About Lantern
Lantern is the trading name of Lantern Debt Recovery Services Limited, company number 06637307, based at Protection House in Stanningley, Leeds. It was called Motormile Finance UK Limited until 2018. It is authorised by the FCA (FRN 718024) and is part of Lantern Group, which Companies House shows is owned by Copper Street One Limited.
Lantern does two things. It buys debts from lenders, so it becomes the owner, and it also collects debts for lenders that keep ownership. Its notice to you should say which applies. Lantern does not name its clients on its website.
Lantern says it will not add further charges or interest to the balance it takes on, but that if it has to take legal action, fees and charges would be added. A letter from Lantern is a request to pay or get in touch, not a court claim, and you can reply in writing to check or dispute it.
Group Structure
Lantern Group Holdings Limited
Group company that has owned Lantern Debt Recovery Services Limited since 2021, according to Companies House. It is in turn owned by Copper Street One Limited.
Company number: 13579986
Sonex3 Ltd
Lantern group company that Lantern says provides vulnerability and collection services for clients.
Company number: 08839295
Original lender (varies per account)
The bank or lender you originally owed. It may have sold the debt to Lantern, or it may still own it while Lantern collects.
What a Lantern Letter Typically Looks Like
- A notice saying that Lantern now owns your debt, or that it is collecting it for the original lender.
- Letters and texts quoting a Lantern reference number and asking you to pay through the portal at portal.lanternuk.com.
- Phone calls from 0113 887 6876, the number Lantern gives on its own website, and texts from 07507 319928.
- The postal address Lantern, Protection House, 83 Bradford Road, Leeds, LS28 6AT.
- If the debt is not resolved, a warning that it may be passed to solicitors to assess legal action.
Your Rights
Notice of assignment
When a debt is sold, you must be told in writing for the buyer to sue in its own name (section 136 of the Law of Property Act 1925). You can ask for a copy of the notice of assignment.
Consumer Credit Act 1974 (sections 77 and 78)
For credit agreements, you can ask for a copy of the agreement under section 77 (fixed-sum credit) or section 78 (running-account credit). While it is not provided, the agreement cannot be enforced.
Limitation Act 1980 (section 5)
Most consumer debts in England and Wales become statute-barred six years after your last payment or last written acknowledgement. A court claim on a statute-barred debt can be defended on that basis.
FCA Consumer Credit sourcebook (CONC 7)
CONC 7.9 bars unreasonable or oppressive contact, and CONC 7.14 requires collection to be suspended while a genuine dispute is investigated.
Complaints
Lantern tries to resolve complaints within 3 days, acknowledges them within 5 working days and sends a final response within 8 weeks. You can then go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Common Lantern Scenarios
A notice that Lantern now owns your debt
This means the original lender has sold the debt to Lantern. Ask for a copy of the notice of assignment and a statement showing how the balance is made up before you pay.
A debt you do not recognise
Do not pay until you have checked. Ask Lantern in writing to name the original lender, show the account and confirm whether it owns the debt. FCA rule CONC 7.14 says collection should be suspended while a genuine dispute is investigated.
A warning about solicitors or legal action
Lantern says it may pass a debt to its solicitors to assess legal action. Before a court claim you should get a Letter of Claim giving you 30 days to reply. Reply in writing before then.
A debt that may be statute-barred
Under section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980, most consumer debts in England and Wales become statute-barred six years after your last payment or last written acknowledgement. If that applies, say so in writing and do not pay or admit the debt before checking.
You can pay, but not all at once
Offer an amount you can keep up, based on your income and spending, and ask Lantern to confirm the plan in writing.
You are struggling to pay
Tell Lantern in writing and ask for time to get free debt advice. A debt adviser can apply for Breathing Space under the Debt Respite Scheme, which pauses most creditor action and interest for 60 days.
Dispute the Debt by Post
Our debt collection dispute letter is written from your answers in the letter builder. Depending on what you tell us, it can say you do not recognise the debt, dispute the amount, or that it is already paid or statute-barred, and it can ask for the Default Notice and Notice of Assignment. Check the finished letter before you pay, then we print it and post it by Royal Mail.
- Disputes the debt and asks them to prove it
- Cites the law that fits your answers
- Gives them 30 days to reply
- Says you will complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service if they do not
- Asks for contact in writing only, if you choose
Dispute This Debt
- Guided step by step in the letter builder
- See the finished letter before you pay
- Printed and posted by Royal Mail
- Tracked delivery available
From £2.79, including printing and Royal Mail postage. Nothing to add.