Should I Pay DRS Debt Collection (Debt & Revenue Services)?

If a debt collector gets in touch about the money you owe to a company, you may be asking, should I pay DRS Debt Collection (Debt & Revenue Services), or not?

It’s a question that many people ask when a debt collector contacts them out of the blue about an alleged debt. Read on to find out how to deal with a DRS debt letter so the outcome is positive!

Do you have to pay DRS Debt Collection?

You might not have to pay DRS Debt Collection.

If you genuinely can’t afford your debt repayments then looking into whether you could have your written off might be just what you need. 

If you want to find out whether you qualify for having debt written off or payments lowered then fill out the short form below.

Who is DRS debt collection debt revenue services?

DRS stands for Debt Revenue Services and the business is a division of Ardent Credit Services Ltd.

Their core business is based on chasing people who owe money to other companies. As such, when you get a letter, email, text or phone call from DRS, it’s likely you owe someone money! In short, you’ve got outstanding debts.

That said, like other debt recovery companies, DRS also buys debts for a fraction of their value. They then chase the debtors for payment – typically the full amount which means their profits are enormous!

Is the DRS debt collection company legit?

Yes. Debt & Recovery Services is a legitimate business that’s regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The business was established in 2003.

However, DRS is not to be confused with Dynamic Recovery Solutions which often happens! To make things more confusing, Dynamic Recovery Solutions is also a debt recovery business but based in the United States.

DRS Debt Collection can legally chase debts under the Consumer Credit & Consumer Hire agreements.

Can you lower your repayments?

If you’re struggling to pay back your debt, then you might qualify for a debt solution.

Some solutions lower your monthly payments while others write off a portion of your debt. 

To find out whether they could work in your situation, hit the button below.

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Is the debt collector part of DRS Legal Services Ltd?

No. Although both companies bear similar names, DRS Debt Collection has nothing to do with DRS Legal Services. It’s another mistake many people often make when they Google the debt collection company.

Also, many people confuse Debt & Recovery Services with other debt collectors who have similar names. Another example is below:

Source: Moneysavingexpert

Why are DRS debt collectors contacting you?

You may know that you owe money to a company, or you may not. So, when DRS gets in touch, you could either respond or ignore them.

Even if you’re convinced you don’t owe anyone money, don’t ignore DRS. Why? Because even if the debt isn’t yours, they could escalate things. You may find you face court proceedings over a debt you know nothing about!

Should you respond to DRS Debt Collection?

Yes. As mentioned, you should write to DRS as soon as possible even if you know the debt isn’t yours. First, it prevents things from going any further. Second, the DRS has to ‘prove’ the debt is yours!

Whether DRS is chasing a debt for another company, or they’ve purchased the debt, they are obliged to provide evidence that you owe the money. Without proof, a debt collection agency can’t make you pay!

Who uses the DRS debt collection agency?

Several businesses and companies use Debt & Revenue Services. This includes:

• Vodafone
• eBay
• Talk Talk

However, the debt recovery company also chases debts for:

• Credit card providers
• Utility providers
• Private car park management companies
• Local councils for unpaid council tax

So, if you have any outstanding payments with a company that uses Debt & Revenue Services, chances are the debt recovery company will be in touch!

How do debt collection agencies contact you?

Debt collection agencies like DRS could contact you in several ways. For example, they could:

• Email you
• Send you a text
• Contact you by phone
• Send you a letter
• Visit you in person (if all else fails)

Moreover, debt recovery agencies are incredibly persistent and don’t give up easily. So, you can be sure that whichever method they use to contact you, DRS won’t give up.

But a debt recovery company can’t threaten or harass you with constant calls. That type of behaviour is against the law!

Could Debt & Revenue Services come to your home?

Yes. Debt collectors can legally visit you at home when all other methods of contacting you fail. However, their powers are limited and you can ask them to leave, which they must do!

That said, a debt collection agency must abide by the law when they visit you at home. For example, a representative from Debt & Revenue Services can:

• Contact you about an alleged debt and visit you at home
• Discuss the alleged debt with you politely and discreetly
• Ask you to pay the amount owed to them directly

You don’t have to let debt collectors into your home. Instead, talk them through a letterbox, or an upstairs window!

What can’t DRS debt collectors do?

There are things and behaviours that a debt collection agency cannot do and if they did, it would break the law.

For example, a representative from DRS debt collections cannot:

• Force their way into your home
• Show you documents that appear to be court-issued when they are not
• Pretend they are enforcement officers (court-appointed bailiffs)
• Clamp your vehicle or seize your possessions
• Threaten or harass you in any way
• Discuss an alleged debt with your family, neighbours, friends or employer
• Urge you to get another loan to pay an alleged debt
• Mislead you or use legal jargon to confuse you
• Add charges and fees to an existing debt

What happens when you ignore debt collectors?

It’s never a good idea to ignore debt recovery companies. It might be easier to bury your head in the sand, hoping they’ll go away. But rarely does this happen. In truth, it just makes things more stressful!

Plus you could be missing out on some important information concerning the debt. This includes:

• Discovering the debt isn’t even yours or that it’s too old to enforce
• Being offered a settlement arrangement – one you can afford
• Having some of the debt wiped off

Then, there are the consequences of ignoring debt collections which could be considerable. For example:

• Court proceedings against you could start without you knowing
• Being unaware of a County Court Judgement being registered on your credit file
• Having court-appointed enforcement officers (bailiffs) show up at your home to seize possessions
• Having an attachment placed on your earnings or bank account!

Do Debt collectors give up? SNIPPET

No. Rarely would a debt collector give up chasing someone for payment? That said, they have tools at their disposal to find people too!

Is the debt too old to enforce?

Check whether the debt is too old to enforce before you fork any money over to the debt collection agents. A statute-barred debt is unenforceable and courts won’t issue County Court Judgements (CCJs).

However, the debt must be at least six years old and the following should apply:

• No payment was made towards paying off the debt in the last six years
• Nobody admitted liability in the last six years
• There’s no CCJ already against the debt

Once you’ve determined the debt is current and not statute-barred, ask the debt collection agent to prove you owe the money!

Can you ask a debt collection agency to prove the debt?

Yes. In fact, even when you know the debt could be yours, ask DRS to prove it! All debt recovery companies must oblige. Furthermore, a debt collection agent can’t just tell you the debt is yours.

The evidence must be in writing. For instance, DRS Collections must provide an authenticated copy of an agreement or contract you signed!

Can you stop DRS from contacting you?

No. Debt collection companies have the right to contact you over an alleged debt. So you can’t prevent them from contacting you altogether.

However, they can’t harass you with constant phone calls, emails or texts. That said, you can tell them how you want to be contacted. And when you’d like to be contacted!

DRS must respect this request and if they don’t, it could be deemed harassment which is against the law! If the case ever went to court, you could use the harassment card against DRS and a judge could agree!

Would DRS take you to court?

It depends. For instance, if DRS is chasing a debt on behalf of another company, they could advise the client to start legal proceedings. There’s no guarantee the original creditor would take you to court though.

On the other hand, if DRS bought the debt, debt collectors could take you to court to recover the amount owed! But, they must send you a Letter Before Action (LBA) before they do!

Would you get a CCJ for non-payment of the debt?

If you’re taken to court and you lose the case or you ignore the proceedings, you could get a County Court Judgement (CCJ). It’s best to avoid this if possible because a CCJ will harm your credit rating.

You’d have trouble getting credit, a loan or a mortgage with a CCJ on your credit file!

Moreover, you may have to deal with enforcement agents and you could have an attachment placed on your earnings or bank account.

Should you pay DRS straight away?

You could pay DRS straight away if you have the money and you’re sure the debt is yours. It could save a lot of stress and put your mind at ease.

However, like many other people today, you may be struggling financially which makes it impossible to pay a debt in full. 

So, rather than ignore the debt recovery company, stay in touch with them and let them know you’re seeking independent advice from a debt adviser.

Debt collection agencies must allow you the time to do this!

If they don’t and insist on harassing you, report them to the company’s head office. Then file a report with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

Once you’ve spoken to a debt adviser, let DRS know and make them a debt settlement offer. One you can afford.

Will DRS accept your settlement offer?

Debt recovery companies are not obliged to accept your debt settlement offer. However, they must consider it and not just dismiss the offer out of hand.

Most debt collection companies will inform the original creditor of your offer and see if they’ll accept it.

But if DRS purchased the debt, they would decide whether to accept it or not. A typical offer that debt collectors accept is usually in the region of 75% of a debt’s value.

So that’s a good starting point when deciding on a debt settlement offer!

What happens when you can’t settle a DRS debt?

DRS should offer you an affordable payment plan if you can’t settle the debt in full. It allows you to spread the cost over a few months. But if the debt collector agrees on a plan, you must keep to it.

Otherwise, when a payment is missed, the agreement could be null and void! You’d be asked to pay the full amount!

Can you complain about DRS?

Yes. If you feel you’re being treated unfairly or a debt collection agent oversteps the legal mark, you should file a complaint. First, lodge a complaint through the DRS complaints procedure.

You have to complain to the debt collection agency before you can contact the Financial Ombudsman. Next, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service!

What debt help is there in the UK?

You should contact one of the debt charities if you’re struggling with your finances and panicking over a letter from DRS. Their advice could be invaluable.

It may help you work out how much you can afford to pay every month to clear the money owed.

I’ve listed some of the major debt charities here:

• Citizens Advice
• StepChange
• National Debtline

The advice provided by UK charities is not only impartial but it’s free. Unlike debt advisers who charge for their advice.

“It will only get worse” 😩

It’s cliché to say, but with debt it’s true; the longer you leave it, the worse the problem gets. 

There are straightforward and effective ways to deal with debt, but you have to know your options. 

Fill out the short form to find out about the debt solutions that could reduce your monthly payments or even write off some of your debt.

Get Started

How do you contact DRS Collection?

I’ve listed the ways you can contact DRS here:

Lastly, should I pay DRS Debt Collection (Debt & Revenue Services)

Getting a letter from DRS Debt Collection could get you panicking. After all, you may not realise you owe any money to anybody!

That said, rather than ignore the debt collector, stay in touch with them. Ask them to ‘prove’ the debt is yours. Also, check if the debt is too old to enforce.

A court won’t hear a case involving a debt that’s at least six years! Therefore, you can’t be taken to court and you can’t be given a CCJ! But there are criteria to meet for a debt to be too old to enforce.

Only pay DRS once you know the debt is yours and that it’s still current. Then try to negotiate an affordable payment plan with the debt recovery company!

Thanks for reading my post. I hope I’ve answered the question, should I pay DRS debt collection or not? The one thing you shouldn’t do is ignore a debt recovery company because it could get expensive when you do!