National Debtline | England and Wales | Sample letters - Complaining to debt collection agencies that you do not owe the debt (sole name)

Use this letter to complain to debt collection agencies who are pursuing you when you do not owe the debt. Contact us for advice before using this letter.

You can choose to send a letter in your own name or in joint names. You may have a debt in joint names, or want to write to your creditors together because you have worked out a joint budget.

Fill in your contact details, account number and any extra information you want to include in the grey shaded areas.
Today’s date will be added automatically.
Sign each letter and enclose a copy of your budget if needed.

Letter in joint names

You can choose to send a letter in your own name or in joint names. You may have a debt in joint names, or want to write to your creditors together because you have worked out a joint budget.

Change to joint version

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1st July 2024 [today’s date]*

Dear Sir/Madam

Account No:

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You have contacted me about the account with the above reference number, which you claim I owe.

I have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to

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I am familiar with the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Consumer Credit sourcebook which states the following.

"A firm must not ignore or disregard a customer's claim that a debt has been settled or is disputed and must not continue to make demands for payment without providing clear justification and/or evidence as to why the customer's claim is not valid." 7.5.3

"A firm must suspend any steps it takes or its agent takes in the recovery of a debt from a customer where the customer disputes the debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds." 7.14.1

"Where a customer disputes a debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds, the firm must investigate the dispute and provide details of the debt to the customer in a timely manner." 7.14.3

If you do not stop collection activity whilst investigating my dispute, you are breaking FCA rules and guidance.

Also, ignoring claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment is harassment.

Please do not make any further contact about the above accounts unless you can provide evidence of my liability for the debt.

I await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to my local trading standards service and consider informing the FCA of your actions.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

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