1st Locate UK Debt Collection – Should You Pay?

If you’ve received a letter from 1st Locate UK Debt Collection, don’t worry. We know how you might be feeling confused about where this debt has come from, unsure if you should pay it, or worried because you can’t afford to. 

We’re here to help you understand what to do next. Every month, over 170,000 people visit our website for advice on debt.

In this article, we’ll explain:

•  Who 1st Locate are.
•  How to check if the debt is really yours.
•  Your options if you can’t or don’t want to pay.
•  Ways to deal with debt collectors.
•  And steps to take if things get serious, like dealing with a CCJ. 

Some of our team members have also had letters from debt collectors. We understand how it feels, and we’re here to help.

Let’s dive in!

What do they want?

If 1st Locate Debt Collection Agency are on your case about outstanding debt, you would be forgiven for feeling frustrated with their contact. You may even be thinking, ‘who are these guys, and what do they want!’

The truth is that debt collection agencies buy the debt from other organisations who you owe the original debt to. They don’t make their money back or a profit, unless you start making payments.

This is why they can be relentless, they don’t want to waste the money they spent buying the debt. Unfortunately, some debt collection agencies act in a way which could be deemed as unreasonable, and even threatening, in some cases.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Is this your debt?

The first step in the process is to check if the debt you are being contacted about, is actually yours or if it is, is the value correct.

It may look a bit ‘over-inflated’, and that is down to interest and fees which could have been added, due to the length of time the debt has been outstanding.

If you are in any doubt about the debt, you should request a copy of the original credit agreement from 1st Locate Debt Collection Agency. If they can’t do this, you shouldn’t make payments.

Can pay but don’t want to?

Let’s just start by saying that if you owe the debt, you need to pay it, even though you don’t want to.

However, if you are struggling to pay it, 1st Locate Debt Collection Agency must act reasonably and allow you time to pay the debt back. If that means you need to pay it back in installments – so be it!

Read what to do if you can’t pay back your debt.

UK Personal Debt 2021 Update:

24% of people feel they have made a poor decision about debt during the pandemic. This rises to 51% of those aged 18-24 (Aviva)

(Source: The Money Charity)

What Happens If I Don’t Pay?

We’ve all wondered – what exactly will happen if you stop paying off your debt? Well, the answer is a whole lot of bother.

1. Your creditor will send you reminders and then demands if you miss several payments
2. If you don’t pay, your account will default
3. If you still don’t pay your debts, your creditor can choose to sell your debt to a debt collection agency or employ an agency to chase you for the missed payments. 
4. If you don’t pay the collectors, your creditor or the collection agency might be able to take legal action against you to get their money back. Legal action usually starts with a CCJ.

Thousands have already tackled their debt

Every day our partners, The Debt Advice Service, help people find out whether they can lower their repayments and finally tackle or write off some of their debt.

Natasha

I’d recommend this firm to anyone struggling with debt – my mind has been put to rest, all is getting sorted.

Get started

Reviews shown are for The Debt Advice Service.

Visiting your premises

Debt collectors are often so desperate to get you to pay up, that they might even threaten to pay a visit to your home. Don’t let them they have no right to do this, or even threaten to do it!

If you are in any way worried about your own physical safety, you should contact the police.

How do I Make a Complaint?

If you think that 1st Locate has been unreasonable or behaved inappropriately, you can make a complaint. You can also make a complaint if you feel that they have broken any of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) guidelines.

Make your first complaint to 1st Locate so that they have the chance to sort out the issue themselves. If you feel that they have not taken your complaint seriously enough or have not addressed your issue properly, you can escalate matters.

You can make any secondary complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). They will investigate and, if your complaint is upheld, 1st Locate may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

1st Locate Contact Details

Other Debt Collectors to look for on your Credit Report

There are hundreds of debt collectors in the UK and they each collect for different companies.

It’s surprisingly easy to not notice that you’re in a debt collector’s crosshairs.

I’d suggest you spend time checking your credit report. If a debt collector purchases any of your debt, it will appear on your credit report.

Some of the biggest to look out for include Cabot, PRA Group, and Lowell.

So if you see anything relating to their names, then you’ll need to investigate further.

References

CONC 7.3 Treatment of customers in default or arrears (including repossessions): lenders, owners and debt collectors

CONC 7.9 Contact with customers