ACI / Updraft

auburnheart

Hello,

I posted my first post last May 2025 mentioning I was approximately in £70k of debt due to gambling. Today, I am mentally feeling a lot better with my debts across 11 creditors at £57k so I'm immensely proud that the balance is going down. 

I did go self managed and found thing so stressful so I went with PayPlan for a DMP. Most of my creditors have defaulted. Only 3 creditors are not with the originally (PayPal negative balance with Moorcroft, PRA Group with HSBC and recently (as of last Friday), Updraft with ACI.

Updraft sent me an email mentioning that ACI will now be instructed to collect the debt. I immediately informed my DMP provider and I have provided them with the reference numbers etc from ACI, but what's made me most annoyed is that I won an affordability claim with Updraft in August 2024 where interest and charges were removed (thus meaning the loan was only to repay the principal). The interest I had already paid was allocated against the principal and any of my already made payments. I ensured that my Updraft account definitely showed this and I've been checking even when I make payment through PayPlan which they have always been correct.

But when they've handed it to ACI, they state I owe nearly £8k more than what I do. I immediately contacted ACI to which I provided them my DMP provider details and references and they asked me for proof in order for them to dispute with Updraft which I provided immediately that evening.

Based on this would you say that ACI don't own the debt, they're just collecting on behalf of Updraft? I'm just wondering if anyone has had similar issues?

I haven't been able to sleep since this email as it's really freaked me out. I'm panicking I'll get a CCJ or something even though I know I'm right and have all the paperwork. 

Just a bit of advice would be appreciated.

Update - 26/01 - received an email asking to confirm DMP details from ACI, on the email it states that once confirmation is received the account is on hold for the duration of the DMP. But they will send regulatory notices when required, so do you reckon they've brought the debt?

ManyWays

This sounds like you should make a written complaint to Updraft. They cannot start adding interest now, after they decided that the loan was unaffordable. Don't hope that ACI will sort this out, complain yourself. 

sourcrates

Do ACI mention "their client" in any of their letters?

Normally when a debt is sold, the new owner will write to you confirming the sale.

I agree you should take the reins here and complain yourself, don`t rely on anything a debt collector may tell you. 

Ultimately I would not worry about the balance they say you owe, just because they say you owe it, doesn't mean you have to pay it, it can always be disputed, but best to do this now via a written complaint, rather than have to provide evidence to a judge in court at a later date.

auburnheart

sourcrates said:

Do ACI mention "their client" in any of their letters?

Normally when a debt is sold, the new owner will write to you confirming the sale.

I agree you should take the reins here and complain yourself, don`t rely on anything a debt collector may tell you. 

Ultimately I would not worry about the balance they say you owe, just because they say you owe it, doesn't mean you have to pay it, it can always be disputed, but best to do this now via a written complaint, rather than have to provide evidence to a judge in court at a later date.

Updraft said "As you are behind with payments and we have been unable to resolve this, we will be asking a debt collection agency, ACI, to contact you and help you bring your account up to date."

ACI introduction email said "We write to you because Updraft has instructed us to collect an outstanding balance of £15,380.30 which is owing to them. We, ACI-UK Limited ("ACI"), are an FCA approved debt resolution agency and we need to speak to you regarding this outstanding account."

Not sure if this means they've bought them or just collecting on their behalf? 

I will get writing a complaint to Updraft now. 

ManyWays

they are collecting on behalf of Updraft, they havent bought this debt

sourcrates

Pretty much what it says on the tin then, they have been instructed to collect the outstanding balance only, so ACI can only ask you to pay, they cannot take any enforcement action against you.

That means you can simply ignore them as the balance they are asking you to pay is incorrect anyway, so no point even trying to engage with them, go straight to the organ grinder, ignore the monkey.

SPM87

How much are you paying back to defaulted debt per month?

auburnheart

Hi All,

I'm getting worried and anxious therefore, thought best to come on and ask as this forum has really helped me stop stressing.

As previously mentioned in another thread, my Updraft loan has been passed to ACI to manage. I have informed my DMP provider and they have even started making payments to ACI but nothing is showing when I log into my ACI account online. I have provided them the details via email therefore, thought maybe there would be a note on there.

I won an affordability claim with Updraft in August 2024 where interest and charges were removed (thus meaning only the principal was to be repaid). The interest already paid was allocated against the principal amount which showed clearly on my Updraft app.

This is the correct balance I provided PayPlan when my DMP was taken out in August 2025.

I have complained to Updraft but also asked ACI to raise a dispute to which they've said they'll go back to the creditors. I presume ACI haven't purchased the debt only collecting on their behalf as the correspondence has been as follows:

Updraft said "As you are behind with payments and we have been unable to resolve this, we will be asking a debt collection agency, 

ACI, 

to contact you and help you bring your account up to date."

ACI introduction email said "We write to you because Updraft has instructed us to collect an outstanding balance of £15,380.30 which is owing to them. 

We, ACI-UK Limited ("ACI"), are an FCA approved debt resolution agency and we need to speak to you regarding this outstanding account."

On the 26/01 - ACI wrote in an email:

"We are writing to confirm that we have received notification of your dispute and we have passed this to the original creditor to investigate the matter for you.


We ask that if you do receive an update direct from the original creditor, that you share this with us so your account can be actioned accordingly.  Your account will remain on hold during this time."

However, I've checked my Clearscore report today for the first time in a while, and noticed that Perch Capital did a soft search on my report on 12/02/26 to which now I'm back really paranoid.

I've noticed that the ACI account still states I owe £15k when it should be £8k, but I'm panicking now massively as I cannot get a CCJ.

Is this normal to have a soft search by them? I can see Perch Capital owns ACI but I'm just really freaking out.

Thanks in advance

sourcrates

ACI are only acting as collector here, they really aren`t important at all in this matter regardless of what balance they say you owe, so no need to "freak out".

Deal directly with the original creditor, make a complaint to them, and tell them to recall the debt from ACI, and the next time they appoint a collection company, tell them to get the balance right.

Ask for £100 for your trouble.

fatbelly

I am going to ask that your two recent threads are merged.

Obviously there is a dispute over the amount owed and you have raised a dispute with the debt owner. They have 8 weeks to respond and if you don't agree you then refer it to FOS.

No-one just 'gets a ccj'. There has to be a court claim, which you would defend. Before that there has to be a letter before claim.

You are nowhere near all that.

auburnheart

Hi,

Wondering if someone could help. So my dispute is with ACI and I've complained to the original lender about the balance. Awaiting a response to my complaint but initially, Updraft has admitted that my complaint for irresponsible lending in September 2024 is correct therefore, just waiting on the final resolution.

It's just occurred to me. I received a default notice from Updraft by post in November 2025. However, I've never received any default documentation? I've checked all 3 credit reference bureau's and nothing about Updraft is on there. When I won the irresponsible lending complaint, Updraft just completely took my account off the credit reference agency.

As I believe, ACI are only acting as collection for them, therefore, I'm presuming they didn't need to default before sending to collections? I'm just not sure if it's defaulted or not. I didn't mention it in my complaint as I literally only realised this morning.

Thanks :)