Compare debt collectors - on merit, not marketing
Put vetted UK debt collection agencies side by side and choose on what actually matters: fees, recovery model and verified track record. Free, impartial and blind - nobody buys the top spot.
Three steps, about a minute
You are never committed to anything until you pick an agency and agree their terms.
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Tell us about the debt
What you are owed, roughly how old it is, where the debtor is and what kind of debt it is. Six short questions, or describe it in a sentence and let the form fill itself in.
Have to hand: the amount, the invoice or tenancy date, and the debtor’s location.
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Compare them blind
You see fee model, minimum debt value, coverage, specialism and independent rating side by side. What you do not see is who they are, so the decision stays about the facts.
Only agencies that genuinely take your kind of case are shown.
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Choose, and we introduce you
Pick the one that fits. The name is revealed as we make the introduction, and they contact you directly to agree terms. Your details go to that agency only.
No obligation until you sign the agency’s own terms.
What a comparison looks like
A sample of how your results appear. Real comparisons are filtered to agencies that take your kind of debt, in your part of the UK.
| Agency | Fee model | Min debt | Coverage | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔒 Agency A | No-win-no-fee | £500 | Nationwide | ★ 4.9 | Choose → |
| 🔒 Agency B | Commission | £250 | Nationwide | ★ 4.7 | Choose → |
| 🔒 Agency C | Fixed + % | £1,000 | North & Midlands | ★ 4.6 | Choose → |
🔒 Names revealed only when you choose. Every agency vetted by us, every rating independently sourced.
Four things that decide whether you get paid
Brand recognition is not one of them, which is why we hide it until you have made your choice.
How they charge
No-win-no-fee, commission, a fixed fee or a blend of the two. The model matters more than the headline rate, because it decides what happens when a debt turns out to be hard to collect.
Whether they take your case
Region, debt type, sector and minimum debt value are hard filters, not preferences. An agency that would turn your case away never appears, so you are not comparing against options that were never real.
What their record actually says
Independent ratings and review counts, plus verified feedback from creditors we introduced ourselves. Read creditor reviews rather than debtor reviews: they describe the service you are buying.
Nothing bought its place
No agency can pay to rank higher, and none of them knows it is being compared against the others. Listing is free for agencies; we are paid only when you choose one and we make the introduction.
Four ways an agency can charge you
Most UK agencies use one of these, or a blend. The right one depends on the size of the debt and how much risk you want to carry.
| Model | What you pay | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|
| No win, no fee | A share of whatever is recovered, and nothing if nothing comes back. | One-off invoices, and anyone who wants no downside if the debt proves uncollectable. |
| Commission | A share of what is recovered, sometimes with a small set-up or administration charge. | Regular ledgers and mid-value debts where the work is predictable. |
| Fixed fee | A set price per case or per letter, whatever the outcome. | Lower-value or high-volume chasing, and early-stage reminders. |
| Blended | A smaller share of the recovery plus a modest fixed element. | Larger debts, where a straight percentage would cost more than the work involved. |
Rates vary with the age, value and type of the debt, so treat any headline percentage as a starting point rather than a quote. On late commercial payments you may also be able to add interest at 8% plus the Bank of England base rate, plus a fixed sum in compensation. Work out what you are owed with the late-payment calculator.
Five things worth checking
Whether you use us or go direct, these are the questions that separate a straightforward instruction from an expensive one.
- A rate quoted with no outcome attachedAsk what happens if nothing is recovered, and whether costs are still payable. A percentage on its own does not tell you that.
- No written terms before you instructYou should see the fee basis, what is included and how to end the instruction, in writing, before anything starts.
- Vagueness about your debt type or regionAn agency that will not confirm it handles your kind of case, in your part of the UK, is telling you something.
- Reviews that are all from debtorsPeople chased for money rarely enjoy it. Weigh reviews from creditors, who bought the service you are buying.
- Confusion between collection and debt purchaseCollecting on your behalf and buying the debt from you are different transactions with very different economics. Be clear which is on the table.
General information for creditors, not legal advice. Rules and terminology differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check the position where your debtor is based.
Take the logo away and the facts have to do the work
Every agency is checked before it can appear: credentials, regulatory standing and track record. Then the names come off. A well-known firm cannot coast on recognition, and a specialist who is genuinely better at your kind of debt gets a fair hearing.
Listing costs an agency nothing, and no agency can buy a higher position. We are paid only when you choose one and we introduce you, which is the only point at which anyone has made any money.
Start from your kind of debt
Each of these explains the route, the timing and what an agency can realistically do.
- Unpaid invoices →
- Commercial rent arrears →
- Residential rent arrears →
- CCJ enforcement →
- Debt litigation →
Or browse every debt type and region, or read the full guide to your recovery options.
Common questions
How do I compare debt collection agencies?
Compare on the things that change your recovery: the fee model (no-win-no-fee, commission or fixed fee), whether they specialise in your kind of debt, their minimum debt value, and independent ratings. Collect Compare puts vetted agencies side by side on exactly those points - anonymously, so no brand outshines the facts.
Is comparing really free?
Yes - free for creditors, with no obligation. We make money when the agency you choose pays us for the introduction. You never pay us, and no agency can pay to rank higher.
Why are the agency names hidden?
So you choose on merit. With names hidden until you decide, a famous brand can’t coast on recognition and a smaller specialist can win on fit, fees and track record. The name is revealed the moment we introduce you.
How are the agencies vetted?
Every agency is checked before it can appear - credentials, regulatory standing and track record. Ratings shown in comparisons come from independent sources and our own verified reviews from creditors we actually introduced.
What kinds of debt can I compare agencies for?
Unpaid commercial invoices, commercial and residential rent arrears, CCJ enforcement, litigation and international recovery - from a few hundred pounds to six-figure ledgers. Tell us the debt and we only show agencies that genuinely take that kind of case.
Do I have to use an agency I am shown?
No. Comparing costs nothing and commits you to nothing. If none of them fits, you can walk away, or work out what you are owed first with the late-payment calculator and come back later.
Ready to compare?
Free, impartial, and about a minute of your time. Or browse by debt type and region first - and if you’re still working out what you’re owed, start with the late-payment calculator.