ByHow to Draft a "Prove It" Letter to Debt Collection Agencies
Debt collectors in the UK can be a major annoyance. They have a well-deserved reputation for ignoring consumer protection rules. One of the first steps to get debt collectors to leave alone is by requesting a "Prove It" letter that verifies the debt. The letter's importance has left many people searching for a .
Our guide below will explain the importance of sending a Prove It letter to debt collectors. If needed, we can even on your behalf.
Basics of Debt Collection
- When companies believe debt is uncollectible, they often sell the debt receivables to a collection agency at a discount.
- During this transfer of receivables, the collection agency is required to keep proper record-keeping to verify the debt.
- Despite this record-keeping requirement, collection agencies are known for making mistakes.
- They may accidentally try to collect the debt from someone with a similar name.
- Collection agencies may accidentally try to collect a debt that has already been paid.
- Some collection agencies openly try to scam people by trying to collect on a fictitious debt.
- Debts in the UK have a statute of limitation of six years. Debts older than six years cannot be legally collected. (The statute of limitations is five years in Scotland).
What Is a Prove It Letter and How It Can Help
- A is an informal term used to describe when someone requests official proof of debt from a collector.
- This is particularly helpful if you believe the debt is not rightfully assigned to you.
- A Prove It Letter can also be helpful if you are unsure about the debt. If you don't remember the debt, a Prove It Letter can help set the record straight.
- After a Prove It Letter has been sent and received, the collector must stop all collection attempts until proof of debt is verified.
When Not to Send a Prove It Letter
While Prove It letters are a great way to stop erroneous debt collections, there are at least 5 scenarios where they won't be beneficial.
| The debt is clearly assigned to someone else. | If the name on the debt is more than a minor misspelling, then a Prove It Letter won't be necessary. Simply tell the debt collector, "this isn't me." |
| The debt is yours and is more than 6 years old. | At this point, a Prove It Letter isn't the best course of action. Instead, you will want to utilize Statute-Barred debt laws. (DoNotPay can help with this too, more info below). |
| You are 100% certain the debt was settled with the original creditor. | In these scenarios, which is common with utility and mobile bills, you will need to get in touch with the original creditor to set things straight. |
| The debt letter is incredibly vague. | Vague debt letters are a common technique for scammers. If there is no info about the original creditor, account numbers, dates, etc. then there is a good chance it is a scam. You can ignore these, but you may need to investigate them further if you continue to receive them month after month. |
| You are receiving court papers about the debt. | If the debt has reached this point, you are on a strict timescale. Waiting for the exchange with a Prove It letter can lead to more problems. For these situations, get in touch with the National Debtline for help. |
Generate a Prove It Letter With DoNotPay
Successful Prove It letters need to be strongly worded and cite Financial Conduct Authority regulations. Additionally, a Prove It Letter should be tailored to your specific situation (denying the debt vs asking for confirmation). In any case, DoNotPay can generate a Prove It letter on your behalf. Additionally, we can offer other solutions for different debt scenarios.
To get started, follow these three easy steps:
- Search for "debt collection" on DoNotPay.
- Answer a few questions about the debt collectors, such as when you were contacted and how you were contacted. This will help us determine if they violated any debt collection laws.
- Select the best course of action based on our guidance. You can choose to file a Prove It Letter, demand for the collectors to stop contacting you or report the collection agency to a professional trade association.
What Else Can DoNotPay do?
DoNotPay started as a service for people to fight unfair parking tickets. After managing well over 200,000 cases in both the UK and the US, we've expanded our services a great deal.
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