It can be nerve-wracking to receive a telephone call, text message, letter or home visit from a debt collection agency. But with the right preparation, you can know what to expect from the process and handle the situation with ease.

Working with some of the UK’s most well-known companies, Pastdue Credit Solutions might have contacted you over a debt that has gone unpaid for some time.

This page will cover everything you need to know about Pastdue Credit Solutions, including where they are based, why they might be contacting you, and the type of debts they typically chase.

Who is Pastdue Credit Solutions?

Pastdue Credit Solutions (PDCS) is one of the largest debt collection agencies operating in the UK today.

It collects unpaid debts for some of the UK’s market-leading companies, including energy, water, telecoms, and financial service providers and provides services to government departments and other organisations from a wide range of industries. It also works with HMRC to collect a range of tax debts.

The company was founded in 2005 and is a registered member of the Credit Services Association (CSA), which is the trade association for the debt collection and debt purchase industry.

Is Pastdue Credit Solutions regulated?

Pastdue Credit Solutions is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

FCA regulation means that the company must abide by certain rules and responsibilities, such as carrying out the debt recovery process in a fair and responsible manner. Failure to do so can result in serious consequences.

When a debt collection agency first gets in touch, you must check if they’re regulated by the appropriate industry body. Unregulated firms are not held to the same standard as regulated firms and might use aggressive or predatory tactics to pressure you to pay more than you can afford.

Where is Pastdue Credit Solutions based?

Pastdue Credit Solutions is based in Clydebank, Glasgow.

The full address is:

1 Blair Court

North Avenue

Clydebank Business Park

Clydebank

Glasgow

G81 2LA

Why have Pastdue Credit Solutions contacted me?

If you’ve been contacted by Pastdue Credit Solutions and they’ve asked you to manage your account, it means they are representing a company that you owe money to and they have been tasked with recovering the debt on their behalf. Some of the debts they collect include unpaid phone bills, DVLA debts, and utility arrears.

However, they must provide sufficient information about the debt to help you understand why they have contacted you. If you’re still unaware of the debt they are referring to, you should request additional information as soon as possible.

Simply ignoring Pastdue Credit Solutions won’t stop them from contacting you and, in most cases, they will continue chasing you until they get a response. If you can’t afford to repay the debt in full, most debt collectors will be happy to set up an affordable payment plan to allow you to make regular instalments over a set period.

What should I do when Pastdue Credit Solutions contact me?

If Pastdue Credit Solutions has contacted you, it means your debt has gone unpaid for some time and it’s time to take action to deal with it. Here are some of the options available to you:

Pay the debt in full

If you’re able to do so, you should always pay the debt in full when a debt collection company contacts you. This will put a stop to all debt collection efforts and allow you to move on without the threat of any further legal action.

To make a payment, sign in to the customer portal dashboard using your unique customer ID, which should be displayed on any communication received, and choose your preferred payment method (bank transfer, card payment line, direct debit, standing order, postal order, or cheque).

Set up a payment plan

If you want to repay the debt but can’t afford the full amount upfront, you can negotiate a flexible payment plan where you make regular payments over a set period.

Enter your customer ID to make monthly payments and to see which options are available to you.

Seek free debt advice

Being contacted by a debt collection agency can be daunting, but you don’t have to face the process alone.

Seeking free advice can help you know how to approach the situation – especially if you don’t think you owe the money you’re being asked to pay.

Consider a debt solution

If you can’t afford the debt, a debt solution might allow you to resolve your account and repay what you owe at a rate that you can comfortably afford as opposed to all at once.

Depending on the solution chosen, you might also be able to freeze interest and charges and write off a percentage of the debt after a set time.

Can Pastdue Credit Solutions take legal action against me?

In short, yes. While a debt collection agency doesn’t have the legal power to take you to court, continuing to ignore a debt collector can result in legal action being brought against you.

However, they must give you sufficient notice before doing so by sending you a document known as a ‘default notice’, which is essentially a warning that your account will be closed unless you make up the missed payments within a set timeframe.

Ignoring a default notice will lead to a default being issued, which can cause serious damage to your credit score and prevent you from accessing most forms of credit for several years. Having a default on your credit file will also leave you at risk of receiving a County Court Judgment (CCJ).

Even if you can’t afford the amount you’re being asked to pay, responding to the debt collection agency will show that you’re willing to deal with the debt one way or another. This can stop them from escalating your case and potentially seeking legal action.

Can Pastdue Credit Solutions remove goods from my home?

It’s crucial to remember that despite carrying out similar duties, debt collection agencies don’t have the same legal power as bailiffs when it comes to the debt collection process. This means that they can’t force entry into your property or take any of your belongings to sell in an attempt to repay your original creditor.

They can only contact you about the debt and ask you to make payment (in full or in instalments). They will likely continue contacting you until they get a response, which can mean you receive several letters, phone calls, or visits over a short space of time.

However, as previously mentioned, ignoring Pastdue Credit Solutions can lead to legal action being brought against you so it’s important to cooperate with them when they first contact you about an unpaid debt to stop the situation from escalating.

Will Pastdue Credit Solutions add interest and fees to my debt?

Pastdue Credit Solutions works on a no-fee basis, meaning that they don’t apply any interest, fees, or charges to the debts they’re instructed to collect. They also pass on 100% of the money recovered to their clients.

However, because the company they’re collecting can still choose to apply further interest, fees, or charges before passing the debt onto them, you might end up still paying more than you owe when you repay it through a debt collector.

In most cases, the longer a debt goes unpaid, the more interest can accumulate. This is why it’s important to deal with an unpaid debt as soon as you can, even if it’s just to arrange a payment plan where you spread the cost over a longer period.

Can Pastdue Credit Solutions recover statute barred debts?

In England and Wales, most unsecured debts become statute barred if they’ve not been acknowledged or paid in six years. In Scotland, this happens after five years.

If a debt is statute barred, the creditor can no longer take legal action against you to force you to pay it. In other words, you don’t legally have to pay a statute barred debt – even if a debt collection agency is chasing you for it.

Therefore, if Pastdue Credit Solutions is chasing you for a debt you know is statute barred, you might not have to pay it if you can prove that the limitation period on it has expired.

What will happen if I continue to ignore Pastdue Credit Solutions?

It can be tempting to ignore a debt collection agency in the hopes that it makes the situation go away, but this is rarely the case. Instead, they will usually continue to send letters, call you, and visit you until they get a response.

The longer the debt goes unpaid, the more at risk you’ll be of legal action. This could involve you being issued with a County Court Judgment (CCJ), which can cause further harm to your already damaged credit score and stop you from getting a loan or mortgage for six years.

It’s also worth remembering that all debt collection agencies are required to stick to a strict code of conduct when recovering unpaid debts. The Credit Services Association #heretohelp campaign, for example, exists to ensure its members uphold the best industry standards when working with customers.

Where can I get advice on how to deal with debt collectors like Pastdue Credit Solutions?

It can be useful to seek expert advice before responding to a debt collector. Debt collection agencies have strict rules they must stick to when they attempt to recover unpaid debts so it’s important to know your rights.

If you believe you’re being harassed or treated unfairly by Pastdue Credit Solutions or another debt collection agency, you have the right to complain to the company directly and your original creditor.

Remember, debt collectors don’t have any special legal powers to force you to pay a debt. If they claim to do so, they are likely saying so in an attempt to get you to pay an amount you can’t afford and they could be breaking the law.

If you’re not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint, you should escalate it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.