Credit Limits International: Debt Letters and Your Options

If you’ve received a letter from Credit Limits International Debt Collection, you might be feeling confused and worried. We understand your concerns about where this debt has come from, whether you should pay, and if you’ll be able to afford it. 

A debt letter can be worrying. Keep the correspondence, check the creditor and balance, and note any response deadline. Free independent debt advice is available.

In this article, we will explain:

•  What Credit Limits International Debt Collection is and who they work for.
•  How to check if the debt is really yours.
•  What can happen if you ignore their letters.
•  Ways you could reduce or even write off some of the debt.
•  How to make a complaint if needed.

If dealing with debt is affecting your wellbeing, seek support and tell the firm about any communication or accessibility needs. A debt adviser can help you decide what to do next.

Credit Limits International handles UK and overseas collection work. This guide describes general UK consumer-debt issues; foreign law, commercial debts and cross-border enforcement may follow different rules, so obtain advice specific to the account and jurisdiction.

Should you pay them?

You might end up having to pay Credit Limits International Debt Collection to avoid legal action and clear your debt. But you don’t have to pay them straight away if they send you a letter out of the blue. 

Check the account and explain any genuine dispute. Requesting evidence is not an automatic payment holiday.

Ask for proof

After receiving a request for payment from Credit Limits International Debt Collection, you’re within your right to request proof that you owe the money. You can request this proof by sending a prove-the-debt reply. We have made this easy with a free prove-it letter template.

The evidence needed depends on the claim. Ask for an itemised balance, relevant account documents and confirmation of the creditor and collector’s authority; a signed contract is not universally required.

If you dispute the debt, explain why and request an itemised balance and evidence of liability. For recovery covered by FCA consumer-credit rules, a valid or potentially valid dispute must be investigated and recovery paused. A generic proof request does not cancel a debt, override an existing judgment or extend a court deadline. Keep copies of correspondence, but submit an actual response or defence if court proceedings are issued.

What if they send proof?

Check the account and independently verify the payment destination first. If the debt is enforceable and affordable after essential costs and priority debts, consider payment or an agreed plan. Do not borrow further or miss essential bills simply to meet a collection demand.

This is a good time to speak with a debt charity. The charity will provide free and confidential debt advice based exactly on your situation and finances.

In England and Wales, an eligible debt adviser can assess you for standard Breathing Space, which can protect qualifying debts for up to 60 days. It is not automatic and is not a general payment holiday: ongoing liabilities and scheme conditions still apply.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

How long they can chase you?

Many ordinary unsecured debts have a six-year limitation period in England and Wales or a five-year prescription period in Scotland. The start date, debt type, relevant payments or acknowledgments and court action matter. Ask an adviser to check before paying or admitting liability, and respond to court papers on time. See related guidance.

Ask an adviser to check the relevant jurisdiction and time limit before paying or acknowledging liability. Raise any applicable defence promptly if court papers arrive.

We made writing this letter quicker thanks to our free statute-barred letter template.

Can you ignore the letters?

If you receive a Credit Limits International debt letter in your name, it means that a company you allegedly owe money to has decided to chase you for payment through Credit Limits International.

Keep a record of any conduct you consider misleading, threatening or excessive. A lawful warning of possible court action is different from pretending to have powers the firm does not possess. A complaint should identify the actual words, dates and evidence.

If you dispute the debt, explain why and ask for an itemised balance and evidence that you are liable. For recovery covered by FCA consumer-credit rules, a valid or potentially valid dispute must be investigated and recovery paused. A generic proof request does not cancel a debt, override an existing court order or extend a court deadline.

What can happen?

The recovery route depends on the debt, jurisdiction and the creditor’s decisions.

1. Your creditor will send you reminders and then demands to get you to pay any missed payments
2. Missed payments may lead to a default where applicable, subject to the account and notice rules.
3. If you still don’t pay your debts, your creditor can choose to sell your debt to a debt collection agency or employ an agency to chase you for the missed payments. This is where Credit Limit International will come in.
4. The creditor, or solicitors acting for it, may bring a court claim if entitled to do so. Only the court can issue a judgment. A claim form is not a CCJ: respond within its deadline, as judgment can be entered in default without a hearing.

Ask for a breakdown and the contractual or legal basis of any added interest or charges. Referring an account to a collector does not automatically make every collection fee payable.

Typical Collection Process

I’ve put together this table that explains all the key stages and actions involved in the debt collector timeline. For more information, be sure to check out our specialized guide.

Prepare a budget covering essential living costs and priority debts first. Propose only instalments you can afford, and obtain written acceptance and confirmation of any interest or action being paused. An offer alone does not guarantee agreement or stop a court claim. Only a court can issue a CCJ.

What debt solutions are available?

The debt charity could recommend one of many debt solutions depending on your circumstances, including:

1. A Debt Management Plan
2. A Debt Relief Order
3. An Individual Voluntary Arrangement 
4. Bankruptcy
5. Scottish options can include the Debt Arrangement Scheme, protected trust deeds or sequestration, depending on eligibility; they are not identical equivalents of every option above.

Online reviews

The review image below is a historical snapshot, not a verified current rating or a prediction of how your account will be handled.

Reviews may reflect different perspectives and circumstances. Do not infer that all positive reviews are from clients or all negative reviews are from debtors, or treat them as findings of misconduct.

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How do I make a complaint?

If you think that Credit Limits International 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.

Make your first complaint to Credit Limits International 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.

Read more about debt collectors

More helpful tips and info to deal with debt collectors can be found on the MoneyNerd debt collector hub. Take a digital jump over there now if you need more support dealing with harassing debt collectors.

Looking for some specific advice? I recommend speaking to a debt charity.

There are several charities and organisations in the UK that offer free debt counselling services and free financial advice. Their advisors will be able to walk you through your options and find the best solution for you.

• StepChange
• National Debtline
• Citizens Advice
• Debt Advice Foundation.

References

1. Indebted Debt Collection Survey