April 2024
Credit Resolution Services UK in April 2024
Who are Credit Resolution Services (CRS)?
Credit Resolution Services are a debt collection company. They are an official debt collection company.This means they are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.
Topics that you will find covered on this page
You can listen to an audio recording of this page below.
Can CRS take you to court?
If you do not pay your debt, then the credit resolution services may try to take you to court. However, they won’t do this without giving a fair amount of notice.
If the CRS are going to take you to court they will send many a warning letter. So, please be sure to read all letters carefully.
Some people ignore letters received from debt collectors. However, this can make your debt situation much worse.
Are the Credit Resolution Services bailiffs?
The CRS are a debt collection company, and are not bailiffs. So, please be aware that you can send them away from your home should they visit you.
However, you should know that a debt collection business can take action that leads to bailiffs coming to your home. First, they will contact you stating what debts you owe and if there are any extra charges.
If you fail to pay this amount, the debt collectors might try to take you to court. You will be sent letters advising you of this, too.
If taken to courts, you may be issued with a County Court Judgement (CCJ). Once a CCJ is received then bailiffs can be sent to your home.
Here is a useful video on how debt collection agencies operate.
Can I simply ignore the credit resolution services?
Our advice is to never just ignore the CRS or other debt collection companies. They will not give up contacting you. If you just ignore them, the original amount owed will likely increase. This is because interest will build up on the original debt.
Another reason to not ignore the CRS is because owing debt has a negative impact on your credit score. If you want to get a mortgage in the future, our advice is to contact the CRS and sort out your debts as soon as you can.
You can read below about what to do if the CRS are contacting you about debts you don’t think you should pay.
Can I get the Credit Resolution Services to stop coming to my house?
Sometimes, debt collection companies send debt collectors to your house to try to retrieve the money. This, however, is often a final resort. It is cheaper and easier for debt collectors to send you letters or phone calls to obtain the debt.
If you do find a debt collector on your doorstep, you are allowed to simply turn them away. You can also request they do not come to your home again.
If you ask them to not make in person visits to your place of residence, they will need an alternative way of contacting you. Be this by phone or mail, you can decide on the mode/method of communication.
What you can’t do is cut all communication ties. Unfortunately, until the debt is resolved the Credit Resolution Services will need some way of contacting you.
What can’t the Credit Resolution Services do?
The FCA regulate debt collection businesses, including Credit Resolution Services. This means there are certain things employees cannot do. If you believe you are being treated in an unfair way, you can make a formal complaint.
Things debt collection agencies cannot do are as follows:
- Claim unfair or extreme charges
- Seize, or threaten to take your property or home off of you. Only bailiffs can do this.
- Make threats about taking legal action that they have no intention of pursuing
- Discuss your debts with anyone, including employers
- Suggest that you take out a loan to pay them
- Recommend you get a credit card to resolve your debts
- Call you outside of business hours
- Force entry into your home
- Use methods of communication you have requested for them not to use
- Take over 8 weeks to respond to complaints you make.
We discuss below what you can do if the Credit Resolution Services act in a way that does not comply with these guidelines. These are official standards set for all UK debt collectors and so should be adhered to at all times.
"The CRS are a debt collection company, and are not bailiffs. So, please be aware that you can send them away from your home should they visit you. "
Will my debt negatively impact my credit score?
Debts, especially outstanding ones, can take a toll on your credit score. This is especially problematic for those wanting to get a mortgage in the near future. Mortgage lenders are less generous to those with poor credit histories.
The good thing is if you resolve the debt you can begin to build your credit back up. You can check your credit score on the internet for free, up to three times. You can do this annually. This will allow you to visualise more specifically what impact the debt has had.
There are many specialist mortgage brokers out there that can help if your history with the Credit Resolution Services is making mortgage acceptance difficult. If you are having troubles with credit scores, keep on top of bills and other payments.
What if I don’t believe I should pay the debts?
If the CRS are chasing you for payment of a debt you believe you don’t owe, get in touch with them ASAP.
Our advice is to phone them and ask that they send over written proof of the debt /debts. This will normally be the original credit agreement you took out. You can give this a read, and contact the CRS to discuss next steps.
If it is clear you do not owe the debt, explain this to the CRS. If you clearly do owe the money, you will need to organise repayments.
Sometimes, resolutions and outcomes are not this clear cut with the CRS. Then, it might be necessary to get professional advice.
Do I definitely have to pay debts I owe?
If CRS have proof that you owe the debt, you will likely need to pay them. You have a few options of how you can do this:
1 – Pay the full amount of debt off in one payment. Remember the debt will likely have accrued interest, so might be slightly higher than you expect.
2 – Agree on and arrange a repayment plan with CRS. This normally involves making a pre-agreed payment each month , or sometimes each year.
If choosing option (2) you may want to pay off your debt my direct debit. This will prevent you from forgetting to make the debt payment to CRS.
How can I contact the CRS about my debt?
If you have recently received notice of a new debt with the CRS you should try to contact them as soon as possible. The quickest way is by phone. Their number is 01444 449165.
You could also get in contact with the CRS by post. Their address is 2, Rockwood House, 9-17 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3TW.
Never leave resolving your debts with the CRS until the last minute. Not only do debts accrue interest, but they damage your credit score.
Can I pay the creditor I initially owed debt to, or must I pay CRS/ the debt collection agency?
If the CRS contact you then your debt is now in their hands. You must pay the debt off with them, not the initial debt creditor.
For example, CRS Credit Resolution collect debts for gyms such as Golds Gym. If you failed to pay your gym membership, or abide by all the terms of the gym contract, you might have incurred debts.
The gym might then give your details to the Credit Resolution Services for them to try to retrieve the debts.
You can try to contact the gym about the debt and resolve it with them, but it will probably be a waste of time. The gym will probably tell you to speak to the credit resolution services about the debt.
If you are trying to dispute the debts then it can be a good idea to dig out a copy of the contract you signed. Check the fine print, as often this is where information on cancellation and missed payment charges will be.
Can I complain about the way CRS have treated me?
If you are not satisfied with the way the CRS have handled your debt, you can make a formal complaint.
Your written complaint should firstly be sent directly to the CRS. The address for the CRS is:
2, Rockwood House, 9-17 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3TW.
Once you send your complaint to the CRS they have to send you a response within 8 weeks. After this date, you may need to have further communication with the CRS so that they can resolve your complaint.
When the CRS send the last letter, stating how they intend to resolve your complaint, you can review it.
If you are unhappy with the CRS’s resolution, you have 6 months from the date of this last letter to take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman.
Your complaint will be registered with the financial ombudsman, who will then conduct an independent investigation. This is a free service.
Article author
Katy Davies
I am a keen reader and writer and have been helping to write and produce the legal content for the site since the launch. I studied for a law degree at Manchester University and I use that theoretical experience, as well as my practical experience as a solicitor, to help produce legal content which I hope you find helpful.
Outside of work, I love the snow and am a keen snowboarder. Most winters you will see me trying to get away for long weekends to the slopes in Switzerland or France.
Email – [email protected]
LinkedIn – Connect with me
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Credit Resolution Services (CRS)?
Credit Resolution Services are a debt collection company. They are an official debt collection company.This means they are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.
Can CRS take you to court?
If you do not pay your debt, then the credit resolution services may try to take you to court. However, they won’t do this without giving a fair amount of notice. If the CRS are going to take you to court they will send many a warning letter. So, please be sure to read all letters carefully. Some people ignore letters received from debt collectors. However, this can make your debt situation much worse.
Can I simply ignore the credit resolution services?
Our advice is to never just ignore the CRS or other debt collection companies. They will not give up contacting you. If you just ignore them, the original amount owed will likely increase. This is because interest will build up on the original debt.
How can I contact the CRS about my debt?
If you have recently received notice of a new debt with the CRS you should try to contact them as soon as possible. The quickest way is by phone. Their number is 01444 449165. You could also get in contact with the CRS by post. Their address is 2, Rockwood House, 9-17 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3TW. Never leave resolving your debts with the CRS until the last minute. Not only do debts accrue interest, but they damage your credit score.
