Scott founded MoneyNerd after his own experience with debt. He runs the website and oversees its general information about debt and other money matters.
Scott does not provide personal debt advice or recommend debt solutions through MoneyNerd. If you make a debt enquiry, MoneyNerd may introduce you to The Debt Advice Service, which provides any personal debt advice.
Janine contributed articles and videos to MoneyNerd about everyday money, household costs, debt topics and parking matters. She has a background in broadcasting, including work with BBC Radio 5 Live and Bauer radio stations.
MoneyNerd does not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions. We can introduce you to The Debt Advice Service, a trading style of Pacific Financial Solutions Limited. Their debt advice is free, and there is no obligation to proceed.
If you request an introduction, we’ll share your details with The Debt Advice Service so they can contact you.
Some debt solutions have fees and may negatively affect your credit rating. MoneyNerd is a commercial introducer and may receive a fee if you go ahead with a debt solution through The Debt Advice Service.
For free, impartial money guidance and help finding free debt advice, visit MoneyHelper.
MoneyNerd introduces enquiries to The Debt Advice Service and may receive a referral fee. For free, independent guidance and help finding a debt adviser, visit MoneyHelper.
This information and enquiry service is not a full financial assessment or a guarantee of suitability or debt write-off. Debt solutions are not suitable for everyone. Fees may apply, and your credit record and assets may be affected. Get advice on your circumstances before choosing a solution.
MoneyNerd introduces enquiries to The Debt Advice Service and may receive a referral fee. For free, independent guidance and help finding a debt adviser, visit MoneyHelper.
This information and enquiry service is not a full financial assessment or a guarantee of suitability or debt write-off. Debt solutions are not suitable for everyone. Fees may apply, and your credit record and assets may be affected. Get advice on your circumstances before choosing a solution.
Are you worried about the letter from Redwood Collections Debt Recovery? You’re not alone! Every month, over 170,000 people visit our website for help with debt problems. We’re here to help you understand what to do next.
In this article, we’ll explain:
How to check if the debt is really yours.
What you can do if Redwood Collections are wrong.
How to stop Redwood Collections from bothering you too much.
Ways to set up a plan to pay or even cancel your debt.
We know how you feel because some of our team have had to deal with debt collectors too. It can be scary, but we’re here to help.
Let’s find out more about how to deal with Redwood Collections Debt Recovery.
Could you legally write off some debt?
MoneyNerd can introduce you to The Debt Advice Service for free debt advice. MoneyNerd does not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions.
Answer a few questions to start your enquiry. Options available depend on your circumstances.
MoneyNerd does not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions. We can introduce you to The Debt Advice Service, a trading style of Pacific Financial Solutions Limited. Their debt advice is free, and there is no obligation to proceed.
If you request an introduction, we’ll share your details with The Debt Advice Service so they can contact you.
Some debt solutions have fees and may negatively affect your credit rating. MoneyNerd is a commercial introducer and may receive a fee if you go ahead with a debt solution through The Debt Advice Service.
For free, impartial money guidance and help finding free debt advice, visit MoneyHelper.
What Is This Letter I Received?
The letter you have received from Redwood Collections Croydon is notifying you a company has contacted them to recover your unpaid debts.
An ordinary collection letter is not automatically a letter before claim, and neither is a CCJ. Only a court can issue a judgment. Check the document’s heading, enclosures and deadline before responding.
Responding promptly can help resolve a dispute or agree a payment plan, but it does not guarantee that a creditor will stop a claim.
You might have received this letter knowing about the debt, or you may have received the LBA and are convinced there has been a mistake. There is a chance you are not the person they are looking for.
Why do they Send It to the Wrong People?
A tracing mistake can lead to a letter reaching the wrong person. Explain the mismatch and ask Redwood to investigate rather than assuming that a matching name proves liability.
Useful checks include:
Whether the named debtor and account address match your records
Whether the creditor, account reference and balance are explained
For that reason, you may have wrongfully received a debt letter from Redwood Collections Debt Recovery.
Tell the firm promptly if it has contacted the wrong person. Keep a copy and ask for inaccurate records to be corrected.
Therefore, it could be better to send a prove the debt letter.
If you dispute the debt, explain why and ask for 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 the debt, override an existing court order or extend a court deadline. Statutory consumer-credit information requests have separate requirements and do not apply to every debt.
Even people who are aware of the debt can ask for proof of the debt if it has not been provided in the LBA.
A missing signed agreement does not automatically cancel every type of debt. The necessary evidence and any statutory information rights depend on the account.
And this is why you should always get proof of the debt before agreeing to pay!
To do this you need to request proof in writing. If you chose to write your own letter, you must let Redwood Collections know that you have received their letter (quote any reference numbers on the LBA) and simply ask them to supply proof that you owe the debt.
Explain why you dispute the account and ask for recovery to be paused while it is investigated where applicable. A generic request does not make every later communication harassment or extend a court deadline.
You can find prove the debt letter templates online that are really effective. They will save you time and ensure you send them with the correct information.
Always keep a copy for your records.
Will They Provide Proof in the LBA?
Gathering proof of the debt can be a time-consuming process for a business and Redwood Collections.
The documents included with an initial demand vary. Ask for relevant missing information without assuming that the absence of an attachment proves misconduct or cancels liability.
A payment arrangement can sometimes resolve an account. The following historical review describes one customer’s experience and does not establish the facts of your case:
“I was recommended to Redwood by a fellow practitioner. I referred to them a debt that had been outstanding for over 7 months, and which I was concerned would not be recovered. Much to my surprise the debtor contacted Redwood off the back of a letter. I am now receiving payments monthly.”
[Google – Redwood Collection Reviews]
A collection agent can request payment and may refer the matter for legal action. It cannot issue a CCJ itself or exercise a bailiff’s seizure powers merely by sending a letter.
Check your own letter and ask for any evidence needed to understand or dispute the claim.
Understand your debt options
MoneyNerd can introduce you to The Debt Advice Service for free debt advice. MoneyNerd does not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions.
The Debt Advice Service can explain your options, including their benefits, costs and risks. Options available depend on your circumstances. There’s no obligation to take a debt solution.
MoneyNerd does not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions. The Debt Advice Service is a trading style of Pacific Financial Solutions Limited. If you request an introduction, we’ll share your details with their team so they can contact you.
Some debt solutions have fees and may negatively affect your credit rating. MoneyNerd is a commercial introducer and may receive a fee if you go ahead with a debt solution through The Debt Advice Service.
For free, impartial money guidance and help finding free debt advice, visit MoneyHelper.
Three Possible Outcomes of Your Prove It Letter
Once you have sent the letter, there are different ways that Redwood Collections Debt Recovery could act:
They may investigate and decide that the demand was wrong, in which case ask for written confirmation and corrected records.
They may contact you again before resolving the dispute. Keep the correspondence, complain if appropriate, and respond to any formal court deadline rather than ignoring it.
They contact you with proof of the debt
They Have Proved My Debt (I’m Worried!)
Evidence of an account is important, but possible defences or disputes can also concern the amount, payments, identity, enforceability or limitation. Seek advice if you disagree with the demand.
In England and Wales, many ordinary contractual debts have a six-year limitation period from when the creditor can first sue. A payment or relevant written acknowledgment before expiry can restart it, and a claim issued in time or an existing judgment changes the position. Age alone does not prove a debt is statute barred. Scotland has different prescription rules; get advice before paying or acknowledging an old disputed debt, and respond to court papers on time.
If the balance is due and full payment is affordable after essential bills and priority debts, ask for the current settlement figure. Interest and charges depend on the agreement and law; payment does not retrospectively remove valid charges.
An affordable agreement may avoid further action, but a creditor can still choose to bring a claim. Court enforcement requires the appropriate order and procedure; an unsecured debt letter is not a repossession order.
Before committing to a payment plan with Redwood Collections, it is strongly advised to calculate what income you can afford to pay each month. Defaulting on payments can make the situation worse so always only agree on a monthly payment plan that will not cause you financial hardship.
For help coming up with a payment plan, you can always contact the UK’s excellent debt charities for help!
Is a Payment Plan My Only Option?
Escaping debt can be done in lots of ways. What might work well for one person is not necessarily the best method for another. Debt solutions should be considered against personal circumstances, including the number of debts they have.
A free debt adviser can compare repayment plans and formal debt solutions based on your income, assets, debts and where you live.
An IVA is a formal insolvency arrangement managed by an insolvency practitioner. The proposal sets out payments, assets, fees and the debts covered. Qualifying unpaid debts are normally released only on successful completion; an IVA affects your credit record, can put assets at risk and can fail if its terms are not met. Get independent advice and compare other options before agreeing.
Take the first step towards tackling your debt
Every day, our partner, The Debt Advice Service, helps people understand their options for dealing with debt. Their debt advice is free, with no obligation to proceed.
MoneyNerd introduces you to The Debt Advice Service. We do not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions.
If you submit the enquiry form, MoneyNerd will share your details with The Debt Advice Service so they can contact you.
Some debt solutions have fees and may negatively affect your credit rating. MoneyNerd may receive a fee if you go ahead with a debt solution through The Debt Advice Service.
The Debt Advice Service is a trading style of Pacific Financial Solutions Limited.
For free, impartial help and access to not-for-profit debt advice, visit MoneyHelper.
Checking for Other Debt Collectors
There are a lot of ways to get into debt. In fact, it’s not uncommon to owe money to several companies at once.
Perhaps you have a mortgage, a car loan, a couple credit cards and an item or two you bought on buy-now-pay-later schemes. It’s easy to lose track.
That’s why it’s important to regularly check your credit report and bank statements to make sure you haven’t missed anything.
A sold debt may appear under a new creditor name on your credit report, but not every debt or collector is reported to every credit reference agency.
Below, we answer some of the more frequently asked questions about dealing with Redwood Debt Collection and debt collection agencies in general.
Could you legally write off some debt?
MoneyNerd can introduce you to The Debt Advice Service for free debt advice. MoneyNerd does not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions.
Answer a few questions to start your enquiry. Options available depend on your circumstances.
MoneyNerd does not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions. We can introduce you to The Debt Advice Service, a trading style of Pacific Financial Solutions Limited. Their debt advice is free, and there is no obligation to proceed.
If you request an introduction, we’ll share your details with The Debt Advice Service so they can contact you.
Some debt solutions have fees and may negatively affect your credit rating. MoneyNerd is a commercial introducer and may receive a fee if you go ahead with a debt solution through The Debt Advice Service.
For free, impartial money guidance and help finding free debt advice, visit MoneyHelper.
We're glad you liked the article! As a small team, your support means everything to us. If you could rate us on Google, it would be amazing. Thank you!
Scott founded MoneyNerd after his own experience with debt. He runs the website and oversees its general information about debt and other money matters.
Scott does not provide personal debt advice or recommend debt solutions through MoneyNerd. If you make a debt enquiry, MoneyNerd may introduce you to The Debt Advice Service, which provides any personal debt advice.
Janine contributed articles and videos to MoneyNerd about everyday money, household costs, debt topics and parking matters. She has a background in broadcasting, including work with BBC Radio 5 Live and Bauer radio stations.
MoneyNerd does not provide debt advice or recommend debt solutions. We can introduce you to The Debt Advice Service, a trading style of Pacific Financial Solutions Limited. Their debt advice is free, and there is no obligation to proceed.
If you request an introduction, we’ll share your details with The Debt Advice Service so they can contact you.
Some debt solutions have fees and may negatively affect your credit rating. MoneyNerd is a commercial introducer and may receive a fee if you go ahead with a debt solution through The Debt Advice Service.
For free, impartial money guidance and help finding free debt advice, visit MoneyHelper.