Letter from FJG? Read this before you reply

If a letter or text from FJG has just landed and you are not sure exactly what the brand refers to, you are not alone. Several UK debt-collection businesses use FJG as an initialism or trading style, and the letter you have received will name the underlying creditor somewhere — that is the detail that matters most.

This guide covers what any UK collector trading as FJG can legally do under FCA CONC rules, the two checks worth running before paying anything, and the realistic options for resolving the debt — including how an IVA can legally stop them and write the unpaid balance off.

Who FJG are

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A UK business operating under the FJG name as a debt collector will be 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) and the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Most UK collectors of consumer-credit debt are also members of the Credit Services Association (CSA).

The first practical question is whether FJG 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:

• 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. FJG chase it on a fee, and settlement discussions sometimes need to be ratified by the original creditor.

Ask FJG in writing whether they own the debt or are acting for the original creditor.

What FJG can and cannot legally do

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A UK collector trading as FJG is a debt collector, not a bailiff. 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
• Recommend that the underlying creditor takes court action, if they are a contingent collector
• Support attachment of earnings, charging orders or High Court enforcement after a CCJ
• Send a doorstep field agent to your address (no enforcement powers)

They cannot:

• Force entry to your home
• Take goods (only court-instructed enforcement officers can attempt that — and not for an unsecured consumer debt without a court order)
• Threaten arrest — the matter is civil, not criminal
• Continue contacting you after a written request that they stop, except to confirm changes to the account
• Add fees or post-default interest beyond what the original credit agreement permits
• Disclose the debt to anyone else without your express consent

If a doorstep agent ever turns up at your address on FJG’s instruction, you have no obligation to speak to them, let them in, or sign anything. Politely ask them to leave and follow up in writing.

Step 1 — confirm the debt is yours and is enforceable

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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. This is your statutory right to a copy of the original signed credit agreement. Send it in writing, enclose the £1 statutory fee, and keep proof of postage. The £1 is for the request only — it is not an admission of debt or an offer to pay anything.

FJG have 12 working 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-purchased debts cannot be backed by the original signed agreement, in which case a CCA request often ends the matter outright.

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 — and provided no court proceedings have been issued in that window. Statute-barred debt cannot be enforced through the courts, although technically it does still legally exist.

In Scotland the period is five years, and once the debt is “prescribed” it ceases to exist legally rather than just being unenforceable.

If the dates fit, write to FJG 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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If the debt is genuinely yours, recently incurred and within the limitation period, the question is what you can realistically afford:

• Pay in full with a discount where possible. Settlement offers of 30–50% on older balances are common.
• Affordable repayment plan based on the Standard Financial Statement. Under CONC they must consider what you can genuinely afford after essentials, not what they would prefer.
• Debt Management Plan — informal monthly payment to a DMP provider distributed across all unsecured debts. Stops the chasing; no write-off.
• IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) if you owe £5,000 or more in total unsecured debt across two or more creditors — the IVA legally stops FJG and the underlying creditor, and writes off the unpaid balance at the end of the 5–6 year term.
• Debt Relief Order if total debt is 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 FJG in writing, and never give bank details over the phone unless you are confident the line is legitimate.

Common pitfalls when dealing with FJG

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• Don’t ignore CCJ paperwork. A claim form sent to your address starts a court timer; failing to file an acknowledgement of service by day 14 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 the line through FJG’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.
• Don’t assume the brand is the only collector. If FJG fail to recover, the file is often passed to a debt purchaser like Lowell or Cabot.

Frequently asked questions

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Are FJG bailiffs? No. FJG are debt collectors. They can write, call and (sometimes) visit, but they cannot force entry or take goods. Only court-instructed enforcement officers can attempt that, and only after a CCJ.

Can FJG take me to court? Yes, if they own the debt — or with the underlying creditor’s authorisation if they are a contingent collector. Most uncontested cases result in default judgments simply because the defendant didn’t respond to the claim form.

Will an IVA include this debt? Yes. The debt is unsecured and goes into an IVA on the same basis as any other unsecured debt. Once approved, both FJG and any underlying creditor must stop contact.

The debt isn’t mine — what should I do? Tell FJG in writing that you do not acknowledge the debt and request proof of assignment, the original agreement and the statement of account under sections 77/78. Until they provide it, the debt is unenforceable. Identity-theft cases should also be reported to Action Fraud.

Related guides

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• Advantis Credit — major UK contingent collector
• Lowell Financial — major UK debt purchaser
• Do debt collectors give up?
• How long can I be chased for a debt?
• How do I apply for an IVA?