BCW Debt Letters: Current Company Details and Your Options

Are you feeling worried about a surprise letter from BCW Group PLC Debt Collectors? You may be asking, “Do I have to pay?”

A debt letter can be worrying. Keep the correspondence, check the creditor and balance, and note any response deadline. Free independent debt advice is available.

In this article, we’ll help you understand:

•  Who BCW Group PLC are 
•  If you really owe them money 
•  What to do if you can’t afford to pay 
•  How to handle a complaint against BCW Group 
•  Ways to manage your debt, which might even mean cancelling some of it.

Our team has a lot of experience with debt collectors. We know what it’s like to feel scared about owing money. But don’t worry; we’ll help you learn how to handle BCW Group PLC Debt Collectors today.

What Happened to Them?

BCW is a historical debt-collection name. Companies House records for company SC223606 show the names BCW Group PLC, BCW Group Limited and later Arvato Financial Solutions Limited.

That company changed its name to Everyday People Financial Solutions Limited in December 2023. The present account owner and collection instructions must still be checked for each debt.

Do not use a historical BCW or Arvato payment route without verifying it. Everyday People Financial Solutions has a current customer portal at pay.myepfs.com; confirm that it handles your account before paying.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Does This Mean I No Longer Have to Pay My Debt?

A change of name or ownership does not itself cancel a debt or prove that you owe the balance demanded.

Check who currently owns the account and whether the firm is collecting for that creditor or has bought the debt. A collection letter alone does not establish liability, and a transfer does not automatically change the amount legally due. If you dispute the debt, explain why and request an itemised balance and evidence of liability. For recovery covered by FCA consumer-credit rules, a valid or potentially valid dispute must be investigated and recovery paused. A generic proof request does not cancel a debt, override an existing judgment or extend a court deadline. See related guidance.

Many ordinary unsecured debts have a six-year limitation period in England and Wales or a five-year prescription period in Scotland. The start date, debt type, relevant payments or acknowledgments and court action matter. Ask an adviser to check before paying or admitting liability, and respond to court papers on time.

What if I Cannot Afford to Repay It?

If you can’t afford to repay your debts or know that you’re going to be in serious financial difficulty if you do, you might need 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 insolvency arrangement managed by an insolvency practitioner. Your proposal sets out payments, any assets involved and fees. Once approved, it binds the creditors and debts covered by it and restricts recovery action; it is not a blanket ban on necessary correspondence.

Many IVAs involve payments for five or six years, but the agreed term varies. Qualifying unpaid debt is normally released only on successful completion. An IVA affects your credit record, may involve assets or home equity, and can fail if its terms are not met.

IVA suitability depends on your debts, affordable contributions or available assets, fees and creditor approval. There is no universal rule that you must owe several thousand pounds to more than one creditor. Get independent debt advice and compare other options before agreeing to an IVA.

Trust Deed

IVAs are not available in Scotland. A Scottish money adviser can compare a protected trust deed, the Debt Arrangement Scheme, sequestration and informal arrangements; a trust deed is not compulsory.

A protected trust deed is a Scottish insolvency arrangement, usually lasting at least four years of contributions. It can discharge qualifying unpaid debt on successful completion, but fees apply and your home or other assets may be at risk. Covered creditors cannot pursue payment outside it, but can still send required documents.

Debt Relief Order (DRO)

In England and Wales, a DRO may suit an eligible non-homeowner with low surplus income, limited assets and qualifying debts within the £50,000 limit. Detailed income, asset, vehicle and residence rules apply. An approved debt adviser checks eligibility and submits the application to the Insolvency Service.

During the usual 12-month DRO period, recovery of listed qualifying debts is restricted and you generally do not pay those debts. Ongoing bills and excluded debts still need attention. Creditors may send statements and other permitted correspondence.

A DRO normally lasts 12 months. If it remains in force, the qualifying debts listed in it are normally discharged at the end. You must report relevant changes and continue paying ongoing bills and excluded debts, such as court fines and student loans.

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.

Scotland’s Minimal Asset Process is a form of bankruptcy for people meeting specific debt, income and asset conditions. It has consequences for credit and finances and should be assessed with an approved money adviser. See Minimal Asset Process guide.

See my debt options overview page outlining all your possible debt options and pros and cons of each.

What is Statute-Barred Debt?

Many ordinary unsecured debts may become statute-barred after six years in England and Wales, or prescribed after five years in Scotland. The start date, debt type, payments, legally relevant acknowledgments and any court claim all matter. A creditor’s letter alone does not restart the period. Ask a debt adviser to check the facts before paying or admitting liability, and respond to any court papers on time.

Scotland has different prescription rules: certain debts are extinguished after five years without a relevant claim or acknowledgment, subject to the applicable rules. This is not the same as the England and Wales limitation defence. Ask an adviser to check the debt type, dates and any court action.

Keep in mind that not all debts become statute-barred!

A debt with an existing judgment, council tax liability order or enforcement warrant cannot be assessed using a simple six-years-since-last-payment rule. Tax debts also have special rules. A judgment does not disappear when its six-year credit-file entry ends, although later enforcement may require court permission.

If an adviser confirms that limitation or prescription applies, you can use an appropriate letter template to explain your position to the current creditor or authorised collector. See statute-barred debt letter template.

If you are unsure about the status of your debt, you can contact a debt charity for some advice. Their advisors will be able to look at the debt in question, determine its status, and advise you on your next steps. 

Will It Affect My Credit Score?

Yes, debt collectors can affect your credit score, but not in the way that many people think.

A sold debt may be reported under the new owner’s name, but the credit record should not misleadingly count the same debt twice or reset its original default date.

The original creditor may show that its account was transferred or settled, while the purchaser reports the continuing balance. Check that the entries accurately describe one debt.

Whether an account is reported depends on the type of account and reporting arrangements, not a blanket rule based on a small balance.

A default normally remains for six years from its original default date, including after a sale. A purchaser should not create a new six-year period merely by acquiring the debt.

Missed payments, defaults and court judgments can affect lenders’ decisions. A collector’s letter alone is not a new CCJ or automatic extra credit-file penalty.

Different lenders use different criteria. There is no guaranteed acceptance, rejection or credit-score change.

Removal of an old entry does not guarantee new credit or cancel the underlying debt. Check any remaining entries and obtain advice on enforceability separately.

Debt solutions can affect your credit record, but the reporting rules depend on the solution and the dates of defaults or completion. Some insolvency entries can remain beyond six years if the arrangement is still active. Check your credit reports and ask your adviser which dates apply.

How do I Make a Complaint?

Complain to the current firm handling the account about specific conduct or inaccurate records. Applicable FCA and Ombudsman rules depend on the activity. See FCA handbook information.

For an account handled by Everyday People Financial Solutions, use its current complaints process. Identify the old account reference, creditor and disputed conduct.

For an eligible financial-services complaint, first complain to the firm. You can normally refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service after a final response or eight weeks without one, usually within six months of the final response. The FCA does not decide individual debt disputes, and not every creditor or type of complaint falls within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. See Financial Ombudsman eligibility and complaints information.

Current Contact Route for Former BCW or Arvato Accounts

Company identity	Everyday People Financial Solutions Limited, company SC223606; formerly BCW Group and Arvato Financial Solutions.
Current published address	7th Floor, 9 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1DY.
Customer telephone	0141 846 0765. Confirm that the firm handles your account.
Customer portal	pay.myepfs.com. Verify your account before supplying personal or payment 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. A sold debt may appear under a new creditor name on your credit report, but not every debt or collector is reported to every credit reference agency.

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