Overview
Buchanan, Clark & Wells was a debt collection agency and debt recovery company, established in 1983, which taken over by Arvato Financial in 2013.
BCW Group was one of the UK’s leading debt collection agencies during their time of operation.
Arvato Financial now handles all remaining cases as The Buchanan, Clark & Wells brand has since been shut down. It’s their job to collect debt payments for accounts that their partners don’t have the resources to chase.
If Arvato’s debt collection team has contacted you, the following information could help you find the answers to help you in when looking for a solution to the problem. If you aren’t sure why they’re are chasing you, or you feel that you’ve been contacted by mistake, it could help you to get to the bottom of what’s going on and find a way to handle it.
Buchanan, Clark and Wells (BCW Group) contact details:
Company Name: Buchanan, Clark and Wells (BCW Group)
Other Names: Arvato Financial Solutions Limited, BCW, UMS (Utility Management Services), BCW Group, BCW Ireland, Irish Debt Bureau
Address:
24 George Square
Glasgow
G2 1EG
Main Contact Number(s): 0141 562 2623
Fax: 0141 221 9611
Website: www.arvatofs.com
Email contactus.arvatofs.com
Other phone numbers that they might use to contact you:
08445 714 288, 0203 600 0172, 08445 714 044 or 08445 714 015
Who is Arvato Financial?
Arvato Financial Solutions is a debt collection company that manages millions of pounds worth of accounts each year on behalf of clients in the UK.
Buchanan, Clark and Wells began life as a corporate debt recovery specialist who branched out into consumer debt management.
The accounts they bought were typically in the financial, telecoms and utility markets, including those of the Bank of Ireland, Barclays, EE, TalkTalk, Vodafone and Wonga. They also collected outstanding tax arrears for many local authorities.
Arvato Financial still operate from what was the BCW Group headquarters in Glasgow.
They are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and follow the Credit Service Association Code of Practice.
Why would they contact you?
Arvato pursues the payment of outstanding debts on behalf of their clients. If you have failed to pay or couldn’t keep up with payments for any credit agreement, it’s likely that it’s that debt that they are chasing.
Whether you signed an agreement with a bank, credit card or store card, or you owe a mobile phone company, utility provider or a local council for non-payment of tax, Arvato Financial could be involved in the recovery of the money that is still outstanding.
If you are struggling with payments, their agents should be able to help you find an affordable payment plan.
If at any point, you feel as though you are being mistreated, or that the debt isn’t your responsibility and has been wrongly administered, it’s important to flag this to the relevant people.
Do you owe Arvato or Buchanan, Clark & Wells money?
If you don’t believe you owe the money that you are being chased for, the debt collectors must supply proof of the debt in question.
Should any of the details be in accurate or incorrect, or if they don’t match your personal records, then the debt could be withdrawn.
However, if the debt they’re chasing is valid, but you’re having problems making regular payments, then the agency Arvato are obligated to try and set a payment plan that’s affordable to you.
If the collection agents don’t haves the correct proof or documents, or the debt has become statute barred with age, you may not have to pay another penny.
How old is the debt they are collecting?
When a debt has been inactive for a certain amount of time, it’s possible that it will no longer be valid for repayment.
These debts are known as statute barred and can be cancelled by following the correct procedure. If you think the debt in question could fall into this category, then the best place to check is your credit report.
You can also request the lender to send you details of the debt and any evidence they have that it isn’t statute barred. If it is found to be so, then you do not have to pay them and can make a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Is Arvato Financial treating you unfairly?
It’s not unheard of for debt collectors to work outside the rules and regulations they’re supposed to stick to. If you have been mistreated in any way during the debt recovery process, you are entitled to compensation from the correct authority.
There are strict regulations provided by the Financial Conduct Authority that each agency are bound by.
Some of the many rules that often seem to be ignored include:
- Chasing a debt that’s under dispute
- Agents suggesting they have powers and rights that they don’t, to try to force you to make payments
- Making efforts to confuse you, using technical jargon or misleading information
- Taking payments without permission
- Calling at unreasonable times and applying unfair pressure
If any of these tactics have been used against you, you have the right to make a complaint against the agency in question to the FCA or the Financial Ombudsman service.
Managing your debt
It’s our job to help those who are struggling with a repayment program to find a manageable solution and remove the stress and pressure from the situation.
If you need help managing debt or dealing with a debt collection company, we can help. We deal with cases just like yours every day and are fully equipped to get you the best outcome possible.
Support from our trusted debt advice partners will help you determine the state of your debt to be certain you do owe the money, or if it has been statute barred.
If they can challenge the debt, they will make sure you don’t have to pay them a penny.
If, however, the debt is live, then they can help you find a debt solution that suits your circumstances to help regain control of your finances.
Your debt solution will allow you to repay what you owe with monthly payments based on what you can realistically afford each month.
For help dealing with your debt, talk to TAD to be connected with one of our trusted debt partners.
*Talk About Debt is not associated with Arvato Financial, Buchanan, Clark & Wells, or any of the agencies in our debt collection agency and bailiff directory.
