Wescot Credit Services are a UK-based debt collection agency, and if you’re reading this you may have already heard from them.
Whether you’ve received a letter of claim and want to know how to proceed, or if just want to know more about how Wescot operates, read this guide to learn all about the company and their debt collection methods.
Who are Wescot Credit Services Limited?
They are a debt collection agency based in Hull, England. The company services a number of clients across the UK and was established in 1983.
Why have Wescot Credit Services Limited contacted me?
If Wescot Credit Services have contacted you, it’s probably because you may owe money to one of their clients. They deal in the collection of outstanding debts that are owed to other organisations, and so you may not recognise their name when they first get in touch.
Are Wescot Credit Services debt collectors legitimate?
Wescot Credit Services Limited is a legitimate debt collection company that is registered in the UK under Company Number SC084131. They act on behalf of other companies to collect outstanding debts, and they even provide an example of the types of letters they send to debtors on their website.
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.
They are also a member of the Lending Standards Board, and so must also follow the guidelines set out by that organisation. Further information about their commitments under this affiliation can be found on the Lending Standards Board website.
Are Wescot Credit Services regulated by the FCA?
Wescot 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 688858.
What debts do they collect?
They collect debt on behalf of various companies and organisations, ranging from banks to utility companies.
Which companies do Wescot Credit Services collect for?
Wescot Credit Services collect on behalf of numerous companies and organisations, including:
- O2
- EE
- United Utilities
- Npower
What actions can Wescot Credit Services take to collect debt?
Wescot’s debt collection process has probably already begun if you’ve received a letter from them. Their process involves many steps, but generally begins with the firm communicating exactly how much the debtor owes and indicating how a repayment can be made.
This initial communication will then be followed up by a letter and maybe even a phone call, underscoring the situation and explaining how it can be resolved. Wescot accept multiple payment methods, and they might direct you towards their online payment portal at this stage.
If you don’t make a payment, Wescot could continue asking you to settle up what you owe. Ultimately, they could send debt collectors to your home, but these won’t be bailiffs and they won’t have any powers to enter your property or remove goods without consent. Failing all else, Wescot may choose to seek a County Court Judgment against you. If this is granted, the court will order you to make a payment and failure to comply may result in court bailiffs attending your address.
How to check if you actually owe money to Wescot Credit Services
Whether you dispute a debt or not, people often feel better when they are able to verify the information sent to them by a debt collection agency. If you have received a letter from Wescot, they should be able to provide more information on request – including details of how much you owe and who to.
Once you have these details, you can cross check them against your own records to ensure that everything is in order. If you don’t believe that you owe the outstanding balance, Wescot suggest that you call their investigative team on 01482 484673.
How to deal with Wescot Credit Services
The best approach to dealing with any debt collection agency will be unique to your circumstances, and the same applies if Wescot Credit Services have been in touch to request a repayment.
In most cases, there are several courses of action that you could take. These might include: paying Wescot Credit Services 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 Wescot Credit Services in the first instance.
Can Wescot Credit Services take you to court?
If you fail to engage with Wescot Credit Services, it may be that they choose to take you to court. Debt collection companies will generally attempt to work reasonably with debtors that communicate with them whilst showing willingness to deal with the situation. In situations where a debtor ignores them, or persistently fails to address the issue of the debt, they could escalate the matter by seeking a County Court Judgment (CCJ) that formally confirms out what is owed.
Can Wescot Credit Services send debt collectors to my address?
Wescot Credit Services could send debt collectors to your property, but these will just be field agents who cannot force their way in or even remove goods. Bailiffs will only attend your home at the direction of a court, and debt collectors can only really ask for you to settle what you owe or agree to a repayment plan.
Do you have to let Wescot Credit Services debt collectors into my house?
No, the debt collectors employed by Wescot Credit Services are not bailiffs and they do not have any powers to enter your property unless you choose to invite them in. You are not legally required to grant them entry to your home.
Can Wescot Credit Services send bailiffs?
Wescot Credit Services can’t send bailiffs to your property, but they can send debt collectors. These are not court officials, and they don’t have the power to enter your property or to remove goods.
Whilst the company cannot send bailiffs on their own, a court could do so if Wescot have successfully sought out a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you. This is more likely to happen if you refuse to engage with your creditors, and bailiffs could be sent to your address if you don’t abide by any orders handed down by a court.
Do Wescot Credit Services buy debts?
According to the FAQ section of their website, Wescot Credit Services used to buy debts from other companies but no longer do so.
Can I stop Wescot Credit Services from contacting me?
Without using a formal debt solution, it is unlikely that you will be able to prevent Wescot Credit Services from contacting you altogether. 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).
Wescot Credit Services will be able to contact you unless a solution such as those described above is in place, but you can ask them to respect your contact preferences – for instance if you would prefer for all contact to be put in writing rather than dealing with the issue via telephone.
How to write off my debt with Wescot Credit Services
Wescot Credit Services and their clients are unlikely to agree to write your debt off unless there are extreme circumstances in play.
Despite this, the company may be willing to accept a full and final settlement offer even if it doesn’t cover the full value of your debt. If a settlement offer is accepted, you may find it helpful to request written confirmation that your debt has been settled to avoid any disputes in the future. Offers of repayment can be emailed at [email protected].
According to their website, Wescot Credit Services are generally supportive of repayment plans – which could help you to repay what you owe over a longer period of time and in more affordable chunks.
Generally, it is only possible to write off debt via a formal insolvency solution.
How to contact Wescot Credit Services
Good communication is essential when you’re trying to deal with debt. To contact the company, use the details set out below.
Full Company Name: Wescot Credit Services Limited
Phone number: 01482 484673
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wescot.co.uk
Postal address:
Wescot Credit Services Limited
PO Box 137
Hull HU2 8HF
When is the Wescot Credit Services call centre open?
According to their website, they take customer calls between the following times:
- 8am to 9pm, Monday to Friday
- 8am to 4pm, Saturdays
How can I complain to Wescot Credit Services?
If things go wrong, there are several ways to make a complaint about Wescot Credit Services Limited.
As a first port of call, you can complain directly to Wescot Credit Services, by calling 01482 590500 or emailing [email protected]. You can also write to them by addressing your complaint to:
Customer Relations Team
Wescot Credit Services Limited
The Mash
Jarratt Street
Hull, HU1 3HB
As Wescot 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: https://www.csa-uk.com.
Finally, if you feel that your complaint has not been dealt 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 Wescot 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.
Wescot Credit Services reviews
There are many websites that host reviews of debt collection companies, but one of the most popular is Trustpilot. You can find reviews Wescot Credit Services on Trustpilot’s dedicated page here.
They score 2.0 stars out of 5, although this score was based on just 24 reviews at the time of writing. The reviews range in their content, with some debtors praising the firm for being “very understanding” whilst others criticise their allegedly “ineffective” practices.
The bottom line
Wescot Credit Services are a well-established debt recovery firm that collects outstanding debts on behalf of other major companies. Owned by the parent company of Cabot Financial Debt Recovery Services Limited, they are part of one of the UK’s largest debt collection groups.
If you’ve been contacted by Wescot Credit Services Limited, there’s no need to panic. Be sure to read this guide to get a better picture of where you stand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wescot Credit Services Limited?
Wescot Credit Services Limited is the registered company name of the debt collection agency also known as Wescot and 2F. The firm is registered with Companies House under company number: SC084131.
Does HMRC use Wescot Credit Services to collect debts?
No – whilst HMRC may have used Wescot Credit Services to collect outstanding debts in the past, it does not seem that this arrangement is ongoing. HMRC uses a number of private debt collection agencies, and a complete list can be found on their website.
Who owns Wescot Credit Services Limited?
Wescot Credit Services is a private limited company registered with Companies House under company number SC084131. The firm is owned and controlled by Cabot Financial Debt Recovery Services Limited and its parent companies. Cabot Financial is another UK debt collection agency registered under company number 03936134 .
Are Wescot Credit Services financially regulated?
Yes, Wescot Credit Services Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with firm reference number 688858.
Do Wescot Credit Services accept credit card payments?
Wescot Credit Services offer various ways for debtors to pay, and accept payments online through their payment portal. They accept payments made by direct debit, debit card, credit card, pay point, standing order, cheque, and postal order. In addition to the payment portal, payments can be made over the phone by calling Wescot on 01482 484673.
It’s worth knowing that paying off debts with a credit card may see you incur interest and charges from your card provider, making the debt more expensive altogether.
Do Wescot Credit Services agree to payment plans?
In a word, yes. Wescot’s website suggests that they offer “flexible repayment options” that are “based on what you can afford”. They suggest that anybody who can’t afford to pay what they owe in full should call 01482 484673.
Can Wescot Credit Services take my car?
Unless the debt you owe to Wescot’s clients is secured over your vehicle, the firm cannot immobilise it, or take it in full or part payment.
Can Wescot Credit Services sell my home?
Whilst it’s unlikely, Wescot Credit Services could eventually seek to sell your home – but this would take a lot of effort on their part. Except in cases where the relevant debt is secured against your property (if it was a mortgage, for instance) Wescot would need to take you to court to seek a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you. Even then, they would have to seek another court order (known as a charging order) if they wanted to progress with the sale of your home.
How long can Wescot Credit Services legally chase a debt for?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, creditors have six years to chase the majority of unsecured debts. This period begins from the date of your last payment, or the last date on which you acknowledged that the debt exists. Once this period has elapsed, Wescot Credit Services 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 Wescot Credit Services debt collectors are likely to chase you for the outstanding figure and could even apply to the courts for a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you if you refuse to pay. In this sense, it’s important for debtors to recognise that simply refusing to acknowledge the existence of a debt probably won’t make it go away.
How are bailiffs different from debt collectors?
Even though Wescot Credit Services may send debt collectors to your home, there are some key differences between these field agents and the bailiffs that you might have seen in the media (who are often known as enforcement agents).
The key difference to remember is that debt collectors do not have any special legal powers to collect a debt, whilst bailiffs do.
Bailiffs are usually involved with the collection of debts under County Court Judgments (CCJs), including council tax arrears, unpaid parking fines, and child maintenance arrears. They have a legal right to enter your property and can remove goods that can then be sold to cover what you owe.
Debt collectors (also known as doorstep collectors and field agents) are generally employed by private companies and debt collection agencies to encourage debtors to repay what they owe. They cannot enter your property unless you invite them in, and they don’t have the power to remove any goods in lieu of a repayment.
What is a CCJ?
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a type of court order in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In effect, it is a formal recognition by a court that you owe money to a person or a business.
If a CCJ is made against you, you will receive a letter confirming all of the information. This will include information about how much you owe and the deadline for making payment. A record of a CCJ will remain on your credit file for a period of six years unless the full amount is paid within a month of the order being made. This can have a negative impact on your credit score and can make it difficult to access credit in future.
Can Wescot Credit Services issue a warrant?
Wescot Credit Servicescan’t issue a warrant, but a court could do so if a CCJ has already been granted against you.
Can I ignore Wescot Credit Services Limited?
Ignoring Wescot Credit Services won’t make your debt go away and doing so could in fact lead to more serious consequences. If you fail to pay what you owe, they could send debt collectors to your home or even take your case to court – where a County Court Judgment (CCJ) could be made against you.
If this happens, the court will have formally recognised what you owe, and could even send bailiffs to your home if you do not settle up.
Can I just ignore a CCJ letter from Wescot Credit Services?
If things escalate to the point that Wescot seek a County Court Judgment (CCJ) against you, they will still need to follow a formal process. This includes sending a ‘letter of claim’ that sets out exactly what you owe and to inform you of the pending legal proceedings. You will typically have 30 days to respond to a letter of claim, and a reply form will usually accompany 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 Wescot Credit Services recover debts during the coronavirus?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the way we all live our lives, and many people are struggling to cope financially. Debt collectors and firms are still operating, but they do ask debtors to contact them if they have been directly affected by COVID-19 in a way that is impacting on their ability to maintain payments.
Ultimately Wescot can still pursue unpaid debts during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they may be more willing to consider individual circumstances and to work with debtors who are struggling to make ends meet.
What if I can’t afford to pay Wescot Credit Services Limited?
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 form of communication from Wescot 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: