Letter from Credit Link? Read this before you pay

If a letter or text from Credit Link has just arrived for a debt you may not even remember, you are not alone. Credit Link is a UK debt-collection business regulated by the FCA. The most useful first step is to identify whether they own the debt or are chasing it on behalf of the original creditor — that changes who you negotiate with and what’s on the table.

This guide covers who Credit Link are, what they can legally do, the two checks worth running before paying anything, and the realistic options including how an IVA can legally stop them.

Who Credit Link are

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Credit Link 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 terms of the original credit agreement. They are likely to be a member of the Credit Services Association, the trade body for the UK debt-collection industry.

The first practical question is whether Credit Link now owns the debt or is chasing it on behalf of the original creditor:

• Debt purchaser — they bought the account from the original lender at a discount. Settlement decisions sit with them, including the ability to write off the unpaid balance.
• Contingent collector — the original creditor still owns the debt. Credit Link chase it on a fee, and settlement may need to be ratified by the original creditor.

You can ask Credit Link in writing whether they own the debt or are acting for the original creditor.

What Credit Link can and cannot legally do

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Credit Link 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 believe the debt is enforceable
• After a CCJ, support attachment of earnings, charging orders or High Court enforcement
• Sell the debt on to another debt purchaser if they own it

They cannot force entry, take goods at the door, threaten arrest, continue contacting you after a written request that they stop, or add fees that were not part of the original credit agreement.

If a Credit Link representative ever turns up at your door, you have no obligation to speak to them, let them in, or sign anything.

Step 1 — confirm the debt is yours

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Before paying anything, the single most useful action is a CCA request under sections 77/78 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Send it in writing, enclose the £1 statutory fee, and keep proof of postage. Credit Link have 12 working days plus a further 30 calendar days to respond. While they are unable to comply, the debt is legally unenforceable — they cannot lawfully use court action against you. Many older or bulk-handled debts cannot be backed by the original signed agreement, in which case a successful CCA request often ends the matter.

Step 2 — check whether the debt is statute-barred

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Most consumer debts in England and Wales become statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980 once six years have passed since you last made a payment or acknowledged the debt in writing — provided no court proceedings were started in that window. In Scotland the period is five years, and once a debt is “prescribed” it ceases to exist legally rather than just being unenforceable.

If the dates fit, write to Credit Link stating that you consider the debt statute-barred and asking them to remove their contact. Do not pay anything, even a small “good faith” amount, before checking the dates — a single payment resets the limitation clock.

Step 3 — choose the route out

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• Pay in full with a discount where possible. Credit Link will sometimes accept a settlement at less than the full balance.
• Affordable repayment plan based on the Standard Financial Statement — Credit Link must consider what you can genuinely afford under CONC.
• IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) if you owe £5,000 or more in total unsecured debt across two or more creditors — the IVA legally stops Credit Link pursuing you for the included balance and writes off the unpaid balance at the end of the 5–6 year term.
• Debt Management Plan — informal monthly payment distributed across all unsecured debts. Stops the chasing while maintained; no write-off.
• Debt Relief Order if total debts are under £50,000 and your spare income is very low. A DRO writes off the debt entirely after 12 months.
• Bankruptcy if no realistic monthly payment is possible.

Always confirm any agreement reached with Credit Link in writing, and never give bank details over the phone unless you have independently verified the line.

Pitfalls when dealing with Credit Link

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• Don’t ignore CCJ paperwork. A claim form starts a 14-day clock — miss it and a default CCJ sits on your file for six years.
• Don’t make a token “goodwill” payment before checking dates — it can reset the statute-barred clock.
• Don’t ring numbers from a text without verifying the line through Credit Link’s official channels.
• Don’t agree to a payment plan you can’t afford. Pressure tends to increase if you default on a self-imposed plan.

Frequently asked questions

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Are Credit Link bailiffs? No. They are debt collectors. Only court-instructed enforcement officers can take goods, and only after a CCJ.

Will an IVA include my Credit Link debt? Yes — the underlying debt is unsecured and goes into an IVA on the same basis as any other unsecured debt.

Can Credit Link take me to court? Yes, if the debt is genuine, within the limitation period and unpaid. Most cases result in default judgments because the defendant didn’t respond.

How do I make Credit Link stop calling? Send a written request that future contact is by post only. Under CONC, Credit Link must comply.

Related guides

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• Lowell Financial — major debt purchaser
• Cabot Financial — major debt purchaser
• 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?