Letter from Past Due Credit Solutions? Here's how to handle it

A letter from Past Due Credit Solutions — usually shortened to PDCS — typically relates to energy, telecoms or consumer-credit debt. PDCS is a Glasgow-based debt-collection business with a particular footprint in utility and short-term lending arrears, and they are often appointed when the original creditor wants the debt chased before any decision is made about selling the portfolio on.

This guide covers who they are, what they are legally allowed to do, and your options for resolving the debt — including how an IVA can legally stop them and write off the balance.

Who PDCS are

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Past Due Credit Solutions Limited is a UK debt-collection business headquartered in Glasgow. They operate primarily as a contingent collector, handling unpaid accounts on behalf of the original creditor for a fee, with a smaller debt-purchase footprint.

Their typical client base spans:

• UK energy suppliers (gas / electricity arrears)
• Telecoms (mobile and broadband contract arrears)
• Short-term lending and consumer credit
• Some council and public-sector debt

PDCS are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and operate within the FCA’s CONC framework. They are members of the Credit Services Association.

Because PDCS is largely contingent rather than a debt purchaser, the original creditor still owns the debt in most cases — settlement offers and disputes can sometimes need to go via the original creditor rather than PDCS alone.

What PDCS can and cannot legally do

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PDCS are debt collectors, not bailiffs. They can:

• Write to you and call you on numbers held by the original creditor
• Pass the file to a solicitor for county-court action if the original creditor authorises it
• After a CCJ, support attachment of earnings, charging orders or High Court enforcement on behalf of the creditor

They cannot force entry, take goods without enforcement officers, threaten arrest, or add fees that were not in the original credit agreement.

What to do first — confirm who actually owns the debt

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1. Confirm who actually owns the debt. Ask in writing: who is the original creditor, has the debt been sold, what is the current balance, and how is it broken down?
2. For consumer-credit debts, send a section 77/78 CCA request for the original agreement and statement of account. £1 statutory fee. Until they comply, the debt is unenforceable.
3. Check statute-barred status — six years E&W (five in Scotland) since the last payment or written acknowledgement, with no court action, means the debt is statute-barred. Note: most utility and telecoms debt is treated as simple contract debt for limitation purposes, so the same six-year (or five in Scotland) rule generally applies.

Don’t make a token payment before running these checks — a single payment can reset the limitation clock.

Specific notes for energy and telecoms arrears

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Two industry-specific points where PDCS is concerned:

• Energy arrears: under Ofgem rules, suppliers must offer affordable repayment arrangements to customers in difficulty before passing to a debt collector. If you are in active hardship, ask the supplier to take the account back and arrange repayment under their hardship policy. Many suppliers also have charitable trust funds that can clear arrears for vulnerable customers.
• Telecoms arrears: ending a contract early triggers an early-termination charge as well as the unpaid bills. The early-termination charge can be challenged if it is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss; this is a recognised consumer-rights argument worth raising with the supplier (not just PDCS).

What happens if you ignore PDCS

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PDCS’s escalation pattern is fairly predictable:

1. More letters and calls — increasing in tone, often from withheld numbers or 0844 lines
2. Field-agent visit may be scheduled (PDCS are not bailiffs and have no enforcement powers at the door)
3. The file passes back to the original creditor or the supplier escalates internally
4. For energy debts: the supplier may apply for a warrant of entry to install a prepayment meter (Ofgem rules apply, and disconnections are restricted for vulnerable customers)
5. For credit debts: a solicitors firm may issue a county-court claim through the Northampton bulk centre

If a claim form arrives, respond before the deadline printed on it — even a holding acknowledgement of service buys you time.

Routes out

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• Pay the original creditor directly if the account is still with them — often the simplest route for energy and telecoms.
• Affordable repayment plan with PDCS based on the Standard Financial Statement.
• IVA to combine PDCS-handled debt with every other unsecured debt over a 5–6 year term, with the unpaid balance written off at completion. Energy, telecoms and consumer-credit debts can all be included.
• Debt Relief Order for total debt under £50,000 with very low spare income.
• Bankruptcy where no realistic monthly contribution is possible.

Pitfalls when dealing with PDCS

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• Don’t ignore the underlying creditor. Energy arrears with a supplier hardship route open are usually better managed at the supplier.
• Don’t pay token amounts on old accounts without checking statute-barred status.
• Don’t share bank details over the phone unless you have verified the line through PDCS’s official website.
• Don’t ignore a warrant-of-entry letter from your energy supplier — those have their own legal timetable separate from any debt-collection process.

Frequently asked questions

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Are PDCS bailiffs? No. PDCS are debt collectors. They can write, call and (occasionally) visit, but they cannot force entry or take goods. Only court-instructed enforcement officers can attempt that, and only after a CCJ.

Will an IVA include PDCS debt? Yes. PDCS debt is unsecured and goes into an IVA on the same basis as any other unsecured debt. Once the IVA is approved, both PDCS and the underlying creditor must stop contact on the included balance.

Can PDCS cut off my gas or electricity? PDCS as a debt collector cannot. The supplier itself has restricted disconnection powers under Ofgem rules — particularly during winter and for vulnerable customers — and must follow specific procedure before disconnection.

Is the debt statute-barred? If the last payment or written acknowledgement was more than six years ago in England and Wales (five in Scotland) and there has been no court action, yes — and PDCS cannot enforce it through the courts.

Related guides

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• Do debt collectors give up?
• How long can I be chased for a debt?
• Can debt be written off?
• How do I apply for an IVA?