How to Spot a Fake County Court Business Centre Claim Form Letter

Are you concerned about a letter from the County Court Business Centre? Do you want to know if it’s real or fake?

You’re in the right place to find out. Every month, over 4,600 people visit this site for help with court matters and debts.

This guide will show you:

• How to tell a real County Court Business Centre Claim Form from a fake one.
• What to do if you receive a fake County Court Claim Form.
• Who might send a fake County Court Claim Form.
• The risks of a fake County Court Claim Form.

We know that dealing with debts and court can make you feel worried, some of our team members have been in a similar spot.

Don’t worry! We’re here to help you make sense of it all.

What Is a Fake County Court Claim Form?

When a court issues a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you, you will be sent a claim form, detailing the debt you owe, to who, etc.

This is an official court document, and is actionable under civil law.

Unfortunately, less-than-ethical debt collectors have learned that sending a letter that is dressed up to look like an official court document, can sometimes fool a debtor into believing the letter is the real deal.

These fake county court letters are often identical in wording and appearance to an official court document, with some minor alterations.

How To Spot a Fake County Court Claim Form

Spotting a fake county court claim form can be difficult. Some fake letters are extremely convincing.

However, below we have listed a few techniques that can help you to differentiate between a real court letter and a fake one.

1. You can check your credit history. If you have really been issued with a CCJ you will find that a record has been made on your credit report.
2. If you were sent the potentially fake letter by email, then you should check the address that it was sent from. If it isn’t a .gov.uk email address, it is not an official court email.
3. If the claim form has been pre-filled with the information you need to return, it is not an official court document.
4. If part of the documentation is asking you to make immediate payment, it is a fake court letter.
5. If instructions for payment are included, asking you to make a payment into a bank account, then it is a fake.

However, if the court letter doesn’t fit any of the scenarios above, and it came along with additional documents such as a response pack, then it is likely a real county court claim letter.

Why Were You Sent a Fake County Court Claim Form?

If you are sent a fake court letter, it is likely due to one of three reasons, and we have outlined each of these below.

1. One of your creditors has engaged a debt collection agency to try and get you to pay your debt.
2. Your debt has been purchased by a debt collection firm.
3. A debt collection firm is attempting to get you to pay your debt, and if they do, the creditor will pay them a fee.

Who Sends a Fake County Court Claim Form?

You might find that a firm of debt collectors such as Lowell Financial, Cabot Financial or the PRA Group will send you a fake court letter.

This kind of fake documentation is a favourite weapon of debt collectors who work under a no settlement no fee kind of model, or who buy up debts from creditors.

The Dangers of a Fake County Court Claim Form

The real danger of receiving a fake county court claim letter is that you are fooled into thinking it is actually an official letter, and then act upon it.

When you are issued a real county court judgment, you are in a position whereby you need to try and find a way to settle the debt you owe.

However, a fake court letter implying that a CCJ has been taken out against you may force you into trying to settle the debt in a way that is financially harmful to you.

Put simply, before you are given a real CCJ you still have some options available to you for negotiating how you settle the debt.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Dealing With a Fake County Court Judgement Letter

If you have received a fake court claim for money, you don’t actually have to take any action at all, as it is not an official court letter.

However, if you want to dispute the debt, or you want to arrange for a more suitable payment schedule, you can contact the debt collection firm. You might like to do this by using a standard letter template. 

If you believe that the fake letter has crossed the line, and that the debt collection agency has acted in a totally inappropriate and unethical way, you do have the option to make a complaint.

You can do this by contacting the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

A last word of caution has to be given, in relation to completely scam letters. Some fake court claim letters are simply trying to trick you into paying a debt. However, others are more nefarious in nature, attempting to get you to make a direct bank payment for a debt that doesn’t even exist.

If you have any doubt whether a court claim letter is legitimate or not, you can speak to a debt counsellor and get their opinion. Alternatively, you can contact a debt charity for some free advice.

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What should a Debt Collection Process look like?

Nobody wants to be chased for debt, but there are certain steps in the debt recovery process that need to be taken for it to remain legal:

• You’ll initially receive a letter to as you to repay the debt you owe (known as the letter of claim)
• If you don’t pay, you’ll be issued a default notice to warn you that your account will be closed and they’d like payment.
• If you still don’t pay, your creditor can apply for a CCJ
• If the CCJ is awarded, and you still don’t pay, your creditor can return to the courts and ask for further permission to enforce the debt with various means such as bailiffs, attachment of earnings or a charging order.

To avoid this from happening, you should take every step of this process seriously. The best way to avoid having a CCJ taken against you is by communicating with your creditors from the start.

It’s also worth noting that if your creditor hasn’t followed the process correctly, the CCJ may be thrown aside.