There are many debt collectors operating across the UK, including Lucas Credit Services Limited. The chances are that if you’re reading this guide, you might already have been contacted by them and want to find out a little bit more.
Regardless of your situation, there’s no need to panic. There are lots of options available to debtors in the UK, and this guide contains all the information you need to know about Lucas Credit Services and their debt collection practices.
Who are Lucas Credit Services debt collectors?
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Lucas Credit Services is a UK debt recovery company. The firm is based in Bradford, West Yorkshire and has been operating since at least 2010. The firm’s website claims that they are “firmly established at the vanguard of a rapidly changing debt collection industry”.
Why have Lucas Credit Services debt collectors contacted me?
Any communications received from Lucas Credit Services probably pertain to an outstanding debt. Your debt might have originally been with another company, and Lucas Credit Services are known to purchase outstanding debts from other companies in order to collect the profits for themselves.
Are Lucas Credit Services debt collectors legitimate?
Lucas Credit Services Ltd is a legitimate company that is registered in the UK under Company Number 07407310. They act on behalf of other companies to collect outstanding debts, but sometimes buy debts at a reduced cost before going on to collect the total sum owed for themselves.
Lucas Credit Services is a member of the Credit Services Association (CSA), which means that they must follow a strict code that governs how they treat debtors. To review the full code of practice, visit the CSA website.
Are Lucas Credit Services Debt Collectors regulated by the FCA?
Lucas Credit Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They can be found on the FCA’s register at the following link, under reference number 691793.
What debts does Lucas Credit Services collect?
Lucas Credit Services collect debts on behalf of a number of large companies and are also known to collect debts that they have purchased from other firms. The debts they collect stem from a range of businesses and sectors including telecoms providers and utility companies such as British Gas.
What action can Lucas Credit Services take?
You might feel a little better about your situation if you know what to expect from Lucas Credit Services and their process when trying to collect outstanding debts.
For starters, Lucas Credit Services will probably contact you to request payment of the debt and request that you visit their website or call their team to settle your account.
If you refuse or simply ignore them, they could send debt collectors to your home. Don’t worry if this happens, as whilst the situation is serious the debt collectors cannot enter your home or remove goods without your consent. If you will not engage with them, Lucas Credit Services may take you to court to pursue the matter further.
How to deal with Lucas Credit Services?
The best way to deal with Lucas Credit Services will depend on your individual circumstances. How you should respond might depend on whether you can afford to pay what you owe, or if you dispute the fact that you owe the debt at all.
In most cases, there are several courses of action that you could take. These include: settling your debt with Lucas Credit Services in full, making a part payment to Lucas Credit Services, agreeing to a payment plan with Lucas Credit Services, seeking to write off your debt by using an insolvency solution, or alternatively disputing the fact that you owe money to Lucas Credit Services in the first instance.
How to check if you actually owe money to Lucas Credit Services
Whether you dispute a debt or not, you may find it helpful to establish that you actually owe the money that Lucas Credit Services are trying to collect. When asked, they should be able to confirm your total debt figure and name the company that they are collecting the debt on behalf of.
Any information provided can then be double-checked against your own personal records to make certain that all information is correct and that you owe the correct amount they are chasing.
Can Lucas Credit Services take you to court?
Lucas Credit Services could take you to court to make a claim for any money you owe. In many cases, any court action would involve the company that you actually owe money to seeking out a County Court Judgment against you. This is more likely to happen if you refuse to engage with Lucas Credit Services when they request payment of your outstanding debt, or where you simply ignore their communications.
Generally speaking, debt collectors are more likely to work with debtors if they communicate clearly and are keen to find a solution to their problems.
Will Lucas Credit Services come to my house?
Lucas Credit Services can attend your property, but their field agents cannot force their way in. This is because they can only send debt collectors and not bailiffs. They have very limited powers and can only really ask for you to pay off what you owe.
Do you have to let Lucas Credit Services debt collectors into my house?
No, Lucas Credit Services debt collectors are not bailiffs and they do not have the authority to force entry to your property. They can only enter your property if you choose to invite them in.
Can Lucas Credit Services send bailiffs?
Lucas Credit Services cannot send bailiffs of their own accord, but a court may do so if you fail to pay what is required of you under a County Court Judgment (CCJ). The most Lucas Credit Services can do is send debt collectors to ask you for your cooperation in repaying an outstanding debt.
Do Lucas Credit Services buy debts?
Lucas Credit Services have been known to purchase outstanding debts from other companies who have been unable to collect what they are owed.
The process involves Lucas Credit Services purchasing debts at a reduced rate, before attempting to collect what is now owed to them. This practice is commonplace among some debt collection companies, and credit agreement contracts frequently include terms that allow this to happen.
Can I stop them from contacting me?
Without the help of a formal debt solution, it won’t usually be possible to stop Lucas Credit Services from contacting you. For more information on how a debt solution could help your situation, it could help to read more about Debt Relief Orders (DROs) and Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs).
Lucas Credit Services can still contact you unless a solution such as those described above is in place, but you can ask for them to only contact you in certain ways – for instance via post and not by phone.
How to write off my debt with Lucas Credit Services?
Lucas Credit Services are unlikely to entertain the idea of just writing your debt off, but they may consider a full and final settlement offer put to them, even if it is less than the total figure owed. If a settlement offer is accepted, it may be worth requesting written confirmation that no further action will be taken against you once payment has been made.
Lucas Credit Services might even agree to a payment plan if you cannot afford to settle what you owe outright. If you feel that it may help to repay what you owe in more affordable instalments and over a longer period, speaking with Lucas Credit Services could help you to put a payment plan in place.
Generally, it is only possible to write off debt via a formal insolvency solution.
How to contact them?
Communication is vitally important when you’re dealing with debt. To contact Lucas Credit Services, use the details set out below.
Full Company Name: Lucas Credit Services Ltd
Phone number: 01274 957070
Email address: [email protected]
Website: www.lucascreditservices.com
Office address:
Lucas Credit Services Ltd.
2A 606 Business Park
Staithgate Lane
Bradford BD6 1YA
How to complain?
If things go wrong, there are several ways you can go about complaining to Lucas Credit Services.
To complain directly to Lucas Credit Services, write to their Customer Complaints Department using the contact details listed in the section above.
As Lucas Credit Services is a member of the Credit Services Association (CSA), complaining customers can request that the CSA act as a mediator for their complaint. They can be contacted via telephone (01912 17 0775) and more information is available on this course of action at: www.csa-uk.com/.
Finally, if you feel that your complaint has not been deal with in a satisfactory or fair way, you may wish to refer the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Not all complaints fall within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, but those that do must be brought to their attention within six months of Lucas Credit Services issuing their own response. The Financial Ombudsman Service can be contacted via telephone (0300 1239 123) or email ([email protected]), and more information is available on their website at: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
Bottom Line
Lucas Credit Services is a major UK debt collection company, working on behalf of various major organisations to collect payment arrears and other forms of debt whilst also purchasing debts from creditors to collect for themselves. Whilst any dealings with a debt collector are likely to be stressful, Lucas Credit Services is a member of the Credit Services Association (CSA) and so they should act fairly and reasonably when dealing with debtors.
If you’ve been contacted by Lucas Credit Services, try not to panic. After reading this guide you should have a better picture of who they are and can start to plot a route forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lucas Credit Services Limited?
Lucas Credit Services Ltd is the registered company name of Lucas Credit Services debt collectors. The firm is registered with Companies House under company number: 07407310.
Does HMRC use Lucas Credit Services debt collectors?
No – HMRC does not list Lucas Credit Services Limited among the companies it currently instructs to collect debts on their behalf. For a complete list of the debt collectors used by HMRC, visit their website.
Who owns Lucas Credit Services debt collectors?
Lucas Credit Services Ltd is a private limited company, that is owned and controlled by Metis Bidco Limited. This holding company is registered under UK company number 07652466, and Companies House records indicate that the firm has links to Lowell Financial Ltd – a major company that is involved in debt collection amongst other activities.
Do Lucas Credit Services accept credit card payments?
Lucas Credit Services accepts a variety of payment methods online via their Payments portal.
Their website lists the following as accepted forms of payment: Maestro, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, direct debit, standing order, internet or telephone Banking, from local branches of Barclays Bank, and by post
Anybody thinking of paying off debt with a credit card should be aware that doing so can result in higher costs due to the fees and interest that may be applied.
Can Lucas Credit Services take my car?
Lucas Credit Services cannot immobilise your car or take it in full or part payment of a debt unless that debt is secured over the vehicle.
Can Lucas Credit Services sell my home?
Lucas Credit Services could sell your home, but they’re unlikely to do this unless you have continually refused to repay what you owe over an extended period of time. Lucas Credit Services would need to take you to court to seek a County Court Judgement against you, unless the money you owe relates to a debt secured against your property such as a mortgage. If a CCJ was granted against you, Lucas Credit Services would still need to seek a charging order for your home to be sold.
How long can Lucas Credit Services legally chase my debt for?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, creditors have six years to chase the majority of unsecured debts – and the period begins from the date of your last payment or acknowledgement of the debt. Once this period has elapsed, Lucas Credit Services Limited will not be able to take legal action against you to enforce the debt.
You can’t just wait for this time to elapse, however, as Lucas Credit Services are likely to chase you for the outstanding figure and perhaps even seek a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you if you refuse to pay.
Can Lucas Credit Services issue a warrant?
Lucas Credit Services won’t be able to issue a warrant, but a court could if a CCJ has been granted against you.
Can I ignore Lucas Credit Services Debt Collectors?
Lucas Credit Services are unlikely to just forgive or forget a debt, and they could escalate the matter if you choose to ignore them. To start with this might mean a visit from their debt collectors, but it could even progress to court where Lucas Credit Services could seek a County Court Judgment (CCJ). If this is granted, you will be required to pay up and failing to do so could lead to a visit from the court bailiffs.
Can you ignore a CCJ (letter of claim) from Lucas Credit Services?
Before a CCJ claim reaches court, Lucas Credit Services will first issue a ‘letter of claim’ to confirm what you owe and to inform you of the pending legal proceedings. Debtors normally have 30 days to respond to a letter of claim, and there will normally be a reply form enclosed with the letter.
Once legal action has commenced, debtors can expect to receive communications directly from the Court. If you fail to act on official CCJ documentation received from the County Court, bailiffs may be instructed to visit your home.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the way we all live our lives, but debt collectors and firms such as Lucas Credit Services are still operating. They may still contact you to pay, but might be willing to consider your individual circumstances or to work with struggling debtors.
According to their website, debtors who are concerned about meeting repayment dates should “be assured we [Lucas Credit] will take the current situation into consideration”.
What if I can’t afford to pay Lucas Credit Services?
If you’re struggling to cope with your financial situation, help is on hand. In the event that you’ve received a letter or another communication from Lucas Credit Services, don’t feel that you have to pay up without taking time to consider your position. The organisations listed below can provide free and impartial advice that could help you to make sense of your situation:
- www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk
- www.stepchange.org
- www.nationaldebtline.org