Originally posted on https://www.scottishtrustdeed.co.uk/creditor-details/pdcs-past-due-credit-solutions/

 

In this section, we will guide you on what to do should you receive a letter from the PDCS debt collection agency.

Did you receive a notice from PDCS debt collection? Are you unsure what your next step should be? Are you unsure about the actual amount of your debt? Do you need assistance?

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A letter from PDCS Debt Recovery Limited may make you feel that you need to pay back debt you may or may not owe.

PDCS agents may also have claimed that you owe the money that may never have been lent to you. They may also be charging you for a service which you may never have been provided.

Who Are PDCS Debt Recovery?

PDCS is an agency that purchases and collects unpaid debts. They are a third person agency, which means that they do not have a direct business relationship with you. This is also the reason why you may not know the agency.

What PDCS does is to purchase bad debts in bulk from finance companies. Once they have purchased these bad debts, they will then attempt to collect. They also manage the accounts of clients who have defaulted on their payments from companies such as;

• Phone bills from 02, BT, Vodafone
• United Utilities, and Scottish Power, among others.

Debt collection agencies such as PDCS purchase these debts for less than the actual amount, then charge the defaulted clients the full debt amount. They only need to get 20% of these clients to pay to double their profits.

PDCS Debt Letters

PDCS, like all debt collectors, often send standard collection letters to demand clients to get in touch through phone for the sole purpose of paying back their debt. They will then include a statement to inform the client of their intention to visit their home.

PDCS will also send another letter, this time offering a settlement out of court. This will then be followed by a threat to file a case against the client in court for a judgement. They may also threaten the client with the possibility of bankruptcy.

These letters, while carefully written, are standard and system-driven letters that can hound the client for several months, but they should by no means take these letters personally.

During these reminders, PDCS may also attempt to establish contact through phone, using numbers such as;

• 0161 4752875
• 0161 4752875
• 0161 4752875

They will, however, avoid leaving voice mails.

I’ve Received A Letter From PDCS, What Can I Do?

If you have received these letters from PDCS or have received phone calls from the agency, you must know the right steps to take to protect yourself. If PDCS called you or sent you a threatening letter, call us at Money Advice Online for assistance. Simply dial our debt helpline 0800 368 8133 or click on the link provided. Our representatives will get in touch with you right away.

What Can an Agency Like PDCS Do?

PDCS and other debt collection agencies are required to abide by the debt collection regulations set by the Financial Conduct Authority or FCA. The FCA’s rules and guidance regarding debt collection sets the minimum standards that all debt collection agencies must follow. Agencies that violate these rules will be disqualified from operations as debt collection companies.

The rules that the FCA has set forbids agencies from making excessive or unfair collection charges. Agencies are also forbidden from harassing or threatening their clients. They cannot, for example, threaten to seize the client’s property since they cannot do this by law.

They also cannot bypass the authority of an appointed representative and get in touch with the client directly. FCA also forbids debt collection agencies from threatening clients with legal action, considering it is not likely to happen.

If there is one thing they can do, it is to notify you in advance in case they intend to make a home visit. They cannot just make an appearance at your residence without telling you first.

Heres how Orange Tom from Youtube dealt with PDCS

 

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Originally posted on YouTube by Orange Tom

 

What You Need to Know

There is a good chance that if your debt has already been forwarded to PDCS that your credit file would have already been affected in a negative way. It is also likely that your account has already been marked as defaulted.

When debt collectors try to get in touch with you, do not simply ignore them. If you fail to handle the issue, they might apply for a court judgement in your county. If this happens, they can work with bailiffs who will perform the collection on their behalf. The agencies may also apply for an order against you if you own a home.

Can They Take Me To Court?

The possibility of having a case against you filed in county court or facing a problem with your property due to defaulted debt may be worrying. However, keep in mind that it is the responsibility of PDCS to provide evidence that you owe money. It is not your responsibility to prove or disprove it.

It is also common practice for debt collection agencies such as PDCS to use a scattergun strategy, sending out numerous letters addressed to people sharing the same names, hoping that one or a few of these will pay.

Alternatively, you may be able to suspend their visit by filling in an N245 application form, detailing how you intend to repay your debt or use a Time To Pay order.

Making the Right Response to Debt Collectors

If you have been approached by a debt collector, there are different ways you can respond to protect yourself.

Write Back Using The ‘Prove The Debt’ Letter

Your purpose in writing back is to demand that PDCS prove that you owe money and that the figure indicated in their demand letter is your debt. If they cannot prove that the debt is yours, they have no choice but to mark it “settled”.

Here is a sample letter to get you started. Note that this sample letter does not constitute legal advice.

 

• Dear Sir/Madam:Re: Account No. XXXXXXXXI received your letter regarding the account indicated above, claiming that I owed a specific amount.I would like to inform you that I do not know of any such amount I owe (name of specific creditor). I would also like to call your attention to the FCA’s (Financial Conduct Authority) Consumer Credit sourcebook that states that:A firm should neither ignore nor disregard a customer’s claim that his debt has been settled and/or is disputed and must stop making demands for payment without providing the customer clear justification and/or evidence as to why the claim is not valid. 7.5.3

  A firm must suspend or cease the steps it or its agent takes in the recovery of a customer’s debt where the customer disputes or has settled the debt on valid grounds or what may be considered valid grounds. 7.14.1

  If a customer disputes the debt on valid grounds or on what may be considered valid grounds, the firm must re-examine the dispute and provide details of the customer’s debt to the customer in a reasonably timely manner. 7.14.3

  If there is a dispute regarding the identity of the borrower or the amount of the debt, it is for the firm (not the customer) to establish, that the customer is indeed the correct person/identity in relation to the debt owed or that the amount is correct under the agreement. 7.14.4

  A collection firm must provide the customer with information regarding the outcome of its investigations about a debt that the customer disputed or has settled on valid grounds. 7.14.5

  If the customer disputes the debt and the firm who seeks to recover the debt is neither the lender nor the owner, the firm is required to:

  > (1) Pass the information given by the customer to the actual lender or the owner; or

  > (2) If the firm was given authority by the lender or the owner to investigate the dispute, the firm is required to notify the lender or owner regarding the outcome of the investigation. 7.14.6

  You have not ceased your collection activities whilst investigating a reasonably disrupted or queried debt, a method that is considered unfair and deceptive. Furthermore, by continuing to make demands from me to make payment whilst ignoring/disregarding claims that my debts are disputed or settled, your agency is committing what amounts to psychological and/or physical harassment.

  In light of this, I am asking that you do not make contact with me regarding the above account without providing me with evidence regarding my liability.

  I shall wait for your response confirming that the matter I have presented above is closed. If I do not receive such confirmation, I shall file a complaint with the department of trading standards and may inform the FCA regarding your actions.

  If necessary, I shall also forward a complaint with the Office of the Financial Ombudsman Service and Information Commissioner.

  I look forward to your response.

  Yours truly

  (Your printed name without your signature)

 

After sending the letter, the debt collection agency may reply stating that they have traced the debt to you, followed by a deadline for you to send a reply. Since the agency still must prove your debt, you can disregard the letter.

NOTEYou can download an MS Word editable version of the Prove The Debt Letter here

The proof they must provide is the original copy of your signed credit agreement. The reason why you should send them an unsigned letter is so they would not have a chance recreate the original agreement.

If it turns out that you do not owe anything, PDCS should send you a letter stating that they have cancelled the claim and that they will no longer contact you. However, if you owed the debt, it is prudent that you pay back the amount in full or through instalments to settle it.