There are lots of debt collectors operating across the UK, including JC International Acquisition LLC. If you’re reading this guide, there’s a good chance that you might already have been contacted by them.
Regardless of your situation, there’s no need to panic. There are lots of options available to debtors in the UK, and this guide contains all the information you need to know about JC International Acquisition and their debt collection practices.
Who are JC International Acquisition debt collectors?
JC International Acquisition LLC (JC International) is a debt purchasing firm that buys debts from a variety of businesses. The firm’s UK operations are managed by Creditlink Account Recovery Solutions (CARS) Ltd from their offices in Basingstoke, Hampshire.
JC International is a large multinational firm that also goes by the name of Jefferson Capital International and JCIA.
Why have JC International debt collectors contacted me?
If you’ve received communications from CARS or JC International, you probably have an outstanding debt. Your debt might have originally been with another company, however this could since have been purchased from the creditor by JC International.
Are JC International Acquisition debt collectors legitimate?
JC International Acquisition Limited is a legitimate company. Their UK activities are conducted by Credit Link Account Recovery Solutions Limited who are registered with Companies House under company Number 04296927. They are known to purchase outstanding debts from a range of other companies before going on to collect the total owed from debtors.
Both Creditlink Account Recovery Solutions and JC International are members of the Credit Services Association (CSA), which means that they must follow a strict code that governs how they treat debtors. To review the full code of practice, visit the CSA website.
Are JC International regulated by the FCA?
JC International Acquisition LLC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They can be found on the FCA’s register at the following link, under reference number 717872.
As mentioned, their operations in the UK are conducted by Credit Link Account Recovery Solutions Limited. They too are authorised and regulation by the FCA, with a register entry at the following link, under reference number 716456.
What debts does JC International collect?
Working with their subsidiary, Creditlink Account Recovery Services Limited, JC International purchases debts from a range of businesses that include banks, telecoms providers, and credit card companies.
What action can JC International Acquisition take?
It might help to understand JC International’s process a little better if they are trying to collect an outstanding debt from you.
To begin with, Creditlink Account Recovery Solutions Limited (under instruction from JC International) will probably contact you to request payment of the debt and request that you visit their website or call their team to settle your account. If you accept that you owe the debt they’re referring to but can’t afford to pay it all off, Creditlink may be willing to agree to a payment plan that helps you to repay over time in more affordable instalments.
If you refuse or simply ignore them, they could send debt collectors to your home. Don’t worry if this happens, as whilst the situation is serious the debt collectors cannot enter your home or remove goods without your consent. If you will not engage with them, JC International may take you to court to pursue the matter further.
How to deal with JC International Acquisition?
The best way to deal with JC International (and CARS by extension) will depend on your individual circumstances. How you should respond might depend on whether you can afford to pay what you owe, or if you dispute the fact that you owe the debt at all.
In most cases, there are several courses of action that you could take. These include: settling your debt with JC International in full, making a part payment, agreeing to a payment plan with, seeking to write off your debt by using an insolvency solution, or alternatively disputing the fact that you owe money to JC International in the first instance.
How to check if you actually owe money to JC International
Whether you dispute a debt or not, you may wish to establish whether you actually owe the money that JC International are trying to collect. When asked, they should be able to confirm your total debt figure and name the company that they are collecting the debt on behalf of.
Any information provided can then be double-checked against your own personal records to make certain that all information is correct and that you owe the amount they are chasing.
Can JC International take you to court?
JC International Acquisition could take you to court to make a claim for any money you owe. In many cases, any court action would involve the company that you actually owe money to seeking out a County Court Judgment against you. This is more likely to happen if you refuse to engage with JC International when they request payment of your outstanding debt, or where you simply ignore their communications.
Generally speaking, debt collectors are more likely to work with debtors if they communicate clearly and are keen to find a solution to their problems. When it comes to debt, ignoring the problem simply doesn’t cut it.
Will JC International come to my house?
JC International debt collectors can attend your property, but their field agents cannot force their way in. This is because they can only send debt collectors and not bailiffs, meaning that they have very limited powers and can only really ask for you to pay off what you owe.
Do you have to let debt collectors into my house?
No, JC International debt collectors are not bailiffs and they have no authority to enter your property unless you choose to invite them in.
Can JC International Acquisition send bailiffs?
JC International cannot send bailiffs of their own accord, however a court may do so if you fail to pay what is required of you under a County Court Judgment (CCJ).
At most, JC International could send debt collectors to ask for you to cooperate with them by repaying an outstanding debt.
Do they buy debts?
Yes – JC International become involved in the debt collection process by purchasing outstanding debt accounts from other companies who have been unable to collect what they are owed. The process involves JC International Acquisition purchasing debts at a reduced rate, before attempting to collect what is now owed to them. This practice is commonplace among some debt collection companies, and credit agreement contracts frequently include terms that allow this to happen.
Can I stop them from contacting me?
You won’t usually be possible to stop JC International from contacting you without the help of a formal debt solution. For more information on how a debt solution could help your situation, it could help to read more about Debt Relief Orders (DROs) and Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs).
JC International can still contact you unless a solution such as those described above is in place, but you can ask for them to only contact you in certain ways – for instance via post and not by phone.
How to write off my debt with JC International Acquisition?
Whilst JC International probably won’t entertain the idea of just writing your debt off, they may consider a full and final settlement offer put to them, even if it doesn’t cover the full total figure owed. If such an offer is accepted, you may wish to request written confirmation that no further action will be taken against you once payment has been made.
JC International might even agree to a payment plan if you cannot afford to settle what you owe outright. Their website states that they “will work with [our] customers whose debts we acquire to find affordable tailored repayment plans based on their individual circumstances.”
Generally, it is only possible to write off debt via a formal insolvency solution.
How to contact JC?
Communication is vitally important when you’re dealing with debt. To contact JC International, use the details set out below.
Full Company Name: JC International Acquisition LLC (operating in the UK under Credit Link Account Recovery Solutions Limited)
Phone number: 0333 136 3349
Email address: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: www.jcia.co.uk and www.carsuk.org
Office address:
C.A.R.S.
PO Box 6520
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG21 4UY
How to complain about JC International?
If things go wrong, there are several ways you can go about complaining to JC International. They provide more information about their internal complaints process on the following webpage.
To complain directly to JC International, you can contact them using the details in the section above. A complaints form is also available on the website of their operational company, Creditlink Account Recovery Solutions, and can be found at the following link.
Their website suggests that they will “endeavour to resolve all complaints by the end of the third working day following the complaint”, however they are permitted to take up to 56 days from the date a complaint is received to investigate and issue a response.
As JC INTERNATIONAL is a member of the Credit Services Association (CSA), complaining customers can request that the CSA act as a mediator for their complaint. They can be contacted via telephone (01912 17 0775) and more information is available on this course of action at: www.csa-uk.com/.
Finally, if you feel that your complaint has not been deal with in a satisfactory or fair way, you may wish to refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Not all complaints fall within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, but those that do must be brought to their attention within six months of JC International issuing their own response. The Financial Ombudsman Service can be contacted via telephone (0300 1239 123) or email ([email protected]), and more information is available on their website at: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
Bottom Line
JC International (and, by extension, Creditlink Account Recovery Solutions Limited) are a leading UK debt purchasing firm, working on behalf of various major organisations to collect payment arrears and other forms of debt. Whilst any dealings with a debt collector are likely to be stressful, JC International are a member of the Credit Services Association (CSA) and so they should act fairly and reasonably when dealing with debtors.
If you’ve been contacted by JC International or Creditlink Account Recovery Solutions, don’t panic. After reading this guide you should have a better picture of who they are and can start to plot a route forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JC International Acquisition LLC?
JC International Acquisition LLC is the company name of JC International debt collectors. The UK arm of the firm is managed by Credit Link Account Recovery Solutions Limited, registered with Companies House under company number: 04296927.
Does HMRC use JC International debt collectors?
No – HMRC does not list JC International Acquisition Limited among the companies it currently instructs to collect debts on their behalf. For a complete list of the debt collectors used by HMRC, visit their website.
Who owns JC International debt collectors?
JC International Acquisitions LLC’s UK operations are controlled and managed by Credit Link Account Recovery Solutions (CARS) Limited, registered with Companies House under company number: 04296927. More information about CARS can be found on their website at www.carsuk.org.
Do JC International accept credit card payments?
JC International accepts both debit and credit cards, and payments can be made either by telephone (0333 136 3349) or by using their CARS online payments portal.
The firm also accepts internet banking transfers, and cheques that are sent by post. For more information, visit the CARS payment methods page.
Can JC INTERNATIONAL take my car?
JC International cannot immobilise your car or take it in full or part payment of a debt unless that debt is secured over the vehicle.
Can JC International Acquisition sell my home?
JC International could sell your home, but they’re unlikely to do this unless you have continually refused to repay what you owe over an extended period of time. JC International would need to take you to court to seek a County Court Judgement against you, unless the money you owe relates to a debt secured against your property such as a mortgage. If a CCJ was granted against you, JC International would still need to seek a charging order for your home to be sold.
How long can JC International Acquisition legally chase my debt for?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, creditors have six years to chase the majority of unsecured debts – and the period begins from the date of your last payment or acknowledgement of the debt. Once this period has elapsed, JC International will not be able to take legal action against you to enforce the debt.
You can’t just wait for this time to elapse, however, as CARS and JC International are likely to chase you for the outstanding figure and perhaps even seek a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you if you refuse to pay.
Can JC INTERNATIONAL issue a warrant?
JC International cannot issue a warrant, but a court could if a CCJ has been granted against you.
Can I ignore JC INTERNATIONAL Debt Collectors?
JC International are unlikely to just forgive or forget a debt, and they could escalate the matter if you choose to ignore them. To start with this might mean a visit from their debt collectors, but it could even progress to court where JC International could seek a County Court Judgment (CCJ). If this is granted, you will be required to pay up and failing to do so could lead to a visit from the court bailiffs.
Can you ignore a letter of claim from JC International Acquisition?
Before a CCJ claim reaches court, JC International will first issue a ‘letter of claim’ to confirm what you owe and to inform you of the pending legal proceedings. Debtors normally have 30 days to respond to a letter of claim, and there will normally be a reply form enclosed with the letter.
Once legal action has commenced, debtors can expect to receive communications directly from the Court. If you fail to act on official CCJ documentation received from the County Court, bailiffs may be instructed to visit your home.
Can JC International recover debts during the coronavirus?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the way we all live our lives, but debt purchasing firms such as JC International are still operating. They may still contact you to pay, but reputable firms should be willing to consider your individual circumstances and may consider working with struggling debtors to find an agreeable way forward.
Often, the best approach is to keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to contact them if you feel that you really can’t pay.
What if I can’t afford to pay JC International Acquisition?
If you’re struggling to cope with your financial situation, help is on hand. In the event that you’ve received a letter or another communication from JC International Acquisition, don’t feel that you have to pay up without taking time to consider your position. The organisations listed below can provide free and impartial advice that could help you to make sense of your situation:
Last Updated on September 1, 2023