DRS (Debt & Revenue Services): who they are and what to do

Company

Ardent Credit Services Limited, trading as Debt & Revenue Services

Based

Liverpool (Knowsley)

Collects for

HMRC, DVLA, telecoms and other clients

Phone

0151 545 1500, Monday to Friday

Who are DRS?

DRS is a trading name of Ardent Credit Services Limited, a debt collection company based in Knowsley, Liverpool. It works for creditors in the public and private sectors. Its website says it collects for HMRC, including VAT, Self Assessment, Corporation Tax and PAYE debts, for DVLA on penalty fines, and for mobile phone and other consumer clients.

It is a collector, not the creditor. The debt belongs to the organisation that instructed DRS.

Are DRS legitimate?

Ardent Credit Services says it is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is a Credit Services Association member. You can check it on the FCA register.

Scammers copy debt collectors, so do not use links or numbers in an unexpected message. Use the address and phone number on its official website or on a letter you trust.

Why are they contacting me?

DRS contacts you because a client has passed it an account it believes is unpaid. It may write, phone or text you, and it runs an online portal where you can see the account and make a payment.

Check the letter for the name of the creditor and the amount. If you do not recognise the debt, ask for details in writing before you pay.

What can DRS do?

DRS is a debt collection firm, and a debt collector has no special legal powers of its own. It can write, phone, text and email you, and may offer a payment plan, but it must not mislead you, harass you or threaten action it cannot take.

• Court action: if you do not engage and the debt is genuine, the creditor or collector can start a county court claim. Never ignore court papers: a judgment can follow, which harms your credit record and lets the creditor enforce it.
• Bailiffs: for most ordinary debts, bailiffs can only be instructed after a court judgment. You do not have to let anyone in.
• Prison: you cannot be sent to prison for owing money to a debt collector.

Before you pay anything

• Ask for a letter showing the original creditor, the account number, the amount and how the balance is made up.
• Do not confirm personal details or read out card numbers on an unexpected call. Ring back using the number on a letter or the official website.
• Check your credit reports to see whether the account appears.
• Be careful with old debts. In England and Wales a debt can become unenforceable in court after six years (five in Scotland), but paying or admitting it can restart the clock. Get advice first.

HMRC and DVLA debts

If the debt is owed to HMRC, you can also read our HMRC debt guide. HMRC says its collection agencies contact people by letter, text message and phone, and never visit homes or workplaces. If you cannot pay in full, ask for a payment plan, and complaints can be made to the agency or to HMRC.

How to deal with DRS

1. Open every letter and keep copies. Ignoring contact tends to make things worse.
2. Check the debt is yours and the amount is right.
3. If it is yours and you can afford regular payments, work out a budget first, then offer an amount you can keep to and get the agreement in writing.
4. If you cannot afford to pay, do not agree to a plan you cannot keep. Get free advice first.

Free advice is available from MoneyHelper, StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice.

If you cannot afford to pay

• A debt management plan for steady income.
• An IVA for larger debts.
• A debt relief order or bankruptcy where income and assets are low or debts cannot be repaid.
• Breathing Space gives 60 days of protection while you get advice.

How to complain about DRS

Complain to DRS first, in writing, by post to the Complaints Officer. If you are not satisfied with its final response, or it has not resolved the complaint within eight weeks, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free. DRS also says you can refer a complaint to the Credit Services Association.

DRS contact details

We are not associated with DRS. This information is provided to help people contact their creditors. Contact details change, so check the company’s website before you write or call. Last reviewed 11 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions