DSL UK Debt Collection – Should You Pay?

Have you got a sudden letter from DSL UK Debt Collection? Are you unsure about where this debt has come from or if you should pay it? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Each month, more than 170,000 people come to our website for guidance on their debt issues.

In this clear and simple guide, we’ll explain:

• What DSL UK Debt Collection is and how to see if it’s real.
• How to check if the debt is really yours.
• What to do if you can’t afford to pay the debt.
• How to stop DSL UK from chasing you too much.
• Ways to set up a plan to pay or even to write off your debt.

We understand it can be really scary to get a letter from a debt collector as some of our team members have had the same thing happen to them. We know just how you feel right now.

Let’s discuss your options and what your next steps should be.

Have you received a DSL UK Debt Collection letter?

DSL UK could contact you in numerous ways to let you know they’re chasing a debt on behalf of a veterinarian practice you have used. You may jump to the conclusion that they’re a scam because you’ve never heard of them before, but you should recognise the vet clinic they’re working for. 

Their letters will ask you to pay the outstanding balance or account arrears and may have added late fees. These fees are only allowed if they are within the terms and conditions of the service provided by the veterinarian clinic. 

The letter you receive from DSL UK Debt Recovery might also threaten litigation if you don’t pay up by a set deadline. Or if you don’t contact them to ask for a payment plan.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

What do I do if I get a debt collection letter UK?

If you get a debt collection letter from a debt collection agency, you can pay it. But you might want to:

1. Check the debt can still be enforced
2. Ask them to prove the debt

#1: Check your DSL UK debt isn’t statute barred

First, you should check to see if the old invoice debt is still legally enforceable.

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 the duration of the CCJ.

If you are unsure, I recommend speaking to a debt charity. Their advisors will be able to establish the facts and offer you specific and detailed advice on your next steps.

#2: Ask DSL UK to prove you owe the debt

Debt validation is an essential step – you don’t want to pay a debt that you don’t have to!

If you don’t agree that the debt is yours, you can ask DSL UK to prove you owe their client money. You can do this by asking for proof of the debt. And you can use my prove-it letter template to save time doing so. 

If they don’t prove it, you don’t have to pay. But if they do, you should consider paying to prevent the possibility of legal action against you. 

Should you pay DSL UK Debt Collection?

You should pay DSL UK Debt Collection if you know you have an unpaid veterinarian bill and want to avoid potential court action. 

However, you may want to check that any fees that have been added are allowed, as per the terms and conditions of the service you received from tthe veterinarian practice. They can’t just add random fees onto unpaid invoices. These fees must have been stipulated before your pet received treatment. 

If you dispute the debt or think they have gotten the wrong person, you can reply to the letter in another way without paying. Read on for more! 

What Court Action Will They Take?

If you don’t engage with any repayment procedures or make any payments towards your debt, you may be taken to court.

This usually means that your creditor or debt collection company will apply for a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you.

A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is an order from a judge that states you have to pay the debt. This means that the court agrees with your creditor, and you owe the money.

Your judgement will include the following:

• How much you owe
• How you should pay
• Who you should pay
• Your deadline to pay.

Unless you pay within one month of the CCJ being issued, it will be recorded in the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines for 6 years. If you pay off your debt within these 6 years, you can request that your judgement is marked as ‘satisfied’ on the register.

To do this, write to the court with proof that you have paid off the debt in full.

If you manage to pay within one month of the CCJ being issued, the judgement will not be recorded in the register. You will need to write to the court explaining that you have paid and provide proof.

CCJs are also visible on your credit file for 6 years. This will make it almost impossible for you to get credit during this time.

This is because companies use your credit file to see if you are a ‘high-risk’ customer – someone who might have difficulty paying their bills on time. If you have a CCJ, you have had such trouble paying back your debt that someone had to go to court about it.

Understandably, companies are going to be reluctant to give you credit!

After 6 years, it is no longer visible on your credit report, and you should find it easier to get credit again.

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What if I Can’t Afford to Pay DSL?

If you can’t afford to pay off your debt in one go, DSL has to offer you some different repayment plans for you to follow.

When you are considering these plans or negotiating a new one, you need to be realistic about your finances and only agree to pay what you can afford. Committing to too-large payments that you can’t make at this stage will only land you in more trouble!

If you are really struggling with your unsecured debts, you may benefit from a debt solution.

There are a few different types of debt solutions available in the UK, so I recommend speaking to a debt charity. Their advisors will be able to walk you through your options and make sure that you are picking the best solution for you.

I have linked several charities that offer these services for free at the bottom of the page.

Debt Management Plan (DMP)

A DMP is an informal debt solution that lets you pay off your debts via a single monthly payment.

Because it is informal, it is not legally binding so you are not tied into a DMP for a minimum number of payments.

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

An IVA is a formal agreement between you and your creditors. You agree to pay a monthly sum that is distributed amongst your debts, and your creditors agree not to contact you during your IVA.

IVAs typically last for 5 or 6 years, and any outstanding debt is wiped off when it ends.

Keep in mind that IVAs are not suitable for everyone. You need to owe several thousand pounds to more than one creditor to be eligible. You also need to demonstrate that you have some disposable income every month.

Trust Deed

IVAs are not available in Scotland. Instead, you will need to opt for a Trust Deed.

Trust Deeds work in the same way as an IVA – you pay an agreed sum each month that is shared amongst your creditors, they can’t contact you, and any leftover debt at the end of your Trust Deed term is written off.

Debt Relief Order (DRO)

A DRO is a good option for those facing financial hardship with no assets and little income.

For 12 months, you make no payments, but your creditors freeze your interest and don’t contact you.

If your finances haven’t improved during this year, you may be able to write off your unsecured debts.

Bankruptcy and Sequestration

If you have debts but no realistic possibility of ever paying them off, you may need to declare bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy has an unfair stigma attached to it as it may be your only way of getting a financial fresh start. That said, it is a serious financial situation that should not be taken lightly.

Sequestration is the Scottish version of bankruptcy.

If you have little income and no valuable assets, you may be able to apply for a minimal asset process bankruptcy (MAP). A MAP is a quicker, cheaper, and more straightforward version of sequestration, so worth considering.

How Do I Complain About DSL UK?

If you think that DSL 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 CSA’s code of conduct.

Make your first complaint to DSL 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 a second complaint to the Credit Services Association (CSA). They will investigate and write to you with their findings and suggested next steps.

DSL UK Debt Collection Contact Details