Pensioner neighbour sent letter from Direct Collection bailiffs - looking for advice

martpendle

her husband died about 20 years ago so it can’t have been him.

From the letter is looks like it was from 2025.

How do I request a “prove it” letter? Do we just request it via the phone? Is there an official name for it?

Boohoo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82127404#Comment_82127404

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6027800/dfw-sticky-provit-statute-barred-letters-defaults-mental-health-help-and-guidance-all-here

Have a look here.

Click view post and the 2nd paragraph is the prove it part you need.

I did suggest you look in the debt section and I have asked for this thread to be moved to it as you could get better targeted answers.

sourcrates

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82127404#Comment_82127404

Hi,

I have moved your post over to debt free wannabe, thanks to @Boohoo.

Direct collection bailiffs limited (DCBL) these are the guys you see on the telly, however, the good news is they are not acting as bailiffs in this instance, they are simply acting as a debt collector, and they are working on behalf of a client, so cannot initiate any enforcement action whatsoever, despite the scary looking letters.

Now whenever anyone writes to you, asking for payment of a debt, you should always write back and get them to provide evidence of liability for the debt, they can`t just rock up and say you owe this or that, they must supply proof when asked to do so.

We have a simple, but concise letter that requests them to do just that, without admission of any liability, just edit the following to the specific circumstances, and post it to them, see what comes back:

Dear [Debt Collection Company],

I am writing in response to a letter from you dated [dd/mm/yy], reference number [abc333333].

A copy is attached.

I have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to [company name]
or
I have no knowledge of ever having [a contract with/credit from] [company name].

If you do not stop collection activity whilst investigating my dispute, you are breaking FCA rules and guidance. Also, ignoring claims that accounts are in dispute and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment is harassment.

Please provide evidence of my liability for the alleged debt or send me written confirmation that this matter is now closed.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Your name

ManyWays

I would write a more directly relevant letter.

Dear DCBL

I am writing in response to a letter from you dated 27/08/26, reference number [abc333333].

A copy is attached.

I have never heard of Avanti Comms and have never received a letter from them.

I have asked a neighbour if they know what this is about. They says it seems to be from an internet communication company. They have helped me write this letter.

I am 90 years old. I have lived here for X years. I have never had broadband, wi-fi or a mobile with an internet connection.

Please provide evidence of my liability for this alleged debt or send me written confirmation that this matter is now closed.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Your name

Boohoo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82127582#Comment_82127582

I would stick with what @sourcrates has posted as your one is too long winded and doesn't add anything.

These debt collection firms don't care about the persons life history they just want the money and that's all.

@martpendle to add just send the letter with proof of postage from the post office counter and keep it safe and my advice is to not call DCBL or Avanti and just send that letter.

Also have you checked your neighbours credit file for any issues to do with this debt or anything else as I suggested yesterday?

Boohoo

@martpendle if you check this webpage from MSE about CRA it explains how to check your credit file and they should be free.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report/

martpendle

thank you so much everyone. I’m going to get her to send that letter. I’ll try and get a check on her credit file but it might be a challenge without an email or phone number.

I honestly really appreciate all the advice and help. I’m a bit out of my depth with this one!

Rob5342

I'd send the one Sourcrates posted, she doesn't have to explain anything to them, it's up to them to prove that she owes any money they claim she does.

You could help her set up an email address just for the purposes of obtaining the credit report, and I don't think the phone number you use has to be a mobile one.

It's stooping pretty low to try and intimidate people by mentioning can't pay we'll take it away on the letter.

Boohoo

@martpendle this is a site and template I have used in the past,

Fill it online and then it will be able to print for you.

https://nationaldebtline.org/get-information/sample-letters/complaining-to-debt-collection-agencies-you-do-not-owe-debt/

You probably are busy but you can get an email account set up easily and as for mobile you could use yours as a temp number and then if the woman gets a mobile switch the number.

I done my FIL credit file a few months back it needed a mobile to send OTP or 2FA to log on.

You haven't mentioned it but I would talk to her about any other letters she may have had coming to her address about debt.

Does she have any family that could help?

I know what some old people can be like with debt(if they have any)as a neighbour of mine asked my partner to post a letter to debt collection agency and she asked what is what about and she said they asked for money as her late husband had outstanding bank loan and she had wrote a cheque for for a grand to pay them

We investigated it and the bank had closed the loan after they got payed from the estate but it went to collections as it wasn't updated and after a few months then a debt collection agency were hounding her for money.

It turned out that she had paid a few others before we interviened and got the mont ack for her.

martpendle

thanks that template is amazing. I think I’ve managed to reassure her to it will be okay and we will get it sorted. I’m going after work today and having a plan will help so much. Thank you