CRS Debt Collectors (Credit Resource Solutions) Should You Pay?
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.
Did you receive a letter from CRS Debt Collectors and feel worried? You’re not alone! Each month, over 170,000 people visit our website for help with matters just like this.
In this guide, we’ll explain:
- Who CRS Debt Collectors are and why they’re contacting you.
- How to check if the debt they claim is yours, and what to do if it isn’t.
- How to deal with CRS if you can’t afford to pay.
- Your options to set up a payment plan or even clear some of your debt.
- The rules CRS must follow and how to seek help if they’re making life hard for you.
Research shows that 64% of people in the UK find dealing with debt collectors stressful1. Some of our team have been there too.
That’s why we’re here to provide helpful advice on how to handle CRS Debt Collectors and take control of your situation.
Do You Really Owe Debt Collection Agencies Money?
Keep in mind that most types of unsecured debt are not enforceable after 6 years in England and Wales or 5 in Scotland of non-payment or your last written acknowledgement of the debt.
After 5 or 6 years, depending on where you live, the debt becomes ‘statute-barred‘ and is not enforceable. This means that the debt does still exist but there is no legal way of forcing you to pay.
Keep in mind that not all unsecured debts become statute-barred after 5 or 6 years.
HMRC debts, for example, are enforceable for several more years. If your creditor issued a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you before the 5 or 6 years were up, the debt will never become statute-barred.
It is still a good idea to check that you owe the debt before you make a payment!
How do I Verify a Debt?
From our experience, the best thing to do is ask for proof that the debt is yours. We have a free ‘prove it’ letter template that you can use to help you write to CRS Debt Collectors 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.
Your Rights With Debt Collectors
Janine, our financial expert, explained that while debt collectors can contact you and visit your home for payments, they cannot come to your workplace, act threateningly, force payment, or discuss your finances with others. If they violate these rules, you can complain.
Remember that it’s important to understand your rights when dealing with any debt collection company.
That’s why we’ve put together this table that explains what debt collectors can and can’t do. For more information, please read our detailed guide.
| Debt Collectors Can | But They Can’t |
|---|---|
| Contact you by phone or mail. | Call you after 9pm or before 8am. |
| Conduct home visits (on rare occasions) and knock on your door. | Forbily enter your home, or stay if you ask them to leave. |
| Threaten to take you to court by suing you for payment on a debt. | Harrass you, including threats of violence, repeated calls and visits, or abusive language. |
| Negotiate a debt settlement. Tip: make sure to get this new arrangement in writing. | Visit your workplace. |
| Access your bank account, but only after a court judgment has been made. | Take anything from your home or threaten to do so. |
| Sell your debt. | Speak to other people about your debt without your permission. |
| Contact you frequently. | Keep doing so if you request that they reduce communications. |
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form
How to pay CRS
CRS don’t use “tactics”, they understand that each customer’s circumstances are different from the next and therefore CRS will do their best to help all customers in different ways.
You can pay off your account in full or set up an affordable arrangement without the need to talk to anyone by logging into “www.paycrs.co.uk“.
If you’re not sure how much you can afford, you can make use of the payment calculator on the CRS website.
You can also let CRS know that you are dealing with a debt management company by logging into “www.paycrs.co.uk“. If you want to know more about what advice there is out there, further information for impartial advice and relevant contact information is available on the CRS customer portal.
If you’re paying over a long period of time, CRS will check in with you from time to time just to make sure your arrangement is still affordable. They might even be able to offer you a discounted settlement figure.
How a debt solution could help
Some debt solutions can:
- Stop nasty calls from creditors
- Freeze interest and charges
- Reduce your monthly payments
A few debt solutions can even result in writing off some of your debt.
Here’s an example:
Situation
| Monthly income | £2,504 |
| Monthly expenses | £2,345 |
| Total debt | £32,049 |
Monthly debt repayments
| Before | £587 |
| After | £158 |
£429 reduction in monthly payments
If you want to learn what debt solutions are available to you, click the button below to get started.
Can You Write Off Your CRS Debt?
Firstly, you may be able to negotiate with them into writing off some of your debt.
If you can demonstrate that you can’t pay back all of the debt but will be able to pay back some, CRS may be happy to write off your outstanding balance.
You can also request to freeze your interest for a set time or that you have a brief payment holiday to help get your finances in order.
Keep in mind that they are under no obligation to accept your offer and from our experience, some creditors and debt collection agencies refuse requests regularly.
If your offers are refused, keep calm and look at your next steps. You could even contact a debt charity for some advice – some suggestions are listed below.
Debt Solutions
Your second option to write off your debt is to apply for a debt solution. There are lots of debt solutions available in the UK but a few will write off some of your debt if you stick to the terms.
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) will usually last 5 years and any outstanding debt after your IVA finishes is written off.
To qualify for an IVA, you have to owe several thousand pounds to more than one creditor and have some disposable income every month. You will pay an agreed amount each month that is shared amongst your creditors but they can’t contact you for the duration of your IVA.
IVAs are not available in Scotland so you will need to opt for a Trust Deed which is very similar.
A Debt Relief Order (DRO) may be more appropriate if you don’t have disposable income and don’t own anything of significant value.
Once your application is approved, interest on your debts is frozen and you don’t make any payments to your creditors who are unable to contact you in any way. Your finances will be reassessed after 12 months and your debts are written off if you still can’t afford to pay.
Bankruptcy is the last option for many people who are struggling to pay their debts.
There is some unnecessary stigma surrounding bankruptcy so it is important to remember that it can provide a financial clean start for many people. That said, it is a serious financial situation that should not be taken lightly.
Those in Scotland will need to look at sequestration or a minimal asset process, depending on how large your debts are and how much you own in assets.
If you are considering a debt solution, we recommend that you contact a debt charity for some advice. They will be able to guide you through the process and choose a solution that will work best for you.
CRS Contact Details
Thousands have already tackled their debt
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Free Debt Counselling
There are several organisations in the UK that offer free debt counselling and financial advice services. Their specialists will be able to advise you on your best course of action and help get you back in control of your finances.
CRS also have a direct referral scheme to free debt advice and could even arrange for an impartial debt management adviser to give you a call for free.
If you are already dealing with a debt management company, make sure you tell CRS, so they can reflect this on your account.
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