided, any compensation obtained and the calculation of the fee. A wet-ink signed contract is not the only possible evidence of an agreement.

Assess the actual documents and your records rather than assuming what forms the company must have sent. Identify any disputed service, amount, cancellation right or applicable fee limit.

A missing document does not automatically defeat a claim. If court papers arrive, respond by the deadline even while requesting evidence from the company.

Send The Claims Advisory Group a Prove the Debt Letter

If you don’t know where to start writing a prove it letter, you can use my free ‘prove it’ letter template.

Provide the information needed to identify and investigate the dispute, while avoiding unnecessary sensitive details. Keep a copy of your letter and proof of sending. There is no general rule that a dispute letter must be unsigned.

2.      Send a Statute Barred Debt Letter

Many ordinary unsecured debts may become statute-barred after six years in England and Wales, or prescribed after five years in Scotland. The start date, debt type, payments, legally relevant acknowledgments and any court claim all matter. A creditor’s letter alone does not restart the period. Ask a debt adviser to check the facts before paying or admitting liability, and respond to any court papers on time.

In England and Wales, limitation can provide a defence to a court claim, but it does not normally extinguish the debt. In Scotland, prescription can extinguish the obligation. Respond to court papers and obtain advice about the correct defence.

Keep in mind that not all debts become statute-barred!

Tax debts, council tax, mortgage shortfalls and court judgments have different limitation or enforcement rules. A CCJ does not expire when its six-year credit-file entry ends; some later enforcement requires court permission.

If your debt is statute-barred, you can use my free letter template to write to Claims Advisory Service and explain the situation.

If you are unsure about the status of your debt, you can contact a debt charity for some advice. Their advisors will be able to look at the debt in question, determine its status, and advise you on your next steps. 

Can the Claims Advisory Group Agents Come to My Home?

Ordinary company representatives cannot force entry or seize goods. An enforcement agent needs the appropriate warrant or writ and must follow the relevant entry and goods rules. A CCJ alone is not a licence to enter your home.

You can refuse an ordinary company representative entry and ask them to leave. Do not assume that the absence of reported visits proves a firm never visits.

Paying Your Claims Advisory Group Debt

If a fee is properly due under an enforceable agreement, discuss payment or an affordable arrangement. Evidence of an agreement is not the end of the checks: the calculation, service, applicable fee limits and any legal defence may also matter.

For smaller claims, you are not likely to owe The Claims Advisory Group a lot of money. Others will owe hundreds if not thousands, and some people may be experiencing financial difficulty in the first place.

An affordable agreement may resolve a valid fee without proceedings, but the creditor need not accept every proposal. Respond separately to any court deadline.

#1: Agree on a Payment Plan

One of the easiest is to agree on a payment plan with The Claims Advisory Group. They may be open to you paying a monthly payment for so many months to clear the amount of money you owe them.

When choosing this option, only commit to payment you will be able to afford. If you stretch yourself too far, you could create even more debts.

#2: Consider an IVA

An IVA is a formal insolvency option requiring a suitable proposal, an insolvency practitioner and creditor approval. A debt total of almost £2,000 does not by itself make an IVA appropriate. Compare free debt-advice options before committing.

IVA terms and duration vary. Qualifying unpaid debts may be released on successful completion, but fees apply, assets or home equity may be involved, and failure can leave debts outstanding. It does not guarantee that every debt disappears after five years.

#3: More Debt Solutions Are Available

Other debt solutions are available and may be better for your personal circumstances. You can learn about possible debt solutions at Money Nerd. Easy-to-understand information is free for you to use and escape your debts.

Do not pay or disclose details to an unverified cold caller. Check genuine letters and court papers promptly through independently obtained contact details.

How do I Make a Complaint About Claims Advisory Service?

Complain to the verified business about disputed fees or conduct. FCA claims-management rules apply to relevant regulated activity; the Financial Ombudsman cannot provide protection for dealings with an unauthorised clone. Related guidance: Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) guidelines..

Make your first complaint to Claims Advisory Service so that they have the chance to sort out the issue themselves. If you feel that they have not taken your complaint seriously enough or have not addressed your issue properly, you can escalate matters.

Complain to the business first. If the activity falls within the Financial Ombudsman Service’s remit, you can normally escalate after a final response or eight weeks without one, usually within six months of the final response. The Ombudsman can require redress, such as compensation or correcting records; it does not fine firms or remove their authorisation.