I am writing to you as director of {{Name of your Company}} and in response to your request for payment on behalf of {{Name of Creditor}}.
This is to inform you that {{Name of your Company}} will not be paying this debt until we receive more information because we are disputing whether we have liability.
Please supply the following details:
1. The name and address of the creditor to whom the debt is owed, the account number relating to the creditor and the amount owed and when this creditor believes this debt became overdue.
2. If this is the original creditor or if the debt started with a different creditor and if so, their name, address and account number details need to be supplied. If this debt has been sold to yourselves, provide the details of when this occurred. Explain why you have the authority to attempt to collect this debt and details of your FCA authorisation.
3. Provide verification and a copy of the document (such as the last billing statement) that shows there is a valid basis for this debt and of the written agreement showing the requirement to pay. Ensure the original bill/invoice contains the date it was first issued and the address to which it was sent.
4. If there has been any extra interest fees or charges sent since the original bill/invoice was sent to ourselves – this must be itemised to show the dates and the amounts added and an explanation as to how these were calculated and your justification for this under UK law.
I wish also to draw your attention to the Financial Conduct Authority’s Consumer Credit sourcebook which states:
A firm must not ignore or disregard a customer’s claim that a debt has been settled or is disputed and must not continue to make demands for payment without providing clear justification and/or evidence as to why the customer’s claim is not valid. 7.5.3
A firm must suspend any steps it takes or its agent takes in the recovery of a debt from a customer where the customer disputes the debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds. 7.14.1
Where a customer disputes a debt on valid grounds or what may be valid grounds, the firm must investigate the dispute and provide details of the debt to the customer in a timely manner. 7.14.3
(Name of your company) is willing to cooperate with yourselves in answering any questions you may have and we look forward to achieving a prompt resolution of this matter. However, until this matter is settled, please note that this debt is currently disputed.
