Last reviewed: 5 June 2026
If a debt collector contacts you, you have significant legal rights under UK law. Collectors regulated by the FCA must follow strict rules on how they can contact you and what they can say.
## What is a debt collection agency? A debt collection agency is a company that either purchases unpaid debts from original creditors at a discount, or acts as an agent on behalf of the original creditor to pursue repayment. In the UK, debt collection agencies that collect consumer debts must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can check whether a firm is FCA-authorised at **register.fca.org.uk**. ## What can debt collectors do? Authorised debt collectors can contact you by letter, phone, email or in person at your home to request repayment of a legitimate debt. They can: - Request payment of a debt that is genuinely owed - Add interest or charges if the original credit agreement permitted this - Pass the debt to a solicitor or apply to court for a County Court Judgment (CCJ) if you do not engage - Register the debt with credit reference agencies, which can affect your credit file ## What debt collectors cannot do The FCA's Consumer Credit sourcebook (CONC) and the Consumer Credit Act 1974 prohibit a range of practices. Debt collectors cannot:
- Contact you at unreasonable hours
- Threaten legal action they do not intend to take
- Misrepresent the amount owed or their legal powers
- Claim to be a court official or use official-looking documents that are not genuine court documents
- Contact you at your workplace if you have told them this is not permitted
- Discuss your debt with third parties without your consent
- Apply excessive pressure or harassment
- Pursue a statute-barred debt as if it is still legally enforceable
## What is a statute-barred debt? Under the Limitation Act 1980, most consumer debts in England and Wales become statute-barred after 6 years from the date the creditor could first have taken legal action (usually the date of the first missed payment). In Scotland, the period is 5 years under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. A statute-barred debt cannot be enforced through court. However, it does not disappear - collectors can still ask you to repay it, but they cannot threaten legal action or obtain a CCJ. Making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can restart the limitation period. ## What to do if contacted by a debt collector 1. Ask for written confirmation of the debt, the original creditor and the amount 2. Check the firm is FCA-authorised at register.fca.org.uk 3. Check whether the debt might be statute-barred before making any payment or written acknowledgement 4. Contact a free debt advice service: StepChange (stepchange.org), National Debtline (nationaldebtline.org) or Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) 5. Complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service if the collector is behaving unlawfully: financial-ombudsman.org.uk
