UKSL Debt (UK Search Limited) Should You Pay? 

Many people feel unsure when they get a letter about debt. You might not know why UKSL is contacting you or if you should pay them. You might also worry about what will happen if you can’t afford to pay. 

You’re not alone. Every month, more than 170,000 people visit our website seeking help on debt issues.

In this guide, we’ll:

•  Help you understand who UKSL is and why they might be contacting you.
•  Show you how to check if you really owe the debt.
•  Give you advice on what to do if you can’t afford to pay.
•  Talk about how dealing with UKSL might affect your credit score.
•  Explain ways to get free debt advice.

A significant survey completed by StepChange UK found that 83% of the 1794 clients included had at least one creditor who did not take their vulnerabilities into account¹. So, we understand that being chased by debt collectors can be scary.

This guide will give you the information you need to handle this situation with confidence. So, let’s get started.

Dealing with UKSL Debt – next steps

Let’s delve into the next steps in dealing with UKSL. With a bit of forward planning and a cool head, you could be able to beat them at their own game as well. 

Check your letters

Debt collection agencies buy billions of debt annually at rock bottom prices, at an average of 10p to £1! ^2. So, you should first carefully read the letter from UKSL debt, and check who they are collecting the amount on behalf of.

Then, go through your own correspondence and cross-reference the sums on each letter. If they have made mistakes with the sums they say you owe, you may not have to pay them.

Prove the debt

If you don’t believe that the amount UKSL debt is contacting you about is yours to pay, you can get them to prove the debt by sending a ‘Prove the Debt’ letter. UKSL debt will be obliged to reply in writing with precise proof of the debt they claim you owe.

Follow our ‘prove it’ guide with letter templates and get them to prove that you owe the money.

Statute-barred debts

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 a while. 

Keeping a diary

Another way of moving towards beating UKSL debt at their own game is to take careful note of all the letters and phone calls that they make. Keeping an accurate record is a good way of getting round some of UKSL Debt Collection practices!

Put down the times and dates of all instances of contact they make, and if you can, note down the names of anyone you speak with. 

If problems arise later on, you’ll have plenty of information to hand that will prove you had been active in your dealings with them.

If you negotiate a payment plan or they agree to write off some of the debt, we recommend getting this agreement in writing before you make your first payment. This will make it much more difficult for them to argue with you down the line.

If you are in a similar position as this UKSL reviewer, we recommend speaking to a debt charity.

In future, get your amended agreements in writing!

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

What If You Can’t Afford The Debt?

If you can’t afford to pay off your debt in one go, you should be offered a few UKSL debt repayment plans.

If you can’t afford to pay UKSL, you may benefit from a debt solution.

There are several debt solutions available in the UK, which means you can find the best solution for your finances. You can get free financial advice from a debt charity to help you make this decision.

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

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

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.

Will UKSL Affect Your Credit Score?

Yes, dealing with UKSL may affect your credit score. But probably not in the way you think!

Your credit score is probably already negatively affected before you start dealing with UKSL. This is because credit companies use your credit file to work out if you are a high-risk customer – someone who isn’t guaranteed to pay their bills on time.

Having some missed or late payments can be enough to bring your score down, even before your case is passed to UKSL. That said, UKSL can definitely make a bad situation worse.

If you don’t stick to any repayment schedule you agree with UKSL, they may end up taking you to court to get a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you. A CCJ can have disastrous implications for your credit score!

A CCJ will be visible on your credit file for 6 years. During this time, you might find it impossible or very difficult to get credit.

Typical Debt Collection Process

If you’ve missed a payment, UKSL or any other debt collection company will start to call or send letters. This is completely normal. However, as mentioned above, if you don’t pay the amount you owe, they can file a CCJ against you.

Here’s a breakdown of the debt collection process so you can consider it and be cautious. Check out our specialized guide if you’d like to learn more about the debt collector timeline.

Stage	Actions	What you should do:
Missing one or two small payments	Calls and letters from the debt collector asking for payment. They may enquire about reasons for missing payments.	Contact the debt collector and offer to pay what you can. If you are struggling to pay the debt, get in touch with us to explore your options.
Missing large or multiple payments	Their contact will become more frequent, urgent, and threatening.	Contact the debt collection agency and offer to pay what you can. You may also make a complaint if you think the letters are a form of harassment.
Debt collector visit	After a few months, if the debt is significant (£200+) you will receive notice of a debt collector visit. They have to notify you before arriving. Debt collectors cannot take anything from your home – they may only ask for payment.	If a debt collector shows up at your home, ask them to show proof of the debt and their ID through a window. Do not open your door or let them in. You can arrange a payment plan with the debt collector, but make sure to get a receipt of this.
Court	If you still do not pay your debts to the original lender/debt collector agency, they will take you to court and either attempt to: – File a CCJ against you. – File an attachment of earnings order. – File a lawsuit against you.	You must show up to your court date. From here, you can either dispute the debt, or the judge will likely suggest a manageable repayment plan for you.

How Can You Complain About UKSL?

Janine, our financial expert, explained that while debt collectors can visit your home for payments, they cannot come to your workplace, act threateningly, force payment, or discuss your finances with others.

If they violate these rules, you can complain.

So, if you think that UKSL has been unreasonable or behaved inappropriately, you can make a complaint.

Make your first complaint to UKSL 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 any secondary complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). They will investigate and, if your complaint is upheld, UKSL may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

UKSL Contact Information

Address:	Unit 4 Gander Lane Barlborough, Chesterfield Derbyshire, England, S43 4PZ
Phone:	01246 488 924
Email:	[email protected]

So that’s a guide as to what to do if UKSL debt have contacted you. Below, we answer some of the more commonly-asked questions about UKSL debt, and debt collectors in general.

References

1. Step Change Creditor and Debt Collector Conduct
2. Jubilee Debt Campaign