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6 months for write off decision - too long?


I submitted a debt write off request to Link Financial back in January, with full supporting evidence including a DMHEF, police report, specialist counselling letter and details of the abuse I went through that led to the debt in question.
It’s now mid June, so six months later, and I still haven’t had a decision. I’ve chased several times, and all they ever say is “We don’t give time estimates. It’s in the manager’s inbox waiting, we promise we will let you know as soon as we have a decision”
I understand these things can take a little while, but six months with no outcome or meaningful update just feels like I’m being ignored. All other creditors responded much faster, some even wrote debts off within 8–12 weeks using the exact same evidence.
Has anyone here actually had a write off approved by Link? And if so, how long did it take?
Is 6 months unreasonable or am I being impatient?
They own the debt, so aren’t corresponding with original creditor
Feeling exhausted by the waiting game.
Comments
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Try to relax, your account will be on hold whilst this is looked at, so collection activity will be stalled.
Disputes are supposed to be looked into within 8 weeks, so maybe send another reminder.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter0 -
Thank you - it’s just the last one remaining and it feels like salt in the wound it taking so long.Should I send my reminder as a complaint? I worry that this will lead to them taking a less favourable stance on the decision to write off or not, but it would mean they’d have to give a response in a specified time limit.0
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Just treat it as if it's been written off.
These debt companies are not known for competence.
I trust you're not making any payment to them.0 -
No, not making payment. I would like the associated default removed from my credit file and all others have done that after writing off the debt due to the way it was accrued. If it wasn’t for the default, I wouldn’t be as bothered. I’d like to buy a house and put it all behind me.1
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Relax a bit. Give them a few months and then complain to them.
Meantime, you are saving any non-payments into your deposit fund?If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing0 -
Yes it’s has been redirected into my deposit savings. Is there a general amount of time where it’d be acceptable for me to complain? 6 months in so far, don’t want to do it too early but don’t want it to drag on.0
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Did you ask for this to be considered by the team that deals with vulnerable people because of the abuse?
i wouldnt make a formal complaint yet, but I would send an email requesting a speedy reply, as the uncertainty and having to constantly live with the after effects of this abuse is stressful.
Then a formal complaint in another couple of months.0 -
Yes, it was passed to the specialist support team back in Jan when I initially provided all of my evidence. I’ve called that team a few times now just to be met with ‘we don’t know how long’. I didn’t want to have to complain but as you rightly said, it’s prolonging an already very stressful situation - I’m sure there’s FCA guidance about it taking a reasonable amount of time but I guess you can’t define reasonable and it’s not a complaint yet.Edit to add: I sent an urgent email on 27th May asking for an update - nothing.0
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FCA guidance generally deals with complaints resolution, and dealing with customers fairly, you are asking them to make a commercial decision and write off what is owed.
This is entirely at their discretion, dependant on the circumstances by which the debt was accrued.
These companies deal with very large portfolios of debt, many hundreds of 1000`s of accounts, all at different stages of collection, as we try to tell posters on here, the process of debt collection takes months, years sometimes due to the sheer amount of clients, and the massive amounts of information that has to be collected and served in response to client requests.
You will be in line with likely 10,000 other folk wanting their debt written off, with probably 100 staff to deal with it all, so naturally it might take some time.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the Debt free wannabe, Credit file and ratings, and Bankruptcy and living with it boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.For free non-judgemental debt advice, contact either Stepchange, National Debtline, or CitizensAdviceBureaux.Link to SOA Calculator- https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php The "provit letter" is here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2607247/letter-when-you-know-nothing-about-about-the-debt-aka-prove-it-letter0 -
Understood. I’ll just have to grit my teeth then. Thanks0
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