Moriarty Law Letter: What to Do, Step by Step

Received a Moriarty Law letter? Here is what to do

Receiving a letter, text, email or unexpected phone call from Moriarty Law can feel alarming. The practical response is straightforward: do not ignore it, but do not pay anything until several checks have been completed. The steps below are designed for someone holding one of these communications right now.

Moriarty Law is a law firm that acts on behalf of creditors in debt collection matters. UK Debt Team is not affiliated with Moriarty Law and this page is not their official website.

Step 1 — Do not ignore the letter

Ignoring correspondence from a debt collection solicitor does not make a debt go away. If the debt is genuine and enforceable, ignoring letters can lead to a County Court Judgment (CCJ) being issued — and a CCJ that is not paid in full within one calendar month stays on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for six years, affecting credit applications throughout that period.

The right approach is to read the letter carefully, note any reference numbers and deadlines mentioned, and then work through the remaining steps before responding or making any payment.

Step 2 — Check that the communication is genuine

Fraudulent letters and messages that mimic debt collection solicitors do exist. Before taking any action, it is worth confirming that the letter is authentic. Moriarty Law is a registered law firm, and its details can be verified through the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) register at sra.org.uk — checking that the firm name, SRA number and contact details match what appears in the correspondence is a sensible first step.

Never call a phone number printed only in an unsolicited text message without first cross-checking it against the firm's independently verified contact details. If anything about the communication feels unusual, the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) ScamSmart resource at fca.org.uk can help identify warning signs.

Step 3 — Check whether the debt is actually yours

Debt collection solicitors sometimes contact people in error — through mistaken identity, an old address, or a data error on a credit file. Before acknowledging that the debt belongs to the person who received the letter, it is worth checking:

• Whether the name on the letter matches exactly (spelling errors can indicate a mix-up).
• Whether the original creditor named in the letter is one the recipient actually had an account with.
• Whether the last known address matches where the recipient was living at the relevant time.
• Whether a free statutory credit report (available through Experian, Equifax or TransUnion) shows the account in question.

Disputing a debt that genuinely does not belong to the recipient is legitimate. Any dispute should be put in writing, keeping a copy, and sent so there is proof of delivery.

Step 4 — Verify the amount being claimed

Even where the debt is genuine, the amount claimed can sometimes be wrong. Interest, charges or fees added after a default need to be checked against the original credit agreement. Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, lenders and those acting on their behalf must be able to supply a true copy of the executed credit agreement on request.

A written request for a copy of the original agreement is a standard first move. Until that document is provided, there is no obligation to agree that the amount stated is correct. Keeping a written record of when the request was sent — and any response received — is important.

Step 5 — Check whether the debt may be statute-barred

This is one of the most important steps, and one many people overlook. In England and Wales, under the Limitation Act 1980, most consumer debts become statute-barred — meaning they can no longer be enforced through the courts — after six years have passed since the last payment or written acknowledgement of the debt. In Scotland the equivalent period is five years, under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973.

The six-year clock typically runs from the date of the last payment made, the last written acknowledgement of the debt, or the date the debt first became due — whichever is the most recent. If a debt is genuinely statute-barred, it cannot be the subject of a successful court claim, though the creditor or their representatives are not prohibited from asking for voluntary payment.

Crucially, making even a small payment or writing a letter that acknowledges the debt as owed can restart the limitation clock. For this reason, it is important to check the age of the debt carefully before making any payment or written admission. Free debt advisers — listed below — can help assess whether a statute-barred argument applies to a specific situation.

Step 6 — Work out what, if anything, can realistically be paid

If the debt is confirmed as genuine, the amount is correct and it is not statute-barred, the next step is to look honestly at what a person can afford to repay. This means listing monthly income and all essential outgoings — housing costs, utilities, food, travel — and identifying what, if anything, is left.

Debt collection solicitors and their clients are generally able to agree payment arrangements, including monthly instalments, where a lump sum is not possible. Any offer made should be based on what is genuinely affordable, not on what feels socially expected or on pressure from correspondence. An arrangement that is set too high and then missed can make the situation worse.

A Standard Financial Statement — a budgeting tool used widely in the UK debt advice sector — can help present income and expenditure to a creditor in a recognised format. Free debt advisers can assist with completing one.

Step 7 — Reply in writing and keep copies

Once the checks above have been completed, any response to Moriarty Law should be in writing — by letter sent with proof of postage, or by email where an email address has been provided. Phone calls are harder to evidence and can sometimes lead to pressure to agree to something immediately.

A written response might take one of several forms depending on what the checks revealed:

• If the debt is not recognised: a brief letter stating that the debt is not acknowledged and requesting written evidence (the original agreement, a full statement of account and details of how the debt was assigned or placed with Moriarty Law).
• If the debt may be statute-barred: a letter stating that the debt appears to be outside the limitation period and that no payment will be made pending further investigation — without admitting the debt is owed.
• If the debt is confirmed and affordable: a written offer of payment by instalments, with a copy of the income and expenditure summary attached.
• If the debt is confirmed but unaffordable: a letter explaining the financial position and requesting that the account be placed on hold while formal debt advice is sought.

Every letter sent and received should be dated, copied and stored safely. If a response is sent by post, using a tracked or signed-for service creates a record of delivery.

Where to get free regulated debt advice

Free debt advice is available from several regulated, non-commercial organisations. These services can help assess whether a debt is enforceable, review the full financial picture and explain what formal debt solutions — such as a Debt Management Plan, Debt Relief Order or other route — might look like in a given situation.

• MoneyHelper — moneyhelper.org.uk — the government-backed money guidance service
• StepChange Debt Charity — stepchange.org — free debt advice and debt management plans
• Citizens Advice — citizensadvice.org.uk — free advice on debt, legal rights and benefits
• National Debtline — nationaldebtline.org — free telephone and online debt advice

None of these organisations charge for their advice. Anyone unsure whether the steps above apply to their specific circumstances is encouraged to speak to one of these services before making any payment or written admission to a debt collector.

Common questions about Moriarty Law letters

What happens if the Moriarty Law letter is simply ignored?

If a genuine, enforceable debt is ignored, the creditor's solicitors may apply to the county court for a judgment without further warning. A CCJ that remains unpaid after one calendar month stays on the public register for six years and can restrict access to credit, mortgages and some rental agreements. Responding — even to dispute the debt — is generally preferable to silence.

Does receiving a letter from Moriarty Law mean a court claim has already been issued?

Not necessarily. A letter from a debt collection solicitor is often a pre-action communication, intended to prompt payment or an agreement before court proceedings begin. The letter itself will usually state whether it is a letter before action or a formal claim. If a court claim form (N1) has been issued, it will arrive separately from HM Courts and Tribunals Service, not from the solicitor directly, and will carry a claim number and a deadline for response — typically 14 days to acknowledge and 28 days to file a full defence.

Can a payment arrangement be negotiated directly?

In many cases, yes — creditors and their representatives are generally willing to consider instalment offers where a lump sum is not possible, particularly where the debtor can demonstrate their income and expenditure clearly. Any offer accepted should be confirmed in writing before any payment is made, and the written confirmation should be kept. Free debt advisers can help frame a realistic offer and correspond on a person's behalf if needed.

What if the debt turns out to be from many years ago?

If the most recent payment or written acknowledgement of the debt was made more than six years ago (in England and Wales), the debt may be statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980 and unenforceable in court. However, the limitation position can be complicated by factors such as a previous CCJ on the same debt or a period of payment that restarted the clock. A free debt adviser can help assess the specific circumstances before any payment or acknowledgement is made.