If PRA Group has contacted you, first identify the account and the deadline. A collection letter is not a bailiff visit or a court judgment, but a formal Letter of Claim or court form should not be ignored.
This guide explains the practical checks to make. It does not assume that the balance is correct or that a particular debt solution is right for you.
What to do first #
- Check the sender. Compare the company name, contact details and reference with the FCA Register and the creditor’s official website. Do not rely only on a phone number in an unexpected text.
- Identify the account. Ask for the original creditor, account number, date of assignment and an itemised balance.
- Check the stage. A routine collection letter, a formal Letter of Claim and a court claim have different consequences and deadlines.
- Do not pay an unknown account just to stop contact. A payment or written acknowledgement can affect the legal position of some old debts. Get advice first if limitation or prescription may apply.
- Protect priority bills. Rent or mortgage, council tax, current energy and essential living costs normally need attention before non-priority consumer credit.
Who are PRA Group UK? #
Companies House lists PRA Group (UK) Limited, company number 04267803, as active. The company was previously named Aktiv Kapital (UK) Limited.
PRA Group buys or manages debt accounts. If an account has been legally assigned, the new owner may seek the balance that is lawfully due. The commercial price paid for a portfolio is separate from the consumer’s agreement and is not a standard settlement percentage.
Check the current FCA Register entry using the exact legal entity and reference shown on your letter. Authorisation does not prove that a particular balance is accurate, so you should still verify the account.
What PRA Group can and cannot do #
PRA Group may:
- write, call or email at reasonable times;
- ask for payment or an affordable proposal;
- report accurate account information to credit reference agencies where permitted;
- consider a settlement or repayment plan;
- bring a court claim if it believes a recoverable debt is due.
PRA Group cannot, merely as a debt collector:
- force entry to your home;
- take or clamp belongings;
- pretend a collection letter is a court document;
- pressure you to pay in an unreasonably short period where doing so would harm your finances;
- ignore reasonable requests about when, where and how it contacts you.
Enforcement agents are separate from debt collectors. In England and Wales, attendance to take control of goods would normally require the relevant court and enforcement process after a judgment is not paid as ordered.
How to check whether the debt is yours #
Ask PRA Group to provide or confirm:
- the original creditor and account reference;
- the name and address held for the borrower;
- the amount claimed and a transaction or balance breakdown;
- when and how the account was assigned;
- a copy of the agreement or other evidence where relevant;
- details of any existing court judgment.
If the debt is not yours, say so in writing and explain what is wrong. Avoid sending more personal information than is needed. If identity fraud may be involved, contact the original creditor and follow current fraud-reporting guidance.
Notice of assignment #
A notice of assignment tells you that rights in an account have moved from one creditor to another. Check that it identifies the original creditor, new owner and account. A missing or disputed notice can be legally important, but it does not automatically mean the underlying debt never existed. Get legal advice if assignment is central to a live claim.
Letter of Claim and court papers #
For many consumer debts in England and Wales, a creditor should follow the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims before starting a claim. A Letter of Claim usually includes a reply form and gives time to respond.
If you receive a claim form:
- use the deadline on the official document;
- verify it through the court service if unsure;
- do not assume that contacting the collector pauses the deadline;
- get debt or legal advice promptly if you dispute liability, the amount, assignment or limitation;
- if you accept the debt but cannot pay in full, seek advice about an affordable response.
GOV.UK explains that a County Court Judgment can be entered if a claim is not answered. A judgment record normally remains for six years unless it is paid in full within one month. Scotland uses a different court and enforcement system.
Is the debt statute-barred? #
Limitation is not decided only by the age of a letter. Relevant factors can include the type of debt, when payment became due, the last qualifying payment or written acknowledgement, whether a claim was already issued and where you live.
The FCA says many debts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland generally have a six-year limitation period. Scotland generally has a five-year prescriptive period and materially different rules. Some debts use other periods. Get advice before paying or acknowledging an old account, especially if court papers or a judgment already exist.
Contact preferences and complaints #
You can write asking for contact at reasonable times or by a method that works with disability, caring duties or shift work. Keep copies. The FCA rule is based on reasonableness and the customer’s circumstances; it is not a universal 8am-to-9pm rule.
If you think the firm has treated you unfairly:
- make a written complaint to the company and keep evidence;
- give it the applicable time to issue a final response;
- if eligible and still dissatisfied, ask the Financial Ombudsman Service to review the complaint within the deadline stated in the final response.
A complaint does not normally pause a court deadline.
Payment and debt-help options #
The right option depends on the verified balance, your priority debts, income, assets and location. Options can include:
- an affordable direct repayment plan;
- a written full-and-final settlement, if available and affordable;
- a free debt-management plan;
- Breathing Space in England and Wales for temporary protection on qualifying debts;
- a Debt Relief Order, bankruptcy or another formal insolvency option;
- an Individual Voluntary Arrangement where it is suitable.
An IVA is not a way to cancel one disputed account. It is a formal arrangement covering a wider financial position. Creditors vote on the proposal, fees and assets matter, and only remaining included qualifying debt is normally released after successful completion. Compare it with free alternatives before signing.
Use the debt-help resources page for free, regulated and official support routes.