Andrew Wilson & Co Debt – Should You Pay?

Are you worried about a debt letter from Andrew Wilson & Co? You’re not on your own. Over 170,000 people visit our site each month for help with debt worries.

This article will help you with:

•  Checking if the Andrew Wilson & Co debt is really yours.
•  Finding out if Andrew Wilson & Co are a real company.
•  Learning why Andrew Wilson & Co might be getting in touch.
•  Understanding what to do if you get many calls or letters from Andrew Wilson & Co.
•  Knowing the steps to take if you can’t pay the debt.

We know getting a letter from a debt collector can be scary. Many of us have had the same worry. But remember, you might not need to pay. It’s important not to ignore the letter, though. This guide will walk you through your choices.

Ready to learn how to deal with Andrew Wilson & Co and feel less worried about your debt? Let’s dive in!

Who are Andrew Wilson & Co Debt Collectors?

Andrew Wilson & Co are debt collectors with offices in Salford, London, and Bristol. They work on behalf of businesses to collect unpaid debts. They also collect unpaid loans for various credit card companies and payday lenders. If you default on court fines, they’ll also collect those.

However, not all debt that Andrew Wilson & Co debt collectors chase is on behalf of a lender. In my cases, the company buys debt in bundles and becomes the owner of your debt.

This is legal and is often referred to in the fine print of credit agreements.

Beating Andrew Wilson & Co Debt Collectors

You could get rid of Andrew Wilson & Co debt collectors by writing off some of your unaffordable debt.

There are several debt solutions in the UK, choosing the right one could write off some of your unaffordable debt, but the wrong one may be expensive and drawn out. It’s all about what’s right for your personal circumstances. 

Is Andrew Wilson & Co Legitimate?

Yes. Andrew Wilson & Co High Court Enforcement is a legitimate company. As a partner of HMRC, they often chase unpaid council tax and parking tickets. So if you receive a letter about this, don’t bin it thinking it’s spam!

They are a member of the Civil Enforcement Association which ensures they operate fairly and follow regulations.

Why are Andrew Wilson & Co Contacting Me?

You’ll be getting calls from this firm if you owe money or have fallen behind on payments. But you’ll probably owe this money to someone else, which is why you don’t recognise the name Andrew Wilson & Co. They work on behalf of creditors to chase up unpaid debts.

Do Not Ignore Letters from Andrew Wilson & Co!

If you receive several letters or calls and ignore them completely, chances are you’ll receive a visit from an agent at your home.However, Andrew Wilson & Co do have a legal obligation to give you time to explore your options regarding debt.

Many people think that if they ignore calls and letters for long enough, they will give up. But this is a myth. By ignoring them completely, you’ll risk further action and they may escalate your case to court.

How to Stop Home Visits from Andrew Wilson & Co

It can be a little intimidating when they show up at your home. Agents are usually sent to conduct home visits if letters and calls have gone unanswered. So to stop them turning up at your home, your best bet is to engage with them and show you’re responsive to their letters.

Write to Andrew Wilson to let them know you need time to explore your options. If they continue to contact you and you feel harassed, you have the option of filing an official complaint against the firm – we’ll look at how to do that below.

Should You Pay Andrew Wilson & Co Outright?

If you’re sure the debt they are asking for is legitimate and you have the means to pay it back, you should. This is the easiest way to avoid further action.

However, if you don’t recognise the debt they allege you owe or you can’t afford to pay it back without getting into further debt, you do have other options which we’ll look at below.

How do I Verify Andrew Wilson & Co Debt?

If you have received debt letters from Andrew Wilson & Co, but aren’t sure if they’re legit, what do you do?

From my experience, the best thing to do is ask for proof that the debt is yours. I have a free ‘prove it’ letter template that you can use to help you write to Andrew Wilson & Co and request evidence that you are liable for the debt that they are chasing.

You are under no obligation to pay for a debt that can’t be proven to be yours.

It is crucial that you respond to legitimate debt collectors quickly. Responding quickly will help you avoid any extra charges or fees. Not ignoring debt collectors also means that you are less likely to face legal action, such as a CCJ.

What Action can Andrew Wilson & Co Take?

Here are the steps Andrew Wilson & Co debt collectors can take to legally recover the debt:

1. Send letters and call your home

They’ll begin by sending you a letter informing you of the debt owed. They’ll give you details of how to repay and deadlines of when this is needed. They may also call your home to give you this information.

2. Send field agents

If calls and letters go unanswered, the next stage is sending field agents to conduct a house visit. These people are not bailiffs and do not have any right to enter your home or seize property. You have every right to ask them to leave and they must oblige.

3. Issue a County Court Judgement

If you continue to ignore attempts to contact you, Andrew Wilson & Co have the power to take you to court to have a County Court Judgement filed against you.

4. Get a warrant for bailiffs

If you don’t make payments towards the debt, bailiffs will then be sent to your home to remove belongings to the value of the debt owed. To be prepared, make sure to read this post on how to deal with bailiffs.

5. Apply for an Attachment of Earnings Order

They also have the power to apply for an Attachment of Earnings Order which will take the debt owed directly from your wages if possible.

Can Andrew Wilson & Co take me to court?

Yes, they can take you to court. In fact, Andrew Wilson & Co will need to go to court to do most of the above.

But remember, they must make a reasonable effort to get in touch with you and they must give you time to explore your options regarding your debt.

As legal action is very expensive, you will probably find that Andrew Wilson & Co will happily negotiate alternative payment plans that you can afford.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Will I Lose My Home if I Can’t Pay Off the Debt?

It’s very unlikely that you’ll lose your home. Andrew Wilson & Co debt collectors mostly deal with unsecured debts, meaning they aren’t secured against an asset such as your home.

However, if you have a substantial debt and fail to make repayments, they can apply for a Charging Order which secures your unpaid debt against your home.

This won’t be done until they’ve first filed for a county court judgement which will give you time to make arrangements to avoid having your house put up as collateral.

How Do I Stop Andrew Wilson & Co Contacting Me?

Andrew Wilson & Co High Court Enforcement have a legal right to contact you to recover debt so there’s no way of stopping them calling you.

Even so, you can write to them and tell them your preferences for how you’d like to be contacted. For example, you can request you only be contacted by phone during certain times of the day.

Make sure to explain this is for work purposes, to avoid other members of your household learning details of the debt owed, or another important reason. 

Once you’ve expressed your preferences, they should abide by them.

What do I do if they call me constantly?

If you ignore calls or fail to make arrangements with the firm, they will continue to call you. But they do have to abide by regulations set out by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Here is a list of things they can’t do:

• Threaten legal action which they know won’t happen.
• Send letters which look like court forms.
• Send bailiffs without a court order.
• Have field agents pretend to be bailiffs.
• Chase debt that is being managed by an IVA.
• Call at unreasonable hours.
• Ignore your stated contact preferences.
• Call you at work without permission.
• Talk to your family members or other persons about your debt.
• Refuse to give you reasonable time to make arrangements.
• Advise borrowing more money to pay off your debt.
• Attempt to confuse you with legal jargon.

How to Contact Andrew Wilson to Make a Complaint

If you think that Andrew Wilson & Co 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 Andrew Wilson & Co 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, Andrew Wilson & Co may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

You can contact Andrew Wilson here:

Phone: 0161 925 1800

Post: 26 Missouri Avenue, Salford, Manchester, M50 2NP

Email: [email protected]

You can also contact the Civil Enforcement Association because this debt collector is a registered member.

Steps to Take to Deal with Andrew Wilson & Co

When you receive a letter, don’t immediately call and pay off the debt, especially if that means you’ll put yourself in further hardship.

Here is a list of steps you should when you receive a letter from Andrew Wilson & Co High Court Enforcement:

1. Do you owe the debt?

First thing’s first, check the debt is yours. If you don’t recognise it, check with a credit agency such as Experian or Credit Karma. All outstanding debts will show against your name.

2. Get them to prove it with a ‘Prove The Debt’ Letter

Still unsure it’s yours? Ask the firm to prove the debt by issuing a ‘prove the debt’ letter. If they can’t prove it, they legally have to mark the debt as settled.

If they can’t produce proof, they’ll send more intimidating-looking letters stating the debt owed – this is not proof so can be ignored.

3. Is the debt statute barred?

Some debt has a time limit according to the Limitation Act 1980. This means creditors in England have six years to chase up debt starting from the time you made the last payment.

After six years have passed, the debt becomes statute barred and they can no longer take you to court to force payment. 

Debt requirements to be statute barred:

• The creditor has not registered a County Court judgment against you.
• You have not made any payments in the last six years.
• You have not admitted to the debt in writing in the last six years.

What to Do if You Can’t Afford the Debt

If you’ve gone through all the checks above and are sure the debt is yours, you are responsible for paying it back.

However, if you can’t afford to pay it back or would put yourself into more hardship, you have some options available:

1. Agree on a payment plan with Andrew Wilson & Co

Write to or call Andrew Wilson & Co and let them know you can’t afford to pay back the debt as a lump sum and would need a reasonable payment plan.

They should help you arrange a payment plan that you can afford over a reasonable time period.

Ensure they do not apply any unreasonable charges, interest rates or penalties for using a payment plan.

Quote from MrViews: “Quote from Mrviews: “…it seems the HCEO fees they are charging are not even legal, they are supposed to be around 2.5%, they are charging around 20%!”

Make sure to read this guide on setting up a debt management plan before agreeing to any plans.

2. Write off Andrew Wilson & Co debt

If you are facing financial hardship or financial difficulty and can’t pay back your debts, you might want to consider a debt solution.

There are several different debt solutions available in the UK, so I recommend speaking to a debt charity as soon as possible. Their advisors will be able to look at your finances in detail and help you work out which debt solution will work best for you.

I have linked a few charities that offer these advisory services for free below.

Debt Management Plan (DMP)

A DMP is an informal debt solution that lets you pay off your debts via a single monthly payment.

Because it is informal, it is not legally binding so you are not tied into a DMP for a minimum number of payments.

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

An IVA is a formal agreement between you and your creditors. You agree to pay a monthly sum that is distributed amongst your debts, and your creditors agree not to contact you during your IVA.

IVAs typically last for 5 or 6 years, and any outstanding debt is wiped off when it ends.

Keep in mind that IVAs are not suitable for everyone. You need to owe several thousand pounds to more than one creditor to be eligible. You also need to demonstrate that you have some disposable income every month.

Trust Deed

IVAs are not available in Scotland. Instead, you will need to opt for a Trust Deed.

Trust Deeds work in the same way as an IVA – you pay an agreed sum each month that is shared amongst your creditors, they can’t contact you, and any leftover debt at the end of your Trust Deed term is written off.

Debt Relief Order (DRO)

A DRO is a good option for those facing financial hardship with no assets and little income.

For 12 months, you make no payments, but your creditors freeze your interest and don’t contact you.

If your finances haven’t improved during this year, you may be able to write off your unsecured debts.

Bankruptcy

If you have debts but no realistic possibility of ever paying them off, you may need to declare bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy has an unfair stigma attached to it as it may be your only way of getting a financial fresh start. That said, it is a serious financial situation that should not be taken lightly.

Sequestration

Sequestration is the Scottish version of bankruptcy.

If you have little income and no valuable assets, you may be able to apply for a minimal asset process bankruptcy (MAP). A MAP is a quicker, cheaper, and more straightforward version of sequestration, so worth considering.

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What Happens If I Don’t Pay My Debts?

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

1. Your creditor will send you reminders and then demands to get you to pay any missed 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. This is where Andrew Wilson & Co. will come in.
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.

What is a CCJ?

A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is an order from a judge that states you have to pay the debt. This means that the court agrees with your creditor, and you owe the money.

Your judgement will include the following:

• How much you owe
• How you should pay
• Who you should pay
• Your deadline to pay.

Unless you pay within one month of the CCJ being issued, it will be recorded in the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines for 6 years. If you pay off your debt within these 6 years, you can request that your judgement is marked as ‘satisfied’ on the register.

To do this, write to the court with proof that you have paid off the debt in full.

If you manage to pay within one month of the CCJ being issued, the judgement will not be recorded in the register. You will need to write to the court explaining that you have paid and provide proof.

CCJs are also visible on your credit file for 6 years. This will make it almost impossible for you to get credit during this time.

This is because companies use your credit file to see if you are a ‘high-risk’ customer – someone who might have difficulty paying their bills on time. If you have a CCJ, you have had such trouble paying back your debt that someone had to go to court about it.

Understandably, companies are going to be reluctant to give you credit!

After 6 years, it is no longer visible on your credit report and you should find it easier to get credit again.

Staying On Top Of Your Debts

One of the hardest parts about being in debt is that the industry isn’t at all transparent.

One common tactic used by Debt Collectors is contacting you under multiple names and addresses.

Sometimes, it’s for practical reasons, but even then it can be confusing and intimidating. So it’s important to try to keep a level head and research what’s going on. 

Some of the biggest debt collectors in the UK operate under multiple names. 

• Robinson Way will sometimes contact you under the name Hoist Finance. 
• Cabot Financial Group recently bought Wescot Credit Services
• Credit Style communicate as both Credit Style and CST Law. 
• Lowell Financial also owns Overdales and collects debts under both names. 

In fact, in the case of PRA Group, they’ve been known to use multiple company names. As you can see in the image below.

If you’ve been contacted by a debt collector recently, it’s worth going through your post and emails to check that you haven’t missed anything, just in case they’ve started writing to you under a different name.

Andrew Wilson & Co Contact Details

Learn More About Your Debt Options

If you are dealing with a debt collection company or just struggling to manage your money, I recommend speaking to a debt charity.

There are several charities and organisations in the UK that offer free debt counselling services and free financial advice. Their advisors will be able to walk you through your options and find the best solution for you.

• StepChange
• National Debtline
• Citizens Advice
• Debt Advice Foundation.