Fresh Start Debt Support
If you’ve had a text, letter or call from Link Financial, you’re not alone. Link Financial are a well-known UK debt collection company. They either collect on behalf of lenders or, quite often, they buy overdue accounts such as credit cards, personal loans and store cards, then try to recover the balance from you.
This page explains—in plain English—who Link Financial are, why they’re contacting you, what they can and can’t do, and how to stop the pressure. We’ll walk through your rights, sensible steps to check the debt, and affordable ways to get everything under control using solutions like a Debt Management Plan (DMP), IVA or DRO where appropriate. We’ll also show how to use Breathing Space to pause most creditor action while a plan is set up.
Start My Free Debt CheckWant a quick refresher first? See Stop Debt Collectors and our general overview What is debt collection?
Link Financial are a debt purchaser and collector. That means they may contact you about a balance originally from a bank or card brand (for example, accounts like those discussed on our lender pages: Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds, Capital One). When lenders sell or outsource accounts, companies like Link Financial become your point of contact.
Don’t panic. Contact from a collector doesn’t mean bailiffs, and it doesn’t remove your rights. There’s a calm, structured way to deal with this, which we outline below.
Debt purchasers/collectors like Link Financial are common in the UK credit market. The key is to verify the debt, protect your essential bills, and only agree to a realistic plan you can actually keep. Jumping into a payment you can’t sustain is the #1 mistake people tell us they regret later.
Typical Link Financial accounts include credit cards, personal loans, store cards and sometimes overdrafts. If yours is different, that’s fine—the follow-up steps are similar.
Collectors must treat you fairly. If you feel overwhelmed, remember: you are allowed breathing room to understand what’s being claimed, check your budget and decide your next step.
Before you talk money with Link Financial, protect your essentials: housing, energy and council tax. See our guides to rent/mortgage arrears and utilities. Once the essentials are safe, we can build a fair offer for everything else.
You can request details of the account—original lender, balance and any interest/charges added. If it’s a regulated credit agreement (like a card or loan), you can also request a copy of the agreement. We can help you understand what’s reasonable and what to expect.
Breathing Space can pause most interest, fees and enforcement for a limited time while we build a long-term plan. This can be extremely helpful if contact is causing stress or there are multiple debts involved.
Any offer should be based on a proper budget. Try our Debt Calculator to test what’s realistic. If you proceed with a solution such as a DMP or IVA, the payment is designed around your essential spending, not the loudest collector.
Tell us privately and we’ll adapt. We frequently support people with health issues, variable income, self-employment (business debt and HMRC arrears included), or urgent household risks. The goal is a plan you can keep without sacrificing the basics.
Open the letter or read the message fully. Keep it. Note dates and any deadlines they mention. If they say the debt was sold, the balance is now claimed by Link Financial. If they’re collecting for a lender, the lender still owns it.
If you’re unsure what the debt is, we can guide a free credit check to see the account history and identify gaps. This is part of our normal fact-find (see our What We Do page). Accuracy matters; people often discover missed accounts they’d forgotten about.
Stabilise housing, heating and council tax first. Review Council Tax Debt, utilities and (if relevant) rent/mortgage. This is non-negotiable—keeping your home safe takes priority over cards and loans.
Use our Debt Calculator to map income and essential spending. A fair, defendable budget is the strongest tool you have when responding to Link Financial or any collector.
Depending on your numbers, you may be best suited to:
If calls and letters are mounting, Breathing Space can pause most action and give you headroom to set up your long-term plan. We’ll explain how it works and if it’s appropriate.
When we represent you, we provide a reference number and help channel contact via the plan you choose. Confident, clear communication tends to reduce pressure quickly.
I’ve Heard from Link Financial — Start My Free Debt CheckSold debts can include interest/charges added by the original lender. We review your statements and the collector’s breakdown. A fair budget and, where relevant, a reasonable challenge, can help resolve discrepancies.
Frequent contact is stressful. We help move communication onto a calmer footing and, where appropriate, use Breathing Space. See Stop Debt Collectors for additional tips.
Talk to us quickly. With a structured plan or rapid engagement, many cases avoid escalation. If a claim is issued, we’ll help you understand the paperwork and your options. Remember: a fair, documented affordability picture is your ally.
In England/Wales, many simple credit debts may be unenforceable in court after six years without payment or written acknowledgment (five in Scotland), but individual circumstances vary. If you think this might apply, speak to us before responding—there are important nuances.
It’s common for accounts to be passed between agencies like Lowell, Cabot, Moorcroft, Advantis, Capquest, Wescot, Resolvecall and PRA Group. The process is similar: verify, budget, then agree an affordable route.
We start by listening. Then we map your full situation—including a free credit check if you’re unsure what’s out there—and help you protect your essential bills.
Most clients prefer to roll multiple accounts into one manageable payment via a DMP or, when appropriate, into a formal route like an IVA or DRO. You can compare options at Compare Solutions.
Where appropriate we help you enter Breathing Space. You’ll have a reference number to quote to creditors like Link Financial while we organise your plan. This typically reduces calls and letters quickly.
Variable income? We routinely support sole traders and company directors. See Business Debt and Tax/HMRC for more.
See If I Qualify for HelpBest for flexibility and informal arrangements. Many creditors freeze or reduce interest and charges. A DMP suits people who want adaptability and can maintain a steady, realistic payment.
One legally binding payment based on affordability. On successful completion, remaining eligible unsecured debt may be written off. Provides strong protection from most creditor action.
For those with low income/low assets. Debts are usually frozen for 12 months and written off if your situation doesn’t improve. Strict eligibility—ask us to check.
Use Compare Solutions for a clear overview, then we’ll tailor a recommendation to your numbers.
Be honest and firm: “I’m assessing my full budget and essential bills first. I will be back in touch with an affordable proposal.” Then complete our free debt check so we can help you lock in a sustainable plan.
Ask for communication in writing. This helps you keep a clean paper trail. If calls feel intense, we’ll help channel contact via your chosen solution. See Stop Debt Collectors for more ways to reduce pressure.
Only consider settlements if it doesn’t jeopardise rent, mortgage, energy or council tax. We’ll help you weigh the pros/cons of settlement vs spreading costs in a plan.
File letters, screenshots and notes of any calls (time/date, who you spoke to, what was said). This record helps if anything needs clarifying later.
No. Debt collectors aren’t bailiffs. They can’t enter your home or take goods. Court enforcement (bailiffs) only happens after a legal process. If you’re worried, start our free debt check and we’ll review any paperwork with you.
It depends on the original agreement and the account status. Many collectors will consider freezing interest/charges once a fair arrangement is in place. A DMP often helps with that—see DMP.
Ask for more information. We’ll help verify by guiding a free credit check and reviewing the details. Never pay what you can’t confirm.
The account itself may already be on your credit file from the original lender. Taking a formal solution (like an IVA) can affect your credit file, but for many people the priority is stabilising the household and reducing risk.
Collectors can start a claim, but plenty of cases settle without court once you engage and evidence what you can afford. If you receive claim forms, talk to us immediately—we’ll help you respond properly.
We’ll try to call you promptly (and WhatsApp if we can’t get through). From there, we begin your fact-find and budgeting, prioritising urgent risks like council tax debt and utilities.
No. If you’re unsure, we’ll guide a free credit check to identify missing accounts and confirm details.
We’ll set a plan with headroom where possible. DMPs are usually more flexible; IVAs can be varied formally. If anything changes, we review and adjust.
Yes. We regularly support sole traders and directors. See Business Debt and we’ll shape the route to variable income.
Ask us directly and get a personalised answer in minutes.
Ask a Debt SpecialistYour strongest position is a defendable affordability statement. We ground budgets in real-world spending, not ideal-world guesses. Try our Debt Calculator to test sizes of payment and see what’s sustainable.
Protect housing, energy and council tax. This reduces risk and helps you avoid emergency costs later.
Cards, catalogues, overdrafts, loans and similar debts can be rolled into a fair offer through a DMP or set within a formal arrangement such as an IVA or DRO when appropriate.
Read our quick guide to Breathing Space. It gives you time to plan without pressure, while we get your long-term route ready.
Build My Budget with a SpecialistDifferent agencies have different approaches, but your core steps don’t change: verify, protect essentials, budget properly and pick a route that fits. For context, see our pages on Lowell, Cabot, Moorcroft, Advantis, Capquest, Wescot, Resolvecall, Hoist, Robinson Way, Fredrickson, Moriarty Law, Drydensfairfax and PRA Group.
Get Help Dealing with Link FinancialOur aim is simple: fewer letters and calls, protected essentials, and a plan you can sleep on.
Start My Free Debt CheckWhen you’re ready, we’re ready—on your terms and timeline.
Speak to a Specialist