Should I Pay my PRA Group UK Limited Debt? Know Your Rights

Receiving a letter from a debt collector can be worrying. It can make you feel unsure and a little bit scared. You might wonder what will happen next.

You’re not on your own. Every month, our website is visited by over 12,000 people who need advice about debt. 

In this article, I’m going to talk about:

•  Who PRA Group UK Limited are, and why they might contact you.
•  How to know if the debt is really yours.
•  What to do if you can’t pay the full amount.
•  If PRA Group UK Limited can take you to court.
•  How to get in touch with PRA Group Debt Recovery.

We understand how hard it can be to deal with debt; some of us have been there too. Sometimes, it can feel like it’s taking over your life.

But remember, we are here to help you find a way to make things better. Let’s dive in!

Why would PRA Group UK Limited contact you?

As mentioned, if you default on a loan or you owe money on a credit card and failed to pay, PRA could buy the loan from the provider. If this happens, the debt collection agency contacts you directly for payment.

Why is PRA Group on my credit file?

A record of a PRA Group debt on your credit file is registered when you haven’t settled a debt they hold. Maybe, you ignored PRA’s correspondence, or you didn’t attend a court hearing.

The result? A CCJ is registered on your credit history making it hard or impossible to get a loan, credit card or mortgage!

How do you know the debt is yours?

Ask PRA Group to prove the debt is yours by requesting a ‘prove it’ letter. This could be in the form of the credit agreement you entered into with the original provider. 

It’s a wise move because it not only gains you a little time, but it can also reassure you that the ‘debt’ is truly yours!

Can you ignore a debt letter from PRA Group?

No. It’s never a good move to ignore a letter about a debt from PRA Group for several reasons.

I’ve listed some here:

• Maybe the debt is not yours and belongs to someone else
• You paid off the debt
• The debt is statute-barred and can’t be enforced

Moreover, when you ignore the correspondence, things can quickly escalate and suddenly you owe a lot more money.

Plus, you could end up with a CCJ on your credit history!

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What happens if I don’t pay PRA Group?

When you don’t pay PRA Group the amount you owe, the debt collection agency could take you to court. Things get messy if you continue to disregard correspondence or you refuse to attend court.

The amount you owe could increase thanks to court costs and fees!

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Will PRA Group Take You to Court?

Yes. You risk being taken to court by PRA Group if you do any of the following:

• Ignore the correspondence PRA sends you
• Refuse to pay the debt
• Don’t agree to an offered repayment plan

You’d have to attend a court hearing and if you don’t, PRA Group could ask the judge to register a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you!

Can PRA Group send bailiffs?

When you don’t respond to a County Court Judgement issued by the courts, you could end up with Enforcement Agents (bailiffs) contacting you. They could pay you a visit at home and have the power to seize your possessions!

The items are sold at auction to repay the debt owed or your earnings could get a lean on them amongst other things!

What regulations does PRA Group UK have to follow?

As a debt collection company, PRA Group UK Ltd is regulated and must follow the law. That said, not all do and if you’re not sure about your rights, a debt collector may use unethical tactics. This is an offence on their part!

So, what are the rules that PRA Group must follow? I’ve listed them here:

• Allow you enough time to seek debt advice so you can realistically assess your options
• Respect a request to only contact you at specific times and by specific means. To achieve this, write a letter to PRA detailing when and how you’d want to be contacted. Send the letter registered post!
• Debt collectors can’t infer they are enforcement agents (bailiffs) which is a criminal offence!
• Discuss your debt discreetly and politely with you
• Use deceptive tactics to trick you into signing an agreement
• Discuss your debt with other people. For example, with your family, friends, neighbours, employers etc which breaches your privacy

You have the right to file a complaint with PRA’s head office when a debt collector uses unethical tactics when contacting you. That said, you can escalate the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman if you don’t get a response or it’s unsatisfactory.

How do you contact PRA Group Debt Recovery?

If you need to contact PRA Group Debt Recovery about recent correspondence, you can do so in the following ways: