LCS debt collectors (1st Locate): who they are and what to do

Company

1st Locate (UK) Limited, trading as LCS

Type

Debt collection and tracing agency

Based

Leeds

HMRC debts

Appears on HMRC’s list of agencies it may use

Who are LCS?

LCS is a trading name of 1st Locate (UK) Limited, a company based in Leeds that traces people and collects debts on behalf of other organisations, such as utility companies. It is a collector, not the creditor, so the money is owed to the organisation that instructed it.

GOV.UK also lists 1st Locate, trading as LCS, among the debt collection agencies that HMRC may use to collect unpaid tax.

Are LCS legitimate?

1st Locate (UK) Limited describes itself as regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is a Credit Services Association member. You can check it on the FCA register.

Do not use links or numbers in an unexpected message. Contact LCS through the details on its official website or on a letter you trust.

Why are they contacting me?

LCS contacts you because a client has passed it an account it believes is unpaid, or because it is trying to trace someone who has moved. If you have received a letter for someone who no longer lives at your address, say so in writing and ask it to remove your details.

The letter should name the creditor and give an account reference. If it does not, ask for them before you discuss the debt.

What can LCS do?

LCS 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.

If the debt is owed to HMRC

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 LCS

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 LCS

Complain to LCS first, in writing, and keep copies. 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. If the debt is owed to HMRC, you can also complain to HMRC.

LCS contact details

We are not associated with LCS. 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