Elderbridge re: HCA Debt – Should You Pay?

If you’ve received a letter from Elderbridge about HCA debt, you might be feeling concerned and puzzled. Don’t worry. This article is here to help you understand your situation and the steps you can take.

Each month, over 170,000 people like you visit our website for advice on debt problems, as research shows 64% of UK adults find interactions with current debt collectors stressful¹. We know how you might be feeling right now because many of us have been in your shoes. 

In this article, we’ll guide you on:

•  How to find out if the debt Elderbridge is asking about is really yours.
•  Ways you could stop Elderbridge from bothering you too much.
•  Options to set up plans for paying the debt.
•  Possibly getting some of your debt written off.

We know having debt collectors like Elderbridge contacting you can be scary. But with the right information and guidance, you can handle this situation well.

Let’s get started!

Why do Elderbridge Debt Collectors keep contacting you?

If you have any debt outstanding, this is the reason Elderbridge Debt Collectors are contacting you. It is their responsibility to get you to pay this back.

The debt won’t be with Elderbridge Debt Collectors directly, but if you have a balance on a credit card, for example, or outstanding debt on a loan, the debt collectors will try and get the money back on their behalf.

This is usually because they have exhausted all other efforts to get it back from you directly.

Every day, more and more companies like Elderbridge Debt Collectors appear, as the average unsecured debt has increased by 25% year-on-year, rising to £13,941², which makes debt collection very profitable.

Don’t worry! My debt eligibility calculator will help you overcome all your debt worries. Answer the 4 questions below to find the best solution for you:

How do you know if it’s your debt?

You should always have evidence to support the fact that you owe the money, before you start paying it back, especially if you don’t recognise it.

Speak to Elderbridge and find out where the debt originated, including a full breakdown of the costs, together with any charges and interest. You can write to Elderbridge Debt Collectors directly to request this information, in the form of the original credit agreement.

If they can’t provide this or refuse to do so, you would not need to make any payments to them.

Follow our ‘prove it’ guide with letter templates and get them to prove that you owe the money.

Do you need to pay it back?

If you are in a dire financial situation, this is the last thing you need, so you are probably wondering whether you really need to pay it back. The answer is a bit complicated!

Before you make a payment, you can ask for proof that the debt is yours. If Elderbridge can’t prove that you are liable, you are under no legal obligation to pay.

But if they can prove that you owe the debt, you will probably have to pay.

Janine, our financial expert, explained that while debt collectors can visit your home for payments, they cannot come to your workplace, act threateningly, force payment, or discuss your finances with others. If they violate these rules, you can complain.

The best thing to do is just to clear the full amount as quickly as possible. However, if you are unable to do this, you should make arrangements with Elderbridge Debt Collectors to pay the debt through a suitable repayment plan or even start an application for a debt solution.

I go through different debt solutions later on in the article.

Keep in mind that you might not need to pay the debt back, even if it is yours.

If it has been 6 years – or 5 years in Scotland – since you last paid towards your unsecured debts and you have not written to your creditor about your debt during this time, it is statute-barred.

This means that the debt is not enforceable. It still technically exists, and you still technically owe the money, but there is no legal way for you to be forced to pay or for the debt to be enforced.

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

Any HMRC debts, for example, will stay enforceable for decades. Any debt that had a County Court Judgement (CCJ) attached to it during the 5 or 6-year window it will be enforceable for a while. 

Elderbridge Debt Collectors and the legalities

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Elderbridge Debt Collectors are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This means that they have to follow all FCA rules and guidance.

According to the FCA debt collection guidelines, Elderbridge Debt Collectors have a responsibility to:

• Ensure they treat debtors fairly, and without using any aggressive behaviours
• Provide clear and transparent information in relation to the debt
• Show consideration and understanding to debtors who are facing struggles
• Take the debtors circumstances into account, before deciding on appropriate action.

If you are in a position where Elderbridge Debt Collectors are failing to follow these guidelines, you would be within your rights to complain.

If Elderbridge Debt Collectors have lied to you about any aspect of the debt or who they are, they would also be in breach of the regulations. You are within your rights to be treated fairly, and that includes being provided with clear and honest information.

I walk you through the complaints process for Elderbridge later in this article.

Know Your Rights

While debt collectors can visit your home, it’s important that you know your rights and what they can and can’t do to ensure you’re not taken advantage of.

How do I make a complaint?

If you think that Elderbridge Debt Collectors has been unreasonable or behaved inappropriately, you can make a complaint. You can also make a complaint if you feel that they have broken any of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) guidelines.

Fortunately, the Elderbridge complaints procedure is quite straightforward.

Make your first complaint to Elderbridge 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.

You can make any secondary complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). They will investigate and, if your complaint is upheld, Elderbridge may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

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Other Debt Collectors to look for on your Credit Report

There are hundreds of debt collectors in the UK and they each collect for different companies.

It’s surprisingly easy to not notice that you’re in a debt collector’s crosshairs.

I’d suggest you spend time checking your credit report. If a debt collector purchases any of your debt, it will appear on your credit report.

Some of the biggest to look out for include Cabot, PRA Group, and Lowell.

So if you see anything relating to their names, then you’ll need to investigate further.

Elderbridge Debt Collectors Contact Information

References

1. InDebted, Debt Collectors Survey
2. StepChange, Statistics Yearbook December 2022

CONC 7.3 Treatment of customers in default or arrears (including repossessions): lenders, owners and debt collectors

CONC 7.9 Contact with customers