There are lots of debt collectors operating across the UK, including Pastdue Credit Solutions (also known as PDCS). If you’re reading this guide, there’s a good chance that you might already have been contacted by them.
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 Pastdue Credit Solutions and their debt collection practices.
Who are PDCS Debt Collectors?
Pastdue Credit Solutions (PDCS) is a UK debt recovery company that claims to “provide collection and reconnection services to the United Kingdom’s market leading companies”. The firm is based in Clydebank, Scotland and has been operating since 2005.
Why have PDCS debt collectors contacted me?
If you’ve received communications from them, you may have an outstanding debt. Your debt could have originally been with another company, and Pastdue are known to purchase outstanding debts from other companies in order to collect the profits for themselves.
Are Pastdue Credit Solutions legitimate?
Pastdue Credit Solutions Limited is a legitimate company that is registered in the UK under Company Number SC287794. 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.
They are 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 PDCS Debt Collectors regulated by the FCA?
Yes, Pastdue Credit Solutions 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 703411.
What debts does PDCS collect?
They 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 range from money owed to HMRC through to telecoms providers.
Who do Pastdue Credit Solutions collect for?
PDCS collect on behalf of numerous companies and organisations, including:
- HMRC
- BT
- Sky
- British Gas
What action can PDCS take?
It might help to understand PDCS’ process a little better if they are trying to collect an outstanding debt from you.
For starters, they 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, they may take you to court to pursue the matter further.
How to deal with PDCS?
The best way to deal with PDCS 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 might include: paying PDCS in full, making a part payment, agreeing to a payment plan, seeking to write off your debt by using an insolvency solution, or alternatively disputing the fact that you owe money to PCDS in the first instance.
How to check if you actually owe money to PDCS?
If you’re being asked to pay off a debt, it makes sense to check that you really do owe what PDCS say you do. They should be able to provide information on request, including a confirmation of how much you owe and who to. This information can then be checked against your own records to ensure that everything is in order.
Can PDCS take you to court?
PDCS could potentially take you to court, but they’re unlikely to do so unless they are seeking a County Court Judgment to formally confirm that you owe money to them or their clients. This is more likely to happen if you ignore any attempts they make to contact you, or if you refuse to work with them to pay off what you owe.
Debt collectors prefer to work with debtors who communicate with them, and who show willingness to deal with any issues and pay off their outstanding debts. Ignoring the problem could lead to more serious consequences in the future.
Can PDCS come to my house?
PDCS can attend your property, but their field agents cannot force their way in. This is because collection agencies can only send debt collectors and not bailiffs, meaning that they have very limited powers and can only really ask that you pay off what you owe.
Do you have to let PDCS debt collectors into my house?
No, PDCS debt collectors are not bailiffs and they have no authority to enter your property unless you choose to invite them in.
Can PDCS send bailiffs?
PDCS 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 they can do is send debt collectors to ask you for your cooperation in repaying an outstanding debt.
Do PDCS buy debts?
PDCS are known to purchase outstanding debts from other companies who have been unable to collect what they are owed. The process involves the company buying 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 PDCS from contacting me?
Without the help of a formal debt solution, it won’t usually be possible to stop PDCS 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).
The agency 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.
Can I write off Pastdue Credit Solutions debt?
Whilst PDCS probably won’t entertain the idea of just writing your debt off, they may consider a full and final settlement offer put to them, even if it is less than the total figure owed. If such an offer is accepted, it may be worth requesting written confirmation that no further action will be taken against you once payment has been made.
They might even agree to a payment plan if you cannot afford to settle what you owe outright. For more information about a PDCS payment plan, the company recommends contacting their team using the details on their website.
How to contact Pastdue Credit Solutions?
Communication is vitally important when you’re dealing with debt. To contact them, use the details set out below.
Full Company Name: Pastdue Credit Solutions (PDCS) Limited
Phone number: 0141 951 4077
Email address: [email protected]
Website: www.pastduecredit.co.uk/
Office address:
1 Blair Court
North Avenue
Clydebank Business Park
G81 2LA
Their website also states that their online portal provides the quickest way to resolve an account. It can be accessed here.
How to complain about PDCS?
If things go wrong, there are several ways you can go about complaining to and about PDCS. They operate a complaints webpage here.
To complain directly to PDCS, you can call 0141 447 0554 or email [email protected]. You can also write to them by addressing your complaint to:
Pastdue Credit Solutions Limited
FAO Complaints Handler
1 Blair Court
North Avenue
Clydebank Business Park
Glasgow
G81 2LA
As the company 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: https://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 PDCS 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.
Pastdue Credit Solutions reviews
You can find reviews Pastdue Credit Solutions on Trustpilot’s dedicated page here.
PDCS score a very low 1.2 stars out of 5. At the time of writing, this score was based on 113 reviews. Public reviews criticise the “endless time spent on telephone” waiting to get through to an operator, but they are praised for their “user-friendly” online payments system.
Bottom Line
PDCS are a leading UK debt collection company, working on behalf of HMRC and other major organisations. Whilst any dealings with a debt collector are likely to be stressful, PDCS are 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 the company, don’t 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 PDCS Credit Limited?
Pastdue Credit Solutions Limited is the registered company name of PDCS debt collectors. The firm is registered with Companies House under company number: SC287794.
Does HMRC use them?
Yes – HMRC use a number of private debt collection agencies including Pastdue Credit Solutions. For a complete list of the debt collectors used by HMRC, visit their website.
Who owns PDCS Limited?
Pastdue Credit Solutions Limited is a private limited company, owned and controlled by a number of directors who claim to have extensive experience in the lending and credit market.
Do PDCS accept credit card payments?
Yes, they accept payments online or over the phone via credit card, debit card, or by bank transfer, Standing Order, Cheque or Postal Order.
It’s worth thinking about how paying with a credit card could affect your finances, as doing so could lead to higher a higher debt total from any interest or charges added by the card provider.
Can PDCS take my car?
PDCS cannot immobilise your car or take it in full or part payment of a debt unless that debt is secured over the vehicle.
Can PDCS sell my home?
PDCS 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. PDCS 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, they would still need to seek a charging order for your home to be sold.
How long can Pastdue Credit Solutions 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, Pastdue Credit Solutions will not be able to take legal action against you to enforce the debt.
Can PDCS issue a warrant?
PDCS won’t be able to issue a warrant, but a court could if a CCJ has been granted against you.
Can I ignore PDCS Debt Collectors?
PDCS 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 Pastdue 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 from PDCS?
Before a CCJ claim reaches court, PDCS will first issue a ‘letter of claim’ to confirm what you owe and to inform you of the pending legal proceedings. Debtors will usually 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.
Can PDCS recover debts during the coronavirus?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the way we all live our lives, but debt collectors and firms such as PDCS are still operating. They may still contact you to pay, but the agency claims to be all about supporting debtors.
They might be willing to consider your individual circumstances or to work with struggling debtors, so keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to contact them if you feel you really can’t pay.
What if I can’t afford to pay PDCS?
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 Pastdue Credit Solutions, 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: