The Ultimate Guide to STA International

If you’ve found your way to this page, then the likelihood is you have taken a call or received a letter from STA International, the credit management company.

This can be an unsettling and concerning ordeal, but there are ways to tackle your economic burdens. The Ultimate Guide to STA International will answer the most frequently asked questions regarding debt, debt collection agencies and STA International themselves.

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It’s time to take steps towards a debt-free life. So, read our Ultimate Guide to STA International to get tips, advice and helplines to help you combat your debt.

Who is STA International?

STA International was founded by Stanley Tulchin, in 1955. Initially, STA International was based in New York but the company has now massively expanded to have offices in Mexico, Kent and Glasgow.

They are a debt collection agency, who act for over 1,000 B2B and B2C clients, as well as various university and college clients.

Alongside debt collection, STA International also work on Confidential Credit Control and locating individuals who have ignored invoices.

If you receive communication from STA International, it tends to mean you owe another company money, and they are getting in touch to collect on their behalf.

Many debt collection agencies, like STA International, will buy ‘bad debts’ for a low price from companies, as they can make profit from the collection.

However, STA International does not buy debt and only works to collect money owed in the name of their clients.

Don’t Pay STA International Until You Get Debt Advice

There are many things to consider and assess before payment should be made to a debt collection agency, like STA International, so we advise getting in touch with a debt advisor prior to any response or transaction to the debt company.

Debt advisors can help you layout an obtainable payment plan and give you useful tips on managing your debt.

Where are STA International based?

STA International is based on the 3rd Floor, Colman House, King Street, Maidstone ME14 1DN England.

This debt collection agency is based in various locations around the world, such as Mexico, New York, England and Scotland.

They identify as a global credit management company that provide worldwide credit control solutions and tracing services.

In the past year, STA International has collected business debts in a total of 136 countries.

Is STA International a legitimate company authorised and regulated in the UK?

STA International is a reputable debt collection company, holding many accreditations to support its prestige.

They hold credentials from the following associations:

  • CICM (Chartered Institute of Credit Management)
  • CAI (Collector Accreditation Initiative)
  • CSA (Credit Services Association)
  • ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office)

If you are interested in learning more about STA International qualifications, they are listed on their website, follow this link to have a look: https://www.stainternational.com/about-us/

What legal powers does STA International have over me?

Debt collection agencies hold the same legal powers as the initial company to which you owed money, so the extent to what they can do is limited.

STA International cannot act as a bailiff, meaning they cannot repossess your belongings as collateral.

Don’t let this fool you though, debt collectors communications shouldn’t be taken lightly, as they have various methods to reclaim the debt.

For example, while they can’t take your possessions themselves, they may be able to secure a County Court Judgement (CCJ), which would allow actual bailiffs to acquire your personal property as reimbursement for the outstanding payments.

Continue to read the ultimate guide to learn how STA International deals with individuals who can’t pay their debt back.

What can’t STA International do?

STA International hold the same rights as the original company to which you owe money to. So, they can chase you for the repayment provided they don’t breach the following rules:

  • Call you at unreasonable hours.
  • Contact you at work without your consent.
  • Send a debt collection agent for a home visit without giving you at least 7 days notice.
  • Take a payment without gaining your consent first.
  • Discuss details of your debt with anyone other than yourself.
  • Use legal jargon to confuse or pressure you into making a payment.
  • Pretend they have powers that they don’t, such as pretending to have the right to reclaim property as collateral.

Read on to find out what you can do if these rules are broken by STA International.

What if STA International breaches regulations?

There are a couple of options you can explore if STA International breach any regulations.

Firstly, we would advise following their personal complaints procedure.

You should either call 01622528543 or email [email protected] to discuss your complaint in detail.

STA will then take the following steps to get the matter resolved.

If you don’t feel like their complaints procedure was sufficient enough, then there are other avenues to explore.

You can contact the CSA (Credit Services Association) via 01912170775 or you can email them via [email protected]. Following the link- www.csa-uk.com – will lead you to their Codes and Standards section where you will find their online complaints form.

Alternatively, you could contact the Financial Ombudsman Service on 02079641000 or via email to [email protected]. You can also follow www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk to find their information regarding how to make a complaint.

Why is a third party contacting me about debt collection?

STA International will contact you on behalf of another company, to reclaim the debt which you originally owed to their client.

Third-party debt recovery agencies, like STA International, tend to be the last resort for repayments that are continuously ignored or dismissed.

Debtors should be aware of which debt it is regarding, as the initial client will have reached out to them multiple times, before passing the account over to STA International.

How do I contact STA International?

You can contact STA International via the following methods:

  • Call 01622600921 (sales)
  • Call 01622528543 (collections)
  • Post a letter to 3rd Floor, Colman House, King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1DN

STA International’s working hours are 8 am-8 pm, Monday to Friday.

STA International have a customer care team that acts to resolve any queries, complaints or concerns.

Despite this, they have a poor rating on Trustpilot, so we would advise getting in touch with a debt advisor if you would like them to act on your behalf.

How do debt collection agencies operate?

Usually, the first form of communication you will receive from a debt collection agency is an introductory letter or phone call, which is used to initiate their pre-action protocol.

A pre-action protocol will highlight the amount of debt you owe, any fines you might have acquired and the company to which the money is owed to.

It will also state the deadline date by which the debt has to be repaid.

If the debtor refuses to pay or ignores communications from STA International, then they can expect the following procedures to occur:

  • Increasing amounts of calls and emails.
  • They may attempt to set up a home visit.
  • They can attempt to obtain a County Court Judgement (CCJ) which allows bailiffs to reclaim your possessions.
  • They may be able to threaten bankruptcy.

As you can see, the levels at which they will try to make you pay your debts escalate the more you attempt to avoid paying.

Why is a debt collection agency contacting you?

STA International will contact you if you have failed to repay another company.

Their most common form of debt collection is from students, who may not have paid back their tuition, accommodation, or library fees, and businesses who have skipped out on invoices.

If you are unsure as to why STA International is contacting you, you can request they send you an original credit agreement, which will have full details covering your debt.

Does STA International own my debt?

STA International does not buy debt, they work to reclaim debt for their clients.

Therefore, while it is STA International that will be reaching out to you regarding the debt, you will still be paying back the initial company to which you owed money.

What if I cant afford to pay back a debt?

If you are unable to afford to pay back your debt straight away, don’t panic! Debt collection agencies, like STA International, have an obligation to give you sufficient time to assess your options for repayment.

Most debt collection agencies will allow you to set up a payment plan, which would mean you pay an agreed amount each month until the full debt has been settled.

A payment plan can help individuals who are a bit strapped for cash, as they can negotiate a deal that suits their economic situation.

For students, repayment plans can be made for as little as £25 per month!

We would advise speaking with an experienced debt advisor if you don’t think you can afford to pay back your debt, as they will have helpful advice, tips and plans of action, which will assist you in working your way out of debt.

The non-profit debt advisory services recommended by STA are as follows:

STA International will give you 60 days to seek advice, for these 60 days they will put your account on hold.

You must contact them either via phone on 01622 528 543 or email [email protected], to request the 60 days holding period.

Can pay but won’t pay?

To put it bluntly, you won’t be able to avoid repaying your debts. Debt collection agencies tend to be very persistent and STA International is no different.

Ignoring your debt will only make matters worse.

  • Your debt will continue to accumulate, meaning you will owe more and more.
  • Your opportunity to negotiate a payment plan or alternate payment methods will be lost.
  • Continuously ignoring debt could eventually result in legal action being taken.

So, the best option you have is to bite the bullet and openly communicate with STA International, speak with debt advisors and work to find a payment plan that works for you.

Continue to read our Ultimate Guide to STA International to find our list of recommended debt advisor services.

How can debt collectors can ruin your life?

Debt collectors aren’t known for their kind and patient demeanour, they tend to be aggressive, persistent and unwavering in their efforts to contact you and reclaim the outstanding money.

If you don’t manage to settle your debt, then you should expect constant calls, letters and emails, reminding you of the debt which is hanging over your head.

This constant reminder can impact an individual’s mental health and well being, but remember you are not alone and there are ways to get help!

How to deal with debt collectors

Here are some of our favourite tips to help you deal with debt collectors:

  • Don’t ignore them, it’s best to reply to any efforts they make to communicate.
  • It’s important to check that the money they suggest you owe is legitimate.
  • Take some time to assess your financial situation, this will help you decide whether a one-off payment or payment plan would be best for you.
  • If you are worried about not being able to pay the money, speak to a debt advisor as soon as possible.
  • Ensure your credit file is updated as soon as your debt has been paid off.

Continue reading our Ultimate Guide to STA International to find out how to check if you really owe a debt collector money!

Where can I find debt advisor help?

We would recommend the following debt advisory services if you think you need help managing your debt:

How can you check to see if you really owe a debt collection company money?

Any genuine debt collection agency should be able to provide authentic documentation detailing the terms and conditions of the debt which you owe.

STA International can provide you with an original credit agreement upon request, which will detail the amount of debt owed, the company the debt is owed to, the deadline by which the debt should be paid by and any other significant information.

If a debt collection agency is unable to present this documentation, contact a debt advisory service before returning any of their communications or making any payments.

Paying for debt that might not be your own may have a detrimental impact on your credit score, so it is better to be safe than sorry!

It’s important to be aware of the term statute barred debt.

If a debt hasn’t been chased or paid in the past 6 years, then this outstanding money can be deemed as a statute-barred debt, which essentially means you can’t legally be made to repay this payment.

List of Debt Collection Agencies UK

Here is a list of all the debt collectors in the UK.

Debt Collectors

Before speaking and dealing with a debt recovery company we strongly advise you speak to the debt advisor and take the debt quiz.

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