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Complaining to Debt Collectors that you do Not Owe – Letter

Scott Nelson MoneyNerd Janine Marsh MoneyNerd
By
Scott
Scott Nelson MoneyNerd

Scott Nelson

Debt Expert

Scott Nelson is a renowned debt expert who supports people in debt with debt management and debt solution resources.

Learn more about Scott
&
Janine
Janine Marsh MoneyNerd

Janine Marsh

Financial Expert

Janine is a financial expert who supports individuals with debt management, cost-saving resources, and navigating parking tickets.

Learn more about Janine
· May 27th, 2024
Could you legally write off some debt? Answer below to get started.

Total amount of debt?

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

Featured in...
Complaining to Debt Collectors that you do Not Owe

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

Are you trying to tell a debt collector that you don’t owe them money? You’re not alone. We’re here to help. Each month, over 170,000 people visit our website for advice on debt issues. 

In this article, we’ll help you:

  •  Understand why a debt collector might be chasing you.
  •  Learn how to ask for proof of debt.
  •  Discover what counts as proof of debt.
  •  Find out what to do after you have sent your ‘prove it’ letter.

We know that dealing with debt can be scary and confusing. So, we’ve also included a ‘prove the debt’ letter template you can use and other letter templates for different debt situations. 

Remember, you’re not alone. We’re here to guide you through each step of the process.

Could you legally write off some debt?

There are several debt solutions in the UK, choosing the right one for you could write off some of your unaffordable debt, but the wrong one may be expensive and drawn out.

Answer below to get started.

How much debt do you have?

This isn’t a full fact find. MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

Letter Template

To Whom It May Concern

Regarding Case #: [your case number]* (required)

You have contacted me about the account with the above reference number, which you claim I owe.

I have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to [enter company name]* (required).

I am familiar with the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Consumer Credit sourcebook which states the following.

“A firm must not ignore or disregard a customer’s claim that a debt has been settled or is disputed and must not continue to make demands for payment without providing clear justification and/or evidence as to why the customer’s claim is not valid.” 7.5.3

“A firm must suspend any steps it takes or its agent takes in the recovery of a debt from a customer where the customer disputes the debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds.” 7.14.1

“Where a customer disputes a debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds, the firm must investigate the dispute and provide details of the debt to the customer in a timely manner.” 7.14.3

If you do not stop collection activity whilst investigating my dispute, you are breaking FCA rules and guidance.

Also, ignoring claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment is harassment.

Please do not make any further contact about the above accounts unless you can provide evidence of my liability for the debt.

I await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to my local trading standards service and consider informing the FCA of your actions.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,


Downloadable Resource

The download links below take you to a Google document template where you can make a copy or save in any document format you like. Note, you may have to login to your Google account.

Download – Single (for one person)
Download – Joint (for couples)

How a debt solution could help

Some debt solutions can:

  1. Stop nasty calls from creditors
  2. Freeze interest and charges
  3. Reduce your monthly payments

A few debt solutions can even result in writing off some of your debt.

Here’s an example:


Situation

Monthly income £2,504
Monthly expenses £2,345
Total debt £32,049

Monthly debt repayments

Before £587
After £158

£429 reduction in monthly payments

If you want to learn what debt solutions are available to you, click the button below to get started.

Get started

Why are they chasing me?

When a debt collection agency chases someone for a debt, they use the information available to them to track them down. Two of the most valuable pieces of information are the debtor’s name and their last known address. You might have received a debt payment request because you have the same name as someone who owes money or because you now live at an address where the real debtor once lived. 

In other words, the debt collector is taking a chance. Their threatening letters may scare you into paying straight away, which is what they are hoping for. 

You should also know that debt collection agencies are chasing the debt on behalf of others. Even if you don’t recognise the debt, remember that the debt is owed to another company, and the agency is just doing the admin. You might owe the debt collection agency’s client. 

Whether you definitely don’t owe it or aren’t sure, the response should be the same – ask for proof you owe the debt,

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

How do I ask for evidence?

You should request proof you owe the debt by sending them a “prove it” debt letter. This is a polite letter that tells the debt collection agency you do not acknowledge that you owe the debt, and they must provide proof. This is a legal requirement for a debt to be enforced.

Our prove the debt letter template will make sure you get it right with no issues!

But, what is proof of debt?

You might be wondering what classifies as proof that you owe the debt. If the debt collection agency simply replies by stating you owe an amount to a specific company, this is not proof. 

They must provide you with a true copy of the signed credit agreement or contract that they are claiming you owe a debt on. Without adequate proof, their claims are inadequate, and you don’t have to pay. 

Thousands have already tackled their debt

Every day our partners, The Debt Advice Service, help people find out whether they can lower their repayments and finally tackle or write off some of their debt.

Natasha

I’d recommend this firm to anyone struggling with debt – my mind has been put to rest, all is getting sorted.

Get started

Reviews shown are for The Debt Advice Service.

After you have sent the prove it letter

If they reply with genuine proof that you owe the debt, you should accept this and make arrangements to pay it back. You can typically breakdown debts into manageable monthly repayments. 

If they fail to respond or respond without proof, you can ignore the debt collection agency but retain evidence that they never provided you with proof of the debt in case the matter goes to court. 

You might want to follow up with a creditor harassment warning letter if they don’t leave you alone!

Could you legally write off some debt?

Answer below to get started.

How much debt do you have?

This isn’t a full fact find. MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

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The authors
Scott Nelson MoneyNerd
Author
Scott Nelson is a renowned debt expert who supports people in debt with debt management and debt solution resources.
Janine Marsh MoneyNerd
Debt Expert
Janine is a financial expert who supports individuals with debt management, cost-saving resources, and navigating parking tickets.