If a letter or text from Shire Recoveries has just landed for a debt you may not even recognise, you are not alone. Shire Recoveries is a UK debt-collection business — most likely chasing a balance the original lender has either sold or referred for collection. This page explains what Shire Recoveries can and cannot legally do under the FCA’s CONC rules, the two checks worth running before paying anything, and the realistic options if you cannot pay in full.
Who Shire Recoveries are#
Shire Recoveries is a UK debt-collection business regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for consumer-credit collection activity. Like every UK collector they must follow the FCA’s Consumer Credit Sourcebook (CONC), the Consumer Credit Act 1974, and — for any post-default interest or fees — the terms of the original credit agreement. Most UK collectors of consumer-credit debt are also members of the Credit Services Association (CSA), the trade body for the industry.
The first practical question is whether Shire Recoveries now owns the debt (a debt purchaser) or is chasing it on behalf of the original creditor (a contingent collector). The answer changes who you negotiate with and what’s on the table:
- Debt purchaser — they bought the account from the original lender at a discount. Settlement decisions sit with them, including the ability to write off the unpaid balance.
- Contingent collector — the original creditor still owns the debt. Shire Recoveries chase it on a fee, and settlement discussions sometimes need to be ratified by the original creditor.
You can ask Shire Recoveries in writing whether they own the debt or are acting for the original creditor.
What Shire Recoveries can and cannot legally do#
Shire Recoveries are debt collectors, not bailiffs. They can:
- Write to you and call you on numbers held by the original creditor
- Apply for a County Court Judgment (CCJ) if they believe the debt is enforceable
- After a CCJ, apply for an attachment of earnings, charging order on a property, or High Court enforcement
- Sell the debt on to another debt purchaser
They cannot:
- Force entry to your home
- Take goods (only enforcement officers acting on a CCJ can attempt that — and they cannot force entry to a private home for an unsecured consumer debt)
- Threaten arrest (the matter is civil, not criminal)
- Continue contacting you after a written request that they stop, except to confirm changes to the account
- Add fees that were not part of the original credit agreement, except interest if the original agreement permitted it
- Disclose the debt to anyone else without your express consent
If Shire Recoveries or their field agent ever turns up at your door, you have no obligation to speak to them, let them in, or sign anything. Politely ask them to leave and follow up in writing.
Step 1 — confirm the debt is yours and is enforceable#
Before paying anything to Shire Recoveries, the single most useful action is a CCA request under sections 77/78 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. This is your statutory right to a copy of the original signed credit agreement. Send it in writing, enclose the £1 statutory fee, and keep proof of postage:
Dear Shire Recoveries,
Re: Account [reference], in the name of [your name]
Under sections 77/78 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 I formally request a true copy of the original credit agreement under which this debt arose, together with the statement of account showing the assignment of debt and the current balance.
I enclose the £1 statutory fee.
The £1 fee is in respect of the request only and is not an admission of debt or an offer to pay any amount.
Shire Recoveries have 12 working days plus a further 30 calendar days to respond. While they are unable to comply, the debt is legally unenforceable — they cannot lawfully use court action against you. Many old or bulk-purchased debts cannot be backed by the original signed agreement, in which case a CCA request often ends the matter.
Step 2 — check whether the debt is statute-barred#
Most consumer debts in England and Wales become statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980 if six years have passed since you last made a payment or acknowledged the debt in writing — and Shire Recoveries has not started court proceedings within that window. Statute-barred debt cannot be enforced through the courts, although technically it does still legally exist.
In Scotland the period is five years under the Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973, and once a debt is “prescribed” it ceases to exist legally rather than just being unenforceable.
If the dates fit, write to Shire Recoveries stating that you consider the debt statute-barred and asking them to remove their contact. Do not pay anything, even a small “good faith” amount, before checking the dates — a single payment resets the limitation clock.
Step 3 — choose the route out#
If the debt is genuinely yours, recently incurred and within the limitation period, the question is whether you can pay it. The honest options:
- Pay in full with a discount where possible. Shire Recoveries will sometimes accept a settlement at less than the full balance, particularly for older accounts.
- Affordable repayment plan with Shire Recoveries, based on the Standard Financial Statement. They are obliged under CONC to consider what you can genuinely afford after essentials, not what they would prefer.
- Debt Management Plan — informal monthly payment to a DMP provider distributed across all unsecured debts. Stops the chasing; no write-off.
- IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) if you owe £5,000 or more in total unsecured debt — the IVA legally stops Shire Recoveries pursuing you for the included balance and writes off the unpaid balance at the end of the 5–6 year term.
- Debt Relief Order if total debts are under £50,000 and your spare income is very low. A DRO writes off the debt entirely after 12 months.
- Bankruptcy if no realistic monthly payment is possible.
Always confirm any agreement reached with Shire Recoveries in writing, and never give bank details over the phone unless you are confident the call is legitimate.
Common pitfalls when dealing with Shire Recoveries#
- Don’t ignore CCJ paperwork. A claim form sent to your address starts a court timer; failing to file an acknowledgement of service by day 14 results in a default CCJ.
- Don’t make a token “goodwill” payment before checking dates — it can reset the statute-barred clock.
- Don’t ring numbers from a text message without verifying the line through Shire Recoveries’s official channels — phishing using collector branding is common.
- Don’t agree to a payment plan you can’t afford in the hope of stopping the calls. Pressure tends to increase if you default.
Frequently asked questions#
Are Shire Recoveries bailiffs? No. Shire Recoveries are debt collectors. They can write, call and (sometimes) visit, but they cannot force entry or take goods. Only court-instructed enforcement officers can attempt that — and only after a CCJ has been obtained and enforcement specifically instructed.
Can Shire Recoveries take me to court? Yes. If they believe the debt is genuine, within the limitation period, and unpaid, they can apply for a CCJ. Most uncontested cases result in default judgments simply because the defendant didn’t respond to the claim form.
Will an IVA include my Shire Recoveries debt? Yes — the debt is unsecured and goes into an IVA on the same basis as any other unsecured debt. Once the IVA is approved Shire Recoveries must stop contact and cannot take legal action on the included balance.
The debt isn’t mine — what should I do? Tell Shire Recoveries in writing that you do not acknowledge the debt and request they provide proof of assignment, the original agreement and statement of account under sections 77/78 of the CCA. Until they do, the debt is unenforceable. Identity-theft cases should also be reported to Action Fraud.
How do I make Shire Recoveries stop calling? Send a written request — by email or post — that future contact is by post only. Under CONC, Shire Recoveries must comply. The debt does not go away, but the phone calls stop.
Related questions#
- 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?
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