The original creditor is the business you actually dealt with — the company or individual who supplied you with goods or services and raised the invoice that is now outstanding. They are the party to whom the money is owed.
When a creditor refers an account to Merion, they are engaging us as their agent to help recover the amount on their behalf. We act for the creditor — we do not own the debt (unless it has been formally purchased, which is less common). The original creditor remains the owner of the debt and ultimately makes decisions about how it is resolved.
Your notice will clearly name the original creditor. You should recognise them as a business you have previously dealt with. If you do not recognise the creditor named, or if something does not match what you expected, this is worth investigating promptly — see the article on what to do if you do not recognise the debt.
Why are you dealing with Merion rather than the original creditor directly? Businesses regularly engage specialist recovery firms to follow up overdue accounts, particularly where internal attempts to contact the debtor have not produced a response. Engaging us is a routine step — it does not change the nature of the debt or your rights in relation to it.
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