What happens if I don't respond?

We understand it can be tempting to put off dealing with debt. But ignoring contact from us is likely to make the situation worse. Here's what happens if we don't hear from you.

We'll try to contact you again

We'll attempt to reach you by different means — SMS, email, letter, or phone. We follow rules about how often we can contact you and what times are appropriate.

We may send a formal Pre-Action Protocol letter

Before we can take any legal action, we are required by law to send you a Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims letter. This gives you 30 days to respond before we can consider court action.

We may apply to the county court

If you do not respond to the Pre-Action Protocol letter, we may apply for a County Court Judgment (CCJ). A CCJ is a formal court order requiring you to pay. It can affect your credit rating and may mean enforcement action such as:

Deductions from earnings

A charging order on property

Bailiff action

Court action adds costs

If we pursue court action, court fees and potentially legal costs may be added to the original amount owed.

It's not too late

Even if you've ignored previous contact, it's not too late to get in touch. We'd much rather resolve this without going to court. Contact us through the portal or speak to a free debt adviser first.