How to Dispute PRA Group UK Debt Defaults & Collection Demands

Overview: Disputing a PRA Group Debt Entry

PRA Group (UK) Limited (part of PRA Group, Inc., formerly Portfolio Recovery Associates) is a major purchaser of charged-off consumer debt in the United Kingdom. PRA Group routinely buys non-performing debt portfolios from high street banks (such as Barclaycard, HSBC, Lloyds Bank), credit card issuers (Aqua, Capital One, MBNA), and consumer lenders.

As a secondary debt purchaser, PRA Group must adhere strictly to UK consumer credit legislation and FCA regulatory sourcebooks. In many cases, PRA Group purchases debt portfolios with incomplete original documentation, making their credit file reporting and legal enforcement claims vulnerable to statutory challenges.

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3 Core Grounds to Challenge a PRA Group Debt Marker

graph TD
    A[PRA Group Debt Dispute] --> B[1. Section 78 CCA Documentation Audit]
    A --> C[2. Defective Notice of Assignment / LPA 1925]
    A --> D[3. Statute-Barred Debt / Limitation Act 1980]

    B --> E[12-Day Statutory Clock -> Unenforceability under S78 6]
    C --> F[Failure to Prove Legal Title Transferred from Original Bank]
    D --> G[6 Years of Inactivity -> Unenforceable & Credit File Deletion]

1. Section 77/78 Consumer Credit Act Request

Under Section 77 (fixed loans) and Section 78 (credit cards) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, PRA Group is legally required to provide a true copy of your original executed credit agreement, terms, and a signed statement of account upon receipt of a written statutory request accompanied by a £1 postal order.

• The 12-Working-Day Rule: PRA Group has exactly 12 working days to comply.
• Legal Consequence: If PRA Group fails to supply compliant documentation, Section 78(6) renders the debt legally unenforceable in court. PRA Group cannot obtain a County Court Judgment (CCJ) while in default of your request.

2. Defective Notice of Assignment (Law of Property Act 1925)

Under Section 136 of the Law of Property Act 1925, for a debt assignment to be legally enforceable:

• Formal written notice of the assignment must have been served on you by the original bank or PRA Group.
• If PRA Group cannot provide a valid deed of assignment or proof of notification, PRA Group lacks legal title to initiate legal proceedings in its own name.

3. Statute-Barred Debt (Limitation Act 1980)

Under Section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980, if 6 continuous years (5 in Scotland under the *Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973*) have elapsed since the default date or last payment without legal proceedings or written acknowledgment:

• The debt is statute-barred and legally unenforceable.
• Under FCA Sourcebook CONC 7.15, it is an unfair business practice for PRA Group to demand payment on a statute-barred debt.
• Once 6 years have elapsed from the original default date, the entry must be purged from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

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Verified PRA Group Corporate & Regulatory Profile

When serving formal notices, ensure all correspondence is sent to PRA Group's registered UK headquarters:

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Step-by-Step Escalation Workflow

graph TD
    A[Step 1: Send S78 Request + £1 Postal Order via Recorded Delivery] --> B[Step 2: 12 Working Days Elapsed]
    B --> C{Documents Provided?}
    C -->|No / Incomplete| D[Issue Notice of Unenforceability & Dispute CRA Markers]
    C -->|Yes / Fully Compliant| E[Audit Terms for Default Notice Procedural Flaws]
    D --> F[Escalate to Financial Ombudsman if Harassment Continues]

Step 1: Submit a Formal Section 78 Request

Draft a formal Section 78 letter. Enclose a £1 Postal Order marked *"Statutory Fee under Section 78 CCA 1974 only — not a payment towards any debt"*. Send it via Royal Mail Signed For to *2 The Cross, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, KA1 1LR*.

Step 2: The 12-Day Compliance Clock

Track delivery online. The statutory clock starts the day after delivery. If PRA Group fails to provide a true copy within 12 working days, issue a formal Notice of Non-Compliance and Unenforceability.

Step 3: Referral to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)

If PRA Group continues collection pressure or threatens court action while in breach of Section 78, refer the dispute to the Financial Ombudsman Service (0800 023 4567 | financial-ombudsman.org.uk). The Ombudsman can order PRA Group to cease collection and delete inaccurate credit markers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can PRA Group register a new default date on my credit file?

No. Under Credit Reference Agency rules (SCOR guidelines), the default date on your credit file must remain the original default date set by the original lender. PRA Group cannot re-age the account.

What should I do if Judge & Priestley Solicitors contacts me?

PRA Group frequently instructs Judge & Priestley LLP Solicitors to issue legal demand letters and County Court claim forms. If you receive a Letter of Claim, immediately respond under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) Pre-Action Protocol requesting full CCA agreements and statements.

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Download Pre-Written PRA Group Dispute Templates

Stop debt collection harassment with verified legal notices. The UK Credit Secrets Playbook includes pre-formatted MS Word templates for PRA Group Section 78 CCA requests, notices of unenforceability, statute-barred notices, and Judge & Priestley Pre-Action Protocol responses.

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