Opos Limited Letter: What to Do, Step by Step

Received an Opos Limited Letter? Here Is What to Do

An unexpected letter, text, email or call from a debt collection company can feel alarming — but there are clear, practical steps to take before doing anything else. The information below sets out exactly what to do when an Opos Limited letter arrives, in a logical order that protects the recipient's rights at every stage.

UK Debt Team is not affiliated with Opos Limited and this page is not their official website.

Opos Limited is a debt collection company that operates in the UK. Like other firms of this type, it contacts individuals about outstanding balances on behalf of original creditors or as a purchaser of debt. The steps below apply regardless of whether contact arrived by post, by text, by email or by phone.

Step 1 — Do Not Ignore the Contact

The first and most important point is that ignoring a letter, text or call from a debt collector does not make the matter go away. If a debt is genuine and enforceable, ignoring correspondence can allow fees, interest or further action to accumulate. It may also mean missing a time-sensitive deadline.

Receiving contact does not, by itself, mean that anything is immediately owed or that the full amount claimed is correct. The steps below are designed to help someone work through the situation methodically before taking any action or making any payment.

Step 2 — Check That the Letter Is Genuine

Fraudulent letters that mimic debt collection companies do exist. Before taking any further action, it is worth verifying that the contact is legitimate. The following checks are worth making:

• Search for the company name on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register at register.fca.org.uk — any firm collecting consumer debts in the UK must be authorised or registered by the FCA.
• Do not call any phone number printed in the letter until the company's FCA registration has been confirmed. Use a number found independently through the FCA register.
• Check whether the letter includes a full postal address, a reference number, and details of the original creditor. Legitimate debt collection letters are required under FCA rules (CONC 7) to include this information.
• If the contact arrived by email or text, be cautious about clicking any links. Go directly to the FCA register to verify the firm first.

If there is any doubt about whether the contact is genuine, the Opos Limited entry on the FCA register is the definitive check. If the firm does not appear there as authorised, it is worth reporting the contact to the FCA directly.

Step 3 — Check Whether the Debt Is Recognised and the Amount Is Correct

Once the contact has been verified as genuine, the next step is to establish whether the person recognises the debt at all, and whether the amount being claimed looks accurate.

It is not unusual for debt collection letters to contain errors — for example, adding charges that were not legitimately applied, or pursuing a balance that has already been partially or fully repaid. Someone who does not recognise the debt at all should not assume it is theirs without requesting proof (see Step 4).

• Check old bank statements, credit agreements or correspondence to see whether the original debt is recognisable.
• Look at the name of the original creditor stated in the letter — does it match a lender, utility provider, or other company the person has dealt with?
• Note the reference number on the letter so it can be quoted in any written response.

Step 4 — Request Written Proof of the Debt

Anyone who is uncertain whether a debt is theirs, or who disputes the amount, is entitled to ask for proof before making any payment. The appropriate way to do this is in writing, using the reference number from the letter.

A written request should ask for:

• A copy of the original credit agreement (or the document creating the obligation).
• A full statement of account showing how the balance has been calculated, including any interest or charges added.
• Details of when the debt was assigned or sold, if applicable — i.e. whether the collecting firm purchased the debt or is acting on behalf of the original creditor.

Under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, for regulated credit agreements a creditor must provide a copy of the agreement within 12 working days of a written request (along with any prescribed fee, currently £1 — though some firms waive this). Until it does so, the debt is technically unenforceable. Keep a copy of any written request and send it by recorded post or email so there is a record.

It is worth noting that the obligation to provide proof does not apply to all categories of debt — for example, it works differently for utility arrears or overdrafts. A regulated debt adviser can confirm the specific position for a particular type of debt.

Step 5 — Check Whether the Debt May Be Statute-Barred

In England and Wales, most consumer debts become statute-barred after six years under the Limitation Act 1980. In Scotland, the equivalent period is five years under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973. A statute-barred debt is one where the limitation period has expired — which means the creditor can no longer obtain a court judgment to enforce it, though the debt technically still exists.

The limitation clock generally starts from the date the debtor last made a payment or last acknowledged the debt in writing — whichever is more recent. This means that making a payment, or even writing to acknowledge that a debt is owed, can restart the clock. For this reason, someone who suspects a debt may be old should take advice before making any payment or written acknowledgement.

• Check the date of the last payment on old bank statements.
• Check whether there has been any written acknowledgement of the debt in the past six years (England and Wales) or five years (Scotland).
• If a County Court Judgment (CCJ) was already obtained in relation to the debt, limitation rules work differently — enforcement of a CCJ has a separate 6-year window from the judgment date.

Step 6 — Work Out What Is Affordable and Reply in Writing

If the debt is genuine, the amount is correct, it is not statute-barred, and the person accepts they owe it, the next practical step is to work out what — if anything — can realistically be repaid, and to respond in writing.

A common approach is to draw up a simple income and expenditure statement — listing monthly income against essential outgoings such as rent, food, utilities and travel — to identify what, if anything, is left over after priority bills. This figure is relevant when negotiating a repayment plan.

Responding in writing (rather than by phone) is generally preferable because it creates a clear record. A written response might:

• Confirm that the debt is acknowledged (only if it is).
• Propose a realistic monthly repayment amount based on the income and expenditure calculation.
• Ask the firm to freeze interest and charges while a repayment plan is in place — FCA guidance (CONC 7.3) states that creditors should consider doing this where a customer is in financial difficulty.
• Request that all further correspondence be in writing only, if phone contact is causing distress.

Keep copies of all correspondence. If a repayment arrangement is agreed, make sure it is confirmed in writing before any payment is made.

Free Debt Advice — Where to Get It

Anyone who is unsure how to handle a debt collection letter, or who is dealing with multiple debts at once, can access free and impartial debt advice from regulated organisations. The following services provide free advice and are not commercial:

• MoneyHelper — moneyhelper.org.uk — the government-backed money guidance service.
• StepChange Debt Charity — stepchange.org — a registered charity offering free debt advice and debt management plans.
• Citizens Advice — citizensadvice.org.uk — free, independent advice in person, online and by phone.
• National Debtline — nationaldebtline.org — specialist free debt advice by phone and online.

These organisations can review a person's full financial situation, explain all available options — including formal debt solutions — and help draft correspondence with creditors if needed. Their advice is free of charge.

Common Questions About an Opos Limited Letter

Can a debt collector add charges on top of the original balance?

The charges that a debt collector can add depend on the terms of the original credit agreement and applicable law. For regulated consumer credit debts, the FCA's Consumer Credit sourcebook (CONC) places restrictions on unfair charges. If a balance appears to include charges that were not in the original agreement, a written request for a full statement of account (as described in Step 4) will help clarify what has been added and why.

What if contact continues after a request to stop?

Under FCA rules, debt collectors must not contact people at unreasonable times or in a manner that amounts to harassment. If unwanted contact continues after a written request to communicate only by letter, or if the volume or nature of contact feels excessive, this can be reported to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS can investigate complaints about FCA-authorised firms free of charge.

Does acknowledging the letter restart the limitation clock?

In England and Wales, acknowledging a debt in writing — or making a payment — can restart the six-year limitation period under the Limitation Act 1980. For this reason, anyone who believes a debt may be close to, or past, the limitation period should seek advice from a free regulated debt adviser before writing to or paying the collecting firm. The same principle applies in Scotland under the five-year prescription period.

What happens if a County Court Judgment is issued?

If a debt collector issues a claim through the county court and a judgment is obtained, that CCJ will appear on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines for six years from the date of judgment. It will also affect credit file information during that period. Paying the full amount within one calendar month of the judgment date will result in the CCJ being removed from the register — paying after that one-month window will mark the judgment as satisfied but it will remain visible for the full six years. According to GOV.UK, anyone who receives a court claim form should respond before the deadline stated on the form.