Hoist Finance UK: who they are and how to deal with them
Had a letter, call or text from Hoist Finance UK? Here is who they are, whether you have to pay, what they can and cannot do, and the letters that put you back in control.
Applies to: England & Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland differ)
What to do now
- Check the letter: is Hoist Finance UK collecting for someone else, or has it bought the debt?
- If you do not recognise the debt, ask for proof before paying.
- If it is yours, reply with an affordable offer — never agree to more than you can keep up.
Who are Hoist Finance UK?
Hoist Finance UK bought unpaid consumer debts, mainly credit cards and personal loans. In October 2022 Lowell bought Hoist Finance UK and its accounts, and former Hoist customers’ accounts have moved to Lowell. If you have a Hoist account, Lowell is now the company to deal with.
| Legal names | LFUK25 Limited and Hoist Finance AB UK Branch |
|---|---|
| What it is | Debt purchaser |
| Group | Lowell |
| Based in | Salford |
| Companies House number | 08303007 |
We could not confirm its entry on the FCA register when we checked, so look it up yourself before paying. You can check any firm on the FCA register.
Is Hoist Finance UK a scam?
Hoist Finance UK is a real, established debt purchaser. Scammers do sometimes copy the names of real collectors, so if a message seems wrong, do not use the phone number or link in it. Find the firm’s contact details yourself, from its official website or the FCA register, and ask it to confirm the debt in writing. A genuine collector will put the details of the debt in writing.
Do I have to pay Hoist Finance UK?
If Hoist Finance UK has sent you a notice of assignment, it has bought the debt and now owns it, so payments go to Hoist Finance UK. The amount you owe should not go up because the debt was sold, and your rights under the original agreement carry on. You still only have to pay a debt that is genuinely yours, for the right amount.
See our page on Lowell.
- If you do not recognise the debt, or the amount looks wrong, ask for proof before paying — prove the debt or make a CCA request for a copy of the agreement.
- If you have not paid anything or acknowledged it in writing for six years (five in Scotland), and there has been no court claim, it may be statute-barred.
- If it is yours but you cannot afford what is being asked, offer what you can — the Offer Pack works out a fair amount and writes the letter.
What can Hoist Finance UK do?
Hoist Finance UK can
- Write to you, call and text at reasonable times
- Ask you to pay or make an arrangement
- Pass the account to solicitors
- Take you to court for a County Court Judgment
Hoist Finance UK cannot
- Send bailiffs or take money from your wages without a court order first
- Come into your home, or take your belongings
- Contact you excessively, threaten you, or pretend to have powers it does not have
- Discuss the debt with your family, neighbours or employer without your permission
In Scotland and Northern Ireland the court steps are different — see Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Collectors are not bailiffs. Only after a court judgment that is not kept to can a creditor ask the court for enforcement such as County Court bailiffs or an attachment of earnings. How the debt collection process works.
How to deal with Hoist Finance UK
- Open every letter and note the reference number. Add any dates to the deadline planner.
- Check the debt is yours and the amount is right.
- Ask for contact in writing if calls are too much — the writing-only letter.
- Do not agree a payment on the phone that you cannot keep. Work out your budget first with the budget calculator.
- Ask for 30 days’ breathing room while you get advice — firms should give you reasonable time.
- Keep a record of every contact in the contact log.
Contacting Hoist Finance UK
Use the contact details printed on Hoist Finance UK’s letter, after checking them against the FCA register. My Debt Cleared is not connected with Hoist Finance UK. We are an independent information site; we cannot see or change your account.
Complaining about Hoist Finance UK
Complain to Hoist Finance UK first, in writing. If you are not happy with its final response, or it has not replied within eight weeks, you can take a complaint about a regulated debt collector to the free Financial Ombudsman Service. If contact has crossed the line, read creditor harassment and use the harassment complaint letter.
Sources for this page
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/search/companies?q=hoist+finance
- www.lowell.com/hubfs/Lowell%20completes%20acquisition%20of%20Hoist%20Finance%20UK.pdf?hsLa
- debtcamel.co.uk/hoist-debt-sold-to-lowell/comment-page-1/
- www.creditfix.co.uk/creditor-directory/robinson-way-debt-collectors/
You never have to pay for debt advice. MoneyHelper (government-backed), StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice all give free, confidential advice with no obligation.
Common questions
Is Hoist Finance UK legit?
Yes, Hoist Finance UK is a real debt purchaser. Scammers sometimes copy real firms, so contact it using details you have checked yourself, not ones in an unexpected message.
Do I have to pay Hoist Finance UK?
Only if the debt is genuinely yours and the amount is right. If you do not recognise it, ask for proof in writing before you pay. If it is yours but unaffordable, offer what you can afford.
Can Hoist Finance UK send bailiffs?
No. Hoist Finance UK cannot send bailiffs or take money from your wages unless a court judgment has been made against you and not kept to.
Can Hoist Finance UK take me to court?
Yes, if you owe the debt and do not reach an arrangement, Hoist Finance UK or the creditor it acts for can take court action. Before it does, it must send a letter of claim giving you 30 days to reply.