1st Locate UK Ltd specialises in tracing and debt collection support. They’re experts at finding people who’ve moved address and haven’t updated their details with creditors. When standard debt collectors can’t find you, creditors may use 1st Locate UK to trace a current address. But here’s what matters: 1st Locate UK are NOT bailiffs. They can’t enter your home or take your belongings.
If you owe £6,000+ across multiple debts, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) may stop direct contact from 1st Locate UK for included qualifying debts once approved and may write off some remaining included debt after 5-6 years if you complete it.
Quick answers#
Can 1st Locate UK send bailiffs to my home? No. 1st Locate UK are debt collectors and tracing agents, not bailiffs. They can’t force entry, take your belongings, or clamp your vehicle. Don’t be intimidated by letters that sound threatening.
Are 1st Locate UK legitimate? Yes. Companies House lists 1ST LOCATE (UK) LIMITED as an active company, company number 03702599. The 1st Locate website states that it is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for accounts formed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
Can an IVA stop 1st Locate UK? An approved IVA can stop direct collection contact from 1st Locate UK for debts included in the arrangement. Check the original creditor and debt type first, because suitability depends on your full finances, not the collector name alone.
Who are 1st Locate UK?#
1st Locate UK is operated by 1ST LOCATE (UK) LIMITED (Company 03702599), incorporated in 1999. The business provides tracing services and outsourced account, billing, revenue management, arrears and collection support.
Company details:
- Registered office: Apson House, Bullerthorpe Lane, Leeds, LS15 9JN
- Company number: 03702599
- Regulatory statement: 1st Locate’s website states it is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for accounts formed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974
- Data protection registration shown by 1st Locate: Z6791585
1st Locate’s website also says it is a member of the Credit Services Association (CSA). They work for organisations that have lost contact with customers, tenants, debtors, or account holders.
Why is 1st Locate UK contacting me?#
1st Locate UK contacts you because an organisation may have hired them to find you or help restore contact about an account. This typically happens when you’ve moved address and the creditor can’t locate you through normal means.
The escalation process:
- You fall behind on payments and then move address without telling the creditor
- Creditor loses contact with you (letters return as undeliverable)
- Creditor hires 1st Locate UK to trace you
- 1st Locate UK traces a possible current address using lawful data sources
- 1st Locate UK contacts you at your new address demanding payment
This is why you might not recognise 1st Locate UK’s name:
You owed money to British Gas. You moved house and forgot to update your address. British Gas tried to contact you at your old address. The letters bounced back. British Gas hired 1st Locate UK to find you. 1st Locate UK traced you to your new address. Now they’re contacting you on behalf of British Gas.
Who instructs 1st Locate UK:
- Banks and credit card companies
- Utility companies (gas, electricity, water)
- Telecoms providers (mobile phones, broadband)
- Catalogue and mail order companies
- Council tax departments
Can 1st Locate UK send bailiffs to my home?#
No. 1st Locate UK are debt collectors, not bailiffs.
1st Locate UK has no legal power to enter your home or take your belongings. Their role is to find you and collect payment. They can’t enforce debt through bailiffs unless they first obtain a County Court Judgment.
What 1st Locate UK CAN do:
- Trace you to your new address
- Send letters and emails
- Call you (between 8am and 9pm)
- Report the debt to credit reference agencies
- Take you to court (see below)
What 1st Locate UK CANNOT do:
- Force entry to your home
- Enter without your permission
- Take your belongings
- Clamp your vehicle
- Threaten you with immediate bailiff action
- Claim they’ll “seize your goods” without a court order
Can 1st Locate UK take me to court?#
Yes—and this is where their real power lies.
While 1st Locate UK can’t send bailiffs directly, they can take legal action if the debt remains unpaid.
The legal escalation process:
1. Pre-Action Protocol (30-day warning)
Before 1st Locate UK can issue a court claim, they must follow the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims. They’ll send a formal “Letter of Claim” giving you 30 days to respond.
2. County Court claim
If you don’t respond or arrange payment, 1st Locate UK will instruct solicitors to issue a County Court claim. You’ll receive court papers (form N1) at your address.
3. County Court Judgment (CCJ)
If you don’t defend the claim, the court will enter a judgment against you. This is a County Court Judgment (CCJ), which:
- Stays on your credit file for 6 years
- Makes it nearly impossible to get credit, mortgages, or phone contracts
- Allows 1st Locate UK to enforce through bailiffs
4. Enforcement after a CCJ
Once 1st Locate UK has a CCJ, they can apply for:
- Attachment of Earnings Order: Your employer deducts money from your wages
- Charging Order: 1st Locate UK secures the debt against your property (if you’re a homeowner)
- Warrant of Control: The court issues a warrant allowing actual bailiffs to seize goods
Don’t ignore court papers. If you receive a “Claim Form” (form N1), you have 14 days to respond.
Is the debt really yours?#
Before you pay 1st Locate UK anything, verify the debt is actually yours.
Request proof under the Consumer Credit Act 1974:
If the debt is a credit agreement (credit card, loan, mobile phone contract), you have the right to request a copy of the original agreement under Section 77 or 78.
Write to 1st Locate UK:
1ST LOCATE (UK) LIMITED
Apson House
Bullerthorpe Lane
Leeds
LS15 9JNSay:
“I’m writing regarding account reference [your reference number]. Under Section 77/78 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, I request a true copy of the executed credit agreement for this debt. I also request a full breakdown of how the current balance has been calculated. I don’t acknowledge this debt until I receive proof.”
The creditor or collector normally has 12 working days to respond to a Consumer Credit Act request for eligible regulated credit agreements. If a properly requested agreement cannot be supplied, court enforcement can be restricted while the default continues.
When is a debt statute-barred?
If you haven’t acknowledged a debt or made a payment in 6 years (England/Wales) or 5 years (Scotland), it might be statute-barred.
Statute-barred debts can’t be enforced through the courts. 1st Locate UK can still ask you to pay, but they can’t take legal action.
Warning: If you make a payment (even £1) or acknowledge the debt in writing, the 6-year clock resets.
Will 1st Locate UK accept a settlement?#
1st Locate UK may consider a full and final settlement, but the outcome depends on the creditor, the age of the account, your affordability, and whether the debt is disputed.
Do not assume a discount is available. A lump sum can sometimes help if the creditor accepts it in writing, but it should not leave you short for rent, council tax, energy, food, or other priority commitments.
How to negotiate a settlement:
- Don’t offer first. Let 1st Locate UK tell you what they want.
- Start with affordability. Work out what you can genuinely pay after priority bills.
- Explain your circumstances. “I’ve been offered help from family, but they can only lend £X.”
- Get it in writing. Never pay until you have written confirmation that the settlement clears the debt in full.
- Pay via bank transfer and keep proof of payment.
How to stop 1st Locate UK with an IVA#
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a legally binding agreement between you and all your creditors (including 1st Locate UK) to repay what you can afford over 5-6 years. At the end, any remaining debt is written off—typically 60-80%.
Why an IVA stops 1st Locate UK:
Once your IVA is approved, creditors with debts included in the arrangement should usually:
- Stop direct collection contact
- Deal with the Insolvency Practitioner rather than chasing you directly
- Follow the IVA terms on interest, charges, and payments
- Accept the distributions set out in the approved proposal
What debts can be included?
Many debts chased after tracing are unsecured and may be includable in an IVA if the original debt type qualifies, including:
- Credit cards
- Personal loans
- Overdrafts
- Mobile phone contracts
- Catalogue debts
- Store cards
- Utility arrears
To qualify for an IVA, you typically need:
- £6,000+ in unsecured debt
- Two or more creditors
- A regular income (employed or self-employed)
- Spare income after essential bills (usually £80-100/month minimum)
How to deal with 1st Locate UK calls#
You have rights:
Request written communication only. You can tell 1st Locate UK (verbally or in writing) that you only want to be contacted by post. They must comply under FCA rules. This stops the calls.
Don’t admit the debt until you’ve verified it. If you don’t recognise the debt, say: “I need to see proof of this debt in writing before I can discuss it.”
Don’t make a payment just to make them go away. Paying even £1 can restart the statute-barred clock if the debt is over 6 years old.
If you’re vulnerable, tell them. If you have mental health problems, serious illness, disability, or are in crisis, declare this. 1st Locate UK must follow FCA “Consumer Duty” rules and adjust their approach.
How to complain about 1st Locate UK#
1. Complain to 1st Locate UK directly
Write to:
1ST LOCATE (UK) LIMITED
Apson House
Bullerthorpe Lane
Leeds
LS15 9JNInclude your reference number, dates of the issue, what happened, and what you want.
They have 8 weeks to respond.
2. Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
If 1st Locate UK doesn’t respond or you’re not satisfied:
- Website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
- Phone: 0800 023 4567
3. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
If 1st Locate UK has breached FCA rules:
- Website: www.fca.org.uk/consumers/report-firm
- Phone: 0800 111 6768
1st Locate UK contact details#
Registered office: 1ST LOCATE (UK) LIMITED Apson House Bullerthorpe Lane Leeds LS15 9JN
Company number: 03702599 FCA statement: 1st Locate’s website says it is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for relevant Consumer Credit Act accounts
Regulatory status:
- Check the current FCA status using the firm’s official details before paying or sharing sensitive information
- CSA (Credit Services Association) Member
- ICO Registered
If you’re struggling with debt and want to find out what options are available, use our free IVA calculator to see if you qualify and how much debt you could write off. It takes 2 minutes and won’t affect your credit score.
Frequently Asked Questions#
Can 1st Locate UK send bailiffs to my home?#
No. 1st Locate UK are tracing and debt collection specialists, not bailiffs. They have no legal power to enter your property, take your belongings, or clamp your vehicle.
Are 1st Locate UK legitimate?#
Yes. Companies House lists 1ST LOCATE (UK) LIMITED as active under company number 03702599, and the 1st Locate website states that it is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for relevant consumer credit accounts.
How did 1st Locate UK find my new address?#
1st Locate UK specializes in tracing people. They use credit reference agencies, electoral roll data, utility connection records, and other legal sources to find people who’ve moved address.
Will 1st Locate UK take me to court?#
They or the creditor may escalate the account if it remains unpaid. If you receive a Letter of Claim or a County Court claim form, do not ignore it because a judgment can affect your credit file for 6 years.
Can I stop 1st Locate UK with an IVA?#
An approved IVA can stop direct collection contact from 1st Locate UK for included qualifying debts. It is most likely to be relevant where you have unaffordable unsecured debts with more than one creditor and can afford a realistic monthly contribution.
Will 1st Locate UK accept a settlement?#
They may consider a full and final settlement, but there is no guaranteed discount. Ask for written confirmation that the agreed payment will settle the account, and do not offer a lump sum that leaves priority bills unpaid.
If you’re dealing with 1st Locate UK and have £6,000+ in debt across multiple creditors, an IVA may stop direct contact from them for included qualifying debts once approved and may write off a portion of qualifying debt if the IVA completes.