Link Financial are a debt collection company with a company number of 03504939, operating in six European countries. Their full company name is Link Financial Outsourcing Limited, and they are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
They also offer linked financial services to companies such as loan servicing.
Important: Do not let Link Financial into your home, no matter what they tell you. Contact us immediately, and we will make it our job to deal with them on your behalf and let you know your options.
So, let’s find out more about Link Financial and how they work.
Will Link Financial come to my house to collect debts?
Link Financial may appoint field agents to make home visits and approach you about the alleged debt. These visits can be very distressing for the person who is the named debtor, and the entire family. These methods can have a detrimental outcome on your mental and physical health, and to the people around you.
These are all very common tactics which Link Financial use to get in touch with the people who owe them money. Without appointing a debt company to represent you, this may continue.
As a long-established independent debt website, we have a vast experience of dealing with creditors such as Link Financial. We understand the tricks that they use, the rules they have to follow, and we can work with you to get them to stop.
How will Link Financial chase me if I don’t pay?
Creditors such as Link Financial use computer systems (often known as customer relationship management systems) to keep on top of their debtors. They usually follow collection tactics which will make them the most profit. These methods can feel aggressive, and you may have seen documentaries and news articles criticising the heavy-handed nature of debt collectors and bailiffs. Although the Government have come some way to reduce their powers, the main tactic continues; intimidation.
The first point of contact which Link Financial may use will be an introductory phone call and letter to bring the debt to your attention. This communication is to set out their pre-action protocol. You will usually receive a letter explaining the total amount of debt owed, any charges or penalties which may have built up and a tight deadline for you to repay the debt in full. The letter will usually mention what actions will happen if you do not pay the debt in full and may contain legal jargon. The next steps are generally:
- A home visit
- A county court judgement (CCJ), issued by Link Financial if you fail to repay the debt within this tight deadline
- A threat of bankruptcy (usually if the debt is over £750)
Letters like this are very standard with every credit provider and not just Link Financial. It is essential not to take these letters personally or to feel that there is nothing you can do. Please keep a copy of all the correspondence the company sends you in relation to your debt and their claims. There is help at hand, but you should act quickly.
If Link Financial has contacted you, contact us immediately, and we will try to deal with them on your behalf.
How we can help
When you first contact us, you will notice that all of our employees are vastly experienced in dealing with creditors such as Link Financial. As one of the largest debt websites in the United Kingdom, we pride ourselves in dealing with a high amount of debt related queries in an empathetic, effective and speedy fashion.
We request reviews from every single customer who we help, some of them have given very detailed feedback on how we have helped them and how it has completely changed their lives (in a very short space of time). So please check out these reviews and see for yourself!
We deal with a variety of debt solutions and a wide range of debt companies. This means that you will always find the best debt solution for yourself, without exception. As we are not tied to any one particular company, we can work hard to ensure you repay the very minimum that you need to.
What rights do Link Financial have?
Any company which chases consumers for outstanding debts has to follow a strict code of conduct. In our opinion, this practice needs significant changes as it seems to rely on intimidation; for example, in the way that field agents visit homes.
In reality, companies such as Link Financial Outsourcing are only interested in collecting as much money back from debts as they can. The welfare of the debtors is usually the last thing on their mind.
Debt collectors can exercise the following rights:
- They can send letters to addresses where they think that you live, including new addresses which you have not provided to them
- Debt collectors can call you on mobiles and landlines which they believe you to have access to
- They can come to your home
- Debt collectors can add charges, interest and penalties in accordance with the original agreement you entered into
- Link may have the “right to offset”. This right usually applies in situations when you have a debt with a bank, but you may also have money held within that same bank, for instance, a credit card and a current account
- If you do not pay on time, the company may register a default on your credit file. The default registration process can happen very quickly, but you should receive notice of this upfront. If you receive a default on your credit file, it has a very negative effect on your credit rating and is a problem if you want to apply for credit in the future
- Link Financial Services may apply for a charging order through the courts known as county court judgment (CCJ). If you receive a CCJ on your credit report, it has a very negative effect on your credit rating and your ability to gain credit in the future
- If your debt with the debt collectors is over £5,000, they can issue a statutory demand. The demand is usually the first step in petitioning for your bankruptcy. You would need to appoint a legal representative (usually a solicitor) to represent you in these circumstances.
What rights do I have against Link Financial?
As a citizen of the United Kingdom, you have specific rights to protect you and your family’s wellbeing when dealing with debt collectors. The key points are:
- Link Financial can not harass you through their collection and communication tactics. Their agent can contact you as many times as they want as long as this is ‘reasonable’. What constitutes ‘reasonable’ does not have any concrete definition but be assured that this means that you should not feel a victim of bullying or harassment by Link Financial. You cannot use this as a defence to avoid repaying your debt. You can ask that debt collectors only contact you in writing, but if you do this, you must make sure that you are responsive to these letters.
- Link Financial cannot speak to a family member, friends or neighbours about your debt without your permission. This practice is in line with UK data protection laws.
- Link Financial cannot pretend that they have powers which they do not possess. In the past creditors have used documents which look like an official court document. A law has passed to prevent this from happening now.
- Link Financial cannot be threatening, abusive or tell lies to collect debt.
If you are worried about Link Financial, your liability and their demands, you should contact us immediately by calling the number on top of this page, or by clicking “Get Started for Free”. We can offer you free, individual advice for dealing with the debt recovery process that allows you to get power and control back, no matter what your situation is.
We treat everyone who comes to us with respect and will carry out investigations to help you find the right option for you.
Link Financial Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I ignore my debt with Link Financial?
Link Financial may make a court claim against yourself. This method is a cheap but popular way for them to reclaim their money. If they choose this method, you will receive a claim form through the post, and you would either have to pay the money in full or dispute the bill. If you dispute the bill against Link Financial, you should take legal advice, as a lot of defences will not work as a justification not to comply in this situation.
Can I write off my debt with Link Financial?
Who do Link Financial debt collect for?
Link Financial are a debt collection agency; this means that they can buy debts from numerous organisations that offer consumer credit and business credit. Once they become the owners of these debts, they then have grounds legally pursue them. Some of the most common debts for collections agencies are council tax arrears, parking fines, benefit overpayments, loan accounts, credit cards, car payments, mobile phones, water and utility bills (such as Npower).
If customers do not meet the terms of a credit agreement, for example, with a credit card company, their information can be passed to a debt collector.
How can I contact Link Financial Outsourcing Limited about my debt?
You can contact Link Financial Outsourcing in the following ways:
- Telephone: 0800 064 4499
- Email: info@linkfinancial.eu
- Post: Link Financial Outsourcing Limited, The Peak, 2nd Floor, 5 Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1AN (registered office address) or Link Financial Outsourcing Limited, PO Box 246, Caerphilly CF83 9FA
- Website: https://www.linkfinancial.eu/
Who regulates Link Financial?
Are Link Financial a legitimate company?
Link Financial Outsourcing Limited incorporated in October 2009, registered in England and Wales under company number 07059696. It’s a legitimate company with a registered office address at The Peak, 2nd Floor, 5 Wilton Road, London, England, SW1V 1AN.
How do Link Financial Outsourcing work?
One of the reasons you are likely to receive so many phone calls, perhaps followed up by text message, is that Link debt collectors are likely to be paid a bonus for the money they collect, so they have incentives to be persistent. They may also use automated calling systems, which could mean you receive a regular phone call throughout the day from different numbers.
If they send a bailiff to reclaim items of value from your property to repay your creditor, you may incur collection charges if they are not able to enter your property.
How can I make a complaint about Link?
You can share any complaints with Link Finance by phone, email or post:
- Phone: 0330 024 7050
- Email: complaints@linkfinancial.co.uk
- Post: Link Financial Outsourcing Limited, PO Box 246, Caerphilly CF83 9FA
You can find their complaint process under the ‘treating customers fairly’ section of their website portal navigation or by typing ‘Link Financial Complaint Handling Procedure’ into your browser. This section includes a complaint form that you can use to submit the details of your complaint, along with your signature.
If you are unhappy with how the company have dealt with your complaint, you can refer your circumstances to the Financial Ombudsman Service via:
- Website: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/how-to-complain
- Email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk
- Post: The Financial Ombudsman Service Exchange Tower, London E14 9SR
They review customer disputes and check the firm has acted in line with the expected standards.
Where can I go for debt help?
If you would like debt advice, institutions such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and StepChange can support you with tips, guidelines, understanding and support with your circumstances.
Please note that debt is something that impacts millions of people around the world, so don’t feel that you have to have the strength to deal with everything on your own. It can often feel that there is no end in sight, but in fact, by reading just an article, seeing a video or posts from a supportive body, you will find evidence and confirmation that there is a lot you can do.
If you are receiving threats or have a question, then reach out to one of these bodies, or to our team of experts who will answer your questions and turn your money problems into results.
Our staff make it their business to look after your interest, to support and guide you through the process so you can rest easy at night. Call us for free on 0330 1228447.
I think my debt letter is a mistake
If you think the debt collection agency has made a mistake on the record of a debt, you can ask them to supply proof that you owe this money and to list what costs, interest rate or charge they have added to your case. You have the right to ask a question or make a point on anything that you think is unclear or incorrect, and to receive a response to your enquiry.
It’s not uncommon to receive a notification about a debt relating to another party. The agent may ask you to prove your identity before they will remove your address details from their collection database. It’s important to ensure that you do not become the owner of someone else’s debt.
How can I make a payment arrangement?
Links Finance accept the following payments:
- Credit card
- Debit card
- Repayments through installments
- Bespoke repayment payment plan arrangements
- Lump-sum
- Part-payment
Who collects HMRC debt?
At the time of writing, HMRC uses the following debt collection agencies to collect monies due following a County Court Judgement:
- 1st Locate (trading as LCS)
- Advantis Credit Ltd
- Bluestone Consumer Finance Limited (trading as Bluestone Credit Management)
- BPO Collections Ltd
- CCS Collect (also known as Commercial Collection Services Ltd)
- Moorcroft
- Oriel Collections Limited
- Past Due Credit Solutions (PDCS)
Link Financial Outsourcing do not currently collect for HMRC.
Thomas James
Senior Debt Specialist at IVA Advice
I am a Debt Specialist with over 10 years of experience working with FCA Regulated Finance Companies in the insurance, credit card, loan and debt industry. I am very familiar with The Civil Enforcement Association and the High Court Enforcement Officers Association and I have written extensively on debt matters.Latest posts by Thomas James see all
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