If a letter or text from CD UK has just landed for a debt you barely remember, you are not alone. CD UK is a UK debt-collection business — most likely chasing a balance the original lender has either sold or referred for collection. This page sets out who they are, what they can legally do under the FCA’s CONC rules, and the realistic options if you cannot pay it in full — including how an IVA can legally stop them and write the debt off.
Who CD UK are#
CD UK is a UK debt-collection business regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer-credit collection activity. Like every UK collector they must follow the FCA’s Consumer Credit Sourcebook (CONC), the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and — for any post-default interest or fees — the original credit agreement. Most UK collectors of consumer-credit debt are also members of the Credit Services Association, the trade body for the industry.
The first practical question is whether CD UK now owns the debt (a debt purchaser) or is chasing it on behalf of the original creditor (a contingent collector). The answer changes who you negotiate with and what is on the table:
- Debt purchaser — they bought the account at a discount; settlement decisions sit with them
- Contingent collector — the original creditor still owns the debt; settlement may need ratifying by them
You can ask CD UK in writing which model applies. They are required to tell you under CONC.
What CD UK can and cannot legally do#
CD UK are debt collectors, not bailiffs. They can:
- Write to you and call you on numbers held by the original creditor
- Apply for a County Court Judgment (CCJ) if they own the debt and believe it is enforceable
- After a CCJ, apply for an attachment of earnings, charging order on a property or High Court enforcement
- Sell the debt on to another debt purchaser
They cannot force entry, take goods, threaten arrest, continue calling after a written stop request, or invent fees that were not in the original credit agreement. If a CD UK field agent ever turns up at your door, you have no obligation to speak to them, let them in or sign anything.
If CD UK is one of several debts, an IVA combines every unsecured balance into one affordable monthly payment from £70. Interest stops, contact stops, and the unpaid balance is written off at the end.
Check if an IVA fits your situationStep 1 — confirm the debt is yours and is enforceable#
Before paying anything to CD UK, send a CCA request under sections 77/78 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Enclose the £1 statutory fee, send it in writing and keep proof of postage. CD UK have 12 working days plus a further 30 calendar days to respond. Until they comply, the debt is legally unenforceable through the courts. Many old or bulk-purchased debts cannot be backed by the original signed agreement, in which case the CCA request often ends the matter.
Step 2 — check whether the debt is statute-barred#
Most consumer debts in England and Wales become statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980 once six years have passed since the last payment, written acknowledgement or court action. In Scotland the period is five years and the debt ceases to exist legally rather than just being unenforceable. Do not make a token payment — even £1 can reset the limitation clock.
Step 3 — choose the route out#
If the debt is genuinely yours, recently incurred and within the limitation period, the realistic options are:
- Pay in full with a written discount where possible
- Affordable repayment plan based on the Standard Financial Statement
- Debt Management Plan — informal monthly payment distributed across all unsecured debts
- IVA if you owe £5,000 or more across two or more creditors — legally stops CD UK and writes off the unpaid balance after 5–6 years
- Debt Relief Order for total debt under £50,000 with very low spare income
- Bankruptcy where no realistic monthly contribution is possible
Always confirm any agreement with CD UK in writing, and never give bank details over the phone unless you are sure the line is genuine.
An IVA is often the cleanest answer to a CD UK debt when there is more than one creditor in the picture. Use the free 2-minute check to see whether your situation qualifies.
Start the free IVA checkWhat happens if you ignore CD UK#
Ignoring CD UK does not make the debt go away. Letters and calls escalate, a field-agent visit may be scheduled, and the file may be sold to another debt purchaser or passed to solicitors for litigation. If a county-court claim form arrives, respond before the deadline printed on it — even a holding acknowledgement of service buys you time and prevents a default judgment.
Common pitfalls when dealing with CD UK#
- Don’t ignore CCJ paperwork. A claim form sent to your address starts a court timer; missing the 14-day acknowledgement deadline results in a default CCJ
- Don’t make a token “goodwill” payment before checking dates — it can reset the statute-barred clock
- Don’t ring numbers from a text message without verifying through CD UK’s official channels — phishing using collector branding is common
- Don’t agree to a payment plan you can’t afford in the hope of stopping the calls — pressure tends to increase if you default
Frequently asked questions#
Are CD UK bailiffs? No. CD UK are debt collectors and have no enforcement powers at the door.
Can CD UK take me to court? Yes — if the debt is genuine and within the limitation period.
Will an IVA include my CD UK debt? Yes. CD UK debt is unsecured and goes into an IVA on the same basis as any other unsecured balance.
How do I stop CD UK calling? Send a written request that future contact is by post only. Under CONC, CD UK must comply.
Related guides#
- Do debt collectors give up?
- How long can I be chased for a debt?
- Can debt be written off?
- How do I apply for an IVA?
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