PRA Group

Who are PRA Group?

The PRA Group UK are a debt collection company, based in Kent in the UK. PRA Group is the trading name of PRA Group (UK) Limited. The group started in the Americas in 1996 as Portfolio Recovery Associates, and has a listing on the Nasdaq under ‘PRAA’. It has since expanded to Europe.

 

Who do PRA Group collect for?

PRA purchase a wide variety of debts. Some of the original lenders include:

• Barclaycard
• Lloyds TSB
• TSB
• Lloyds
• MBNA
• Wonga
• Instant Cash Loans
• Other payday loan companies

 

What should I do?

If you are receiving worrying communications from the PRA Group, then it means that you have owed money to a company previously and not paid on time or in full, so it has now entered debt collection proceedings. The company you once owed money to has now sold the liability to the PRA Group Limited who have permission to collect the money. Rather than ignore the issue (as they will likely chase you pretty aggressively), you should immediately take steps to get free debt advice.

It’s easy to bury your hand in the sand and feel there is nothing you can do when faced with debt collection formalities. That is not the case. The sooner you call us about any debt collectors or companies that are chasing you for money, the sooner we can support you with debt collection advice.

If you’d like confirmation on the experience and results that that other people have achieved with our help and business model, then check out our reviews. We love hearing about how we have helped others to deal with debt issues and how they have rebuilt their confidence, bit by bit.

 

Your options for help

If you owe over £5,000 in total, you may be eligible for an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA).

An IVA will bring all of your debt together in one financial arrangement, freeze all of the interest and charges, and allow you to make one affordable monthly repayment for five years. At the end of the five years, the remainder of the debt no longer exists. This method provides you with a significant amount of protection from creditors.

An IVA is a different type of debt arrangement scheme to a debt relief order (DRO). A DRO only lasts for a year and is more suited to individuals on low incomes who have no means of ever repaying their debts and are facing bankruptcy.

If you have a question in relation to IVAs or another debt collection matter, get in touch with a member of our advisor team today. It’s our culture to do everything in our power and services to address your concerns and provide tips that give you hope and help you to rest easier at night.

 

Can PRA Group send bailiffs?

Yes. If you do not respond to contact from PRA Group, then as a last resort, they may start action through the courts. The court may issue a County Court Judgement (CCJ), which could add additional fees to your debt. Following a court Judgment, PRA Group could take the following actions:

• Warrant of Control – this enables them to send a bailiff to visit your property and agree a payment approach. If the bailiff is not able to agree on a payment solution with you, then they can take items of your property and sell it to repay your debt. If the bailiff is not able to gain entry to your property during visits, then they may add further collection charges to your account s.
• Attachment of Earnings – here PRA will work with the courts to take a payment deduction directly from your income sources.
• Charging Order – PRA could ask the County Court to give an order that allows them to secure the debt against your property, meaning that if you sell it, or refinance it, the debt value detailed in the Judgment comes directly from the proceeds.

 

Will they tell me if they plan to take me to court?

With any court-related hearings, the debt collector should send you advance notice at the point their action is escalating. That’s why it is essential to read any letters you receive from a debt collector, and to make sure you are the owner of the debt they are pursuing.

If a bailiff knocks at your door asking for debt payment, you can contact us immediately, and we will do our best to guide and advise you. Where possible, we make it our job to deal with the debt collectors, and the creditor on your behalf. We have years of experience in dealing with debt collectors, such as PRA Group, their approaches and tactics.

 

What impact will a CCJ have on my credit report?

Having a CCJ on your credit report will make it more challenging for you to secure funding from banks or other finance companies in the future. Unless you make the full bulk payment for the debt liability on your CCJ within 30 days, it will stay on your credit file for six years.

 

What rights do I have when dealing with PRA Group?

You have the following rights when dealing with debt collectors such as PRA Group:

1. They can’t harass you by calling you constantly, and if phone calls are becoming too stressful, you can ask that they only contact you by letter.
2. PRA Group cannot speak to your family, friends, neighbours or other third party individuals about your debt problems, or to find evidence, without your permission. This practice is consistent with UK data protection laws, which protect UK citizens.
3. PRA Group are not able to pretend that they have legal powers which they do not possess. In the past, debt collection parties have created documents which look like an official court document, in order to push for payments or access to personal property. A law has passed to prevent this from happening now.
4. PRA Group and their representative cannot operate in a way that can be considered threatening, abusive, nor can they make false allegations or make incorrect claims to collect and process your debt. If you feel physically threatened by a bailiff, then you have the right to contact the police.

 

I’m worried. What can I do?

If you are concerned about PRA debt collectors and their actions, you can contact us immediately by calling the contact number on top of this page, or by clicking “Get Started for Free”. We can speak to their debt collector, bailiff, or representative on your behalf and start to reduce the amount of stress that is on your shoulders. You do not have to deal with this situation on your own.

In one call with a member of our team, you can receive the debt help you need to understand your options and what impact they will have on your money and your credit rating, now and in the future. Suppose you find yourself unable to sleep at night because of the debt that is mounting, or contact from a collector. It can be helpful to remember that you are not alone, and we are ready to help you, no matter what situation you are in with your finances.

 

How do I contact PRA Group UK Limited?

If PRA Group are chasing you, or visiting your home, then contact us urgently, for free debt support and for guidance on dealing with the company. We can often deal with the company or their bailiffs on your behalf, but you need to act fast before the situation escalates. Keep in mind that the primary focus of their staff is on collecting as much of the money you owe as possible, rather than seeing you as a person facing problems in life.

PRA Group give the following ‘contact us’ information:

• Email: enquiries@pragroup.co.uk
• Phone: 0800 877 2772
• Registered address: Wells House, 15-17 Elmfield Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1LT

If you are an existing customer, you should have a pragroup.co.uk login. This PRA Group login asks for a reference number and password, and you may have to click through a message about cookies first. Once you fill in these details, the site takes you through to the full details of your debt balance.

 

PRA Group Frequently Asked Questions

 

What happens if I ignore my debt with PRA Group?

If you ignore contact from PRA group by text message, phone call, post or visit, they may make a court claim against you. This method is a cheap but popular way for them to reclaim their money. If they choose this method, you will receive a claim form through the post, and you would either have to pay the money in full or dispute the bill. If you dispute the bill against PRA Group, you should take legal advice, as a lot of defences will not work as a justification not to comply in this situation.

Rather than ignoring debt companies, we find our clients have a better outcome when they work with us to get a plan in place. We’ll work with you to review your situation, and the data the debt provider has sent you. A little effort on our side to communicate with the provider can help to improve the line of communication and your chance of a positive outcome.

 

Can I write off my debt with PRA Group?

It may be possible to write off any debt that you have with PRA UK if you have a total of £5,000 or more of unsecured debt. Your debt portfolio total can include loans, credit cards, catalogues, payday loans, overdrafts and any other unsecured debt.

If you are fed up with being chased for your debts with PRA Group debt collectors or another lender, you can contact us for a no-obligation call with someone in our team. They will take the time to understand your status, your budget and answer your questions with all the info you need to put things straight. We’ve received many messages of thanks from the clients we have helped over the years. You can read some of these messages in the ‘Reviews’ section of our website, along the top navigation.

 

What type of debt do PRA Group debt collectors collect?

PRA Group are a debt agency; this means that they can buy debts from numerous organisations that offer consumer credit and business credit. Once PRA Group become the owners of these debts, they then have grounds to legally pursue them. Some of the most common debts for collections agencies are for credit card companies, council tax arrears, parking fines, benefit overpayments, loan accounts, car payments, unpaid bills for mobiles and landlines, water and utility bills.

If customers do not meet the terms of a credit agreement, for example, with a credit card company, their information can be passed to a debt collector like PRA Group. Debt collectors typically pay pence in the pound for the face value of each debt they buy. The more money a debt collection agency recoups from debtors, the more profit they make. This profit is their primary goal in the process.

 

How can I pay PRA Group debt collection?

If you’d appreciate some guidance and support before paying PRA UK Ltd or asking for a settlement, you are welcome to call us for free on 0800 233 5753. Our team of experts are happy to share their knowledge of debt collection rules and debt collection guidance with you. When dealing with the debt collection industry, it’s vital to have the right people around you. We are just a phone call away.

PRA’s debt recovery process enables you to pay your debt account amount in full, or in part, through a variety of methods. Before making a payment, look for a recent letter or debt statement to get details of your balance and which creditors this relates you.

You can make a payment by:

• Debit card
• Direct debit
• Bank transfer
• Payzone
• Cheque payable
• Postal order
• Bankers draft

PRA Group UK Limited also give you the option to set up a payment plan for your debt on their website. They may also take a business decision to accept a settlement offer for a lower amount if they believe it’s their best chances of recovering money, and ideally making a profit, from a debtor.

 

How can I complain about PRA Group?

If you have a complaint about the standards PRA Group have operated with when dealing with your case through their debt collection process, then you can contact one of their complaints advisors through the following channels, to explain your circumstances:

• Emails: complaints@pragroup.co.uk
• Letters: 2 The Cross, Kilmarnock, KA1 1LR
• Phone calls: 0800 877 2772

When contacting the company, make sure you have your reference number to hand before you talk to a representative. If you send your complaint by post, make sure that you keep a copy of your letter and consider speaking to the Post Office about a registered delivery service, so you have proof that PRA Group received it.

PRA Group come under the regulation of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). As they fall under the FCAs regulation, if their response fails to solve your complaint and address your concern, you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), through the following channels:

• Website: https://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/how-to-complain
• Email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.uk
• Post: The Financial Ombudsman Service Exchange Tower, London E14 9SR

 

What does the Financial Ombudsman Service do about collections complaints?

The FOS conducts an investigation into complaints and evidence to make sure that companies are acting with respect for consumer rights. Make sure that you provide evidence for any claims you make in your complaint so that your reason for referring the case to the FOS is clear. You can read guidelines for the ways they handle complaints and the basis for reviewing cases, on their designated web page.

 

Who is PRA Group UK? Are they legitimate?

PRA Group (UK) Limited is a legitimate business registered in England and Wales under company registration number 04267803.

The firm first registered in England and Wales during August 2001 and its names have gone through the following changes over the years:

• Sharpbranch Limited
• Active Capital (UK) Limited
• Aktiv Kapital (UK) Limited

Their current registered office address is Wells House, 15-17 Elmfield Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 1LT.

 

How does PRA Group deal with the PRA?

It is easy to mix up PRA Group with the Prudential Regulatory Authority who use the same initials. However please note, the two organisations do not have any association or connection.

 

What does PRA Group Pay?

If you are interested in working for a debt collection agency, you can find out more about careers with PRA Group debt collection at https://www.pragroup.com/careers/. You can find out more details on pre group, their salaries, and reviews from current employees through careers sites such as Indeed.

 

What does it mean if a debt is statute barred?

By nature, most debts must have received a payment or communication within six years to be enforceable unless they relate to a court order or debts relating to HM Revenue and Customs. Once a debt has passed the enforceable period, it is called statute barred debt and generally, in this case, the debtor is not required to pay anything, according to the legal system.

 

Are there any charities that provide debt support?

There are a number of independent bodies and parties who provide debt support, including:

• Citizens Advice Bureau
• National Debtline
• StepChange

These charities work hard to support anyone going through difficult times that have a link to personal debt issues or the negative impact of debts from another party, such as a partner.

When you look at the resources and links these charities provide, you’ll see just how many people feel the impacts of debt and debt collectors. You’ll see that in fact there is always something that you can do, whether you are looking for support for yourself or a family member, whether you are single, or a mother or a father. Just one small thing, such as making a call to get debt guidance, can turn your situation around.

 

Can I get my debt with PRA Group debt collection written off?

In some cases, if you have not paid a debt or acknowledged it for six years, it becomes ‘statute barred’ which makes it difficult for a business like PRA Group to chase you for it.

 

What is a County Court Judgement?

A County Court Judgement is order from the court for you to repay debt to a creditor.

 

How long will a County Court Judgement stay on my credit report?

If PRA Group are successful in getting a County Court Judgement against you, you only have 30 days to repay it in full. After this, it will stay on your record for six years.

 

Will PRA Group debt collection ever leave me alone?

Debt collectors like PRA Group are persistent because it’s their business model to make a profit on what they paid for your debt, through their debt collection process. They could chase you for as long as six years.

 

Can PRA Group debt collection send me to jail?

No, debt collectors can’t enforce a prison sentence.

 

What is Aktiv Kapital?

Aktiv Kapital is one of the previously registered names of PRA Group debt collection. Companies House lists several previous names for the business we now know as PRA Group debt collection.

 

Can PRA Group debt collectors force entry into my home?

Bailiffs acting for PRA Group can only force entry as a last resort if they are collecting very specific types of debt such as income tax. PRA Group debt collection procedures should only involve using reasonable force, which usually means using a locksmith