Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
This page provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about our services. If your query is not addressed here, please contact us and we'll be happy to assist you.
About Cabot Financial
Cabot Financial was founded in 1998 and is one of the most respected debt purchase companies in the UK. It’s our mission to help each and every customer to financial recovery. Currently we are helping over 7 million customers manage their financial situations.
Cabot Financial forms part of the Cabot Credit Management Group, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and follow the Credit Services Association’s Code of Practice.
If you’re receiving contact from us, it’s because we’re trying to contact you about an account you have with us. It may be an account that we’ve recently acquired, or it may be time to review payments on your existing account.
We’ll try to contact you again, but if you want to get hold of us, use our contact page.
When we call you, we’ll always ask a series of security questions to verify it’s you before discussing your account. These questions usually centre around your address and may also include your date of birth. We never ask for your bank details to verify the account.
We send SMS from the following phone numbers:
07860 078 934
07860 092 380
We send emails from the following email domains:
@emails.cabotfinancal.com
@cabotfinancial.com
Fraudsters may ask you for personal information such as your passport, passwords, or even payslips. They may also call from a withheld/unknown phone number. These aren’t things that we would do. If you receive a suspicious phone call, hang up. To check to see if it’s us calling, call us on 0344 556 0263. If you receive a suspicious email or SMS, do not click on any of the links it contains – delete it.
If you receive any communication that you’re not sure about, appears suspicious, or originates from different email addresses/phone numbers to those shown above, please let us know by completing our contact form here.
Managing your account
Your reference number can be a six or eight digit number and is included on all written communication. You can find the reference number in the top right corner of letters and emails.
Your reference number is unique to your customer account. If you have more than one account with us, you will have one unique reference number for each account.
Equally, if your account is shared with another person on a joint account, you will both have unique reference numbers for the same account.
If you do not have your reference number to hand, please give us a call and we will be more than happy to run through a few verification questions to get your reference number to you.
You will need your reference number to manage your account, both over the phone and online.
If you wish to update your email address, phone number or address, you will need to login to your Cabot account, and select ‘Personal details’. It may take 24 hours for your address to update on our systems. Alternatively, you can call us 0344 556 0262.
If you've changed your name you need to provide us with a legal document as proof of the change. Examples include marriage certificate/decree absolut or change of name by deed poll certificate - we do not require the original documents, a copy or screenshot of this will be acceptable.
The quickest way of updating your name on your Cabot account is to email us your proof of name change, please make sure to include your reference number so we can identify your account. Once we have received and actioned your request, it can take up to 24 hours for your name to be updated on our systems. We will respond to you via email to confirm this has been updated, or if we require further proof.
Our website allows you to manage multiple accounts. You can do this by logging into your account here and linking additional accounts.
How to link an account?
- Login to your account
- On your account dashboard, click the ‘Link Account’ button. This can be found below your account summary.
- Complete the form with your details and reference number for the account you want to link.
Note: Linked accounts must be registered under the same email address. This means, you will not be able to link your accounts together if you have already registered them with different email addresses.
Partially settling your account is an agreement between you and the creditor to settle the account for less than the total owed. This can take place by either choosing to accept a discounted settlement arrangement or by submitting an offer of repayment. By settling your account, you will no longer receive communications to pursue the remainder of the balance.
Your credit file will be updated to show the account was ‘partially settled’, which will indicate to other creditors that the account was closed but with a lesser amount paid than the balance owed. This may negatively affect your credit score and could affect your ability to access credit in the future. It will be remain on your credit file for six years.
Find out more about how debt affects your credit score here.
If you have a settlement offer and you’d like to redeem, then you can accept this online. Navigate to the account with the offer, click your chosen offer to view the full details. Ensure you read the finer details carefully before accepting and continuing. After selecting your preferred payment option, you’ll need to select where the funds are coming from and the status of your priority bills. If your priority bills are not up to date and you are not in a payment arrangement for the arrears, you will not be able to continue with redeeming your settlement offer online.
This is because we would need to get a better understanding of your situation so we can be sure accepting this offer is affordable and doesn’t negatively impact your finances. If your account is being reported to the credit reference agencies, make sure you understand the impact accepting an offer may have on your credit file.
If you don’t have an offer available on your account, you can submit an offer to us for review. After logging in, select ‘Offers’ and choose the account you wish to submit an offer for, and then select ‘Make us an offer’. Once you have submitted your offer, it will be referred to our digital operations team who will then review the offer and will be in touch to discuss it with you. If your priority bills are not up to date and you are not in a payment arrangement for the arrears, we recommend contacting your priority bill providers to either bring them up to date or agree a payment arrangement with them.
To use the online Budget Planner, firstly you'll need to log in or register. You'll then be taken to your account overview, where you can click on the Budget Planner option and get started. If you've previously completed a Budget Planner, you can choose to view and update it, or start a new one.
Based on the answers you have provided we can offer you a range of options - clear the entire balance, set up a payment plan or make a settlement offer.
Your previous lender will have passed on their closing balance to us, this will be our starting balance. If you think the amount owed is wrong, tell us as soon as possible.
We offer various payment methods, some of which take longer to process than others. Depending on what method you used, it may take a few days for your balance to update on your online account. Your payment may have come out of your bank account, but it may not have reached us yet. Until we've received your funds, your account balance will remain unchanged.
If you've made a payment and your balance remains unchanged after a few days, please get in touch with us so we can investigate. You can call us on 0344 556 0263 or contact us here.
To ensure we protect your digital account, we use two-factor authentication which adds another layer of security to your personal data. Two factor authentication will link your phone number or email address to your account. After linking your number, the website will ask for a verification code every time you sign in to your account. This verification code is sent straight to your phone or email.
If you do not have a phone number or you would prefer to use your email address for two factor authentication, click 'I do not have access to a phone'. This will send you the verification code through to your registered email address.
If you enter a mobile number, you will receive a text message. If you enter a landline number, you will receive a voice message over the phone.
After receiving your verification code, you should enter the six-digit number. If you’re using a device that you personally use and trust, click the ‘Trust this device’ checkbox. By doing this, the next time you access your dashboard on this device, we won’t ask you to verify your details again.
Payments
If you have an agreed plan in place on your account, here are a list of payment methods you can use to make your payments:
- Direct Debit
- Debit Card
- Bank transfer
Account name: Cabot Financial Europe Limited
Sort code: 60-00-01
Account number: 39608018
BIC: NWBKGB2L
IBAN: GB37NWBK60000139608018
Please make sure to input your 6-8 digit Cabot reference number in the ‘reference’ field when making a bank transfer, so we can make sure the funds are allocated to your account.
- Standing Orders
- Cash or cheque at a Post Office
If you live outside of the UK
If you're living outside of the UK, you can use any of the above payment methods as long as you have a UK bank account. If you wish to make payments online, you can use our Quick Payment tool.
In the event you are unable to make payments online or using any of the above methods due to not holding a UK registered bank account, payments can be made over the phone by calling 0344 556 0263 * or by bank transfer - you may be able to set up a regular standing order with your bank.
A payment plan is a commitment between us that you’ll pay a certain amount back over an agreed amount of time to clear your account. We will work with you to understand your financial situation so you’re on an affordable payment plan that’s suitable for you.
The first step after getting in touch is to discuss your income and expenditure and work out how much money you can reasonably afford to repay. For us, 'reasonable' doesn't mean 'all of your available income' – we take into account priority bills and then look at the things that make your life comfortable.
When setting up a Payment Plan, you’ll also have the option to make a Kickstart Payment. A Kickstart payment is a one-off payment made on the creation of your plan to help you clear your balance faster.
The most convenient way to set up a payment plan is online, or if you prefer, you can set it up over the phone with one of our consultants.
Remember, we are here to help so if you have any other questions or concerns, please do get in touch.
A step-by-step guide to creating your payment plan
- Visit your account dashboard by clicking here after logging in.
- Select the account that you would like to set up a payment plan for and then click 'Continue'.
- If you would like to complete our Budget Planner before setting up a Payment Plan, select the 'Go to budget planner' button.
Otherwise, click on the 'Continue to set up payment plan' button and follow the instructions.
There are some instances where you may not be able to set up a payment plan through your online account. This might be because your account is being dealt by an external agent.
If you would like to discuss this, please call 0344 556 0263 and speak to a Customer Consultant who will be able to give you more information.
Below are some reasons why you may be experiencing an error message:
Surname or date of birth error
It's possible you may have entered one or more of your personal details differently to what we hold for you on your account.
Missing or incorrect postcode
You may be inputting a postcode that does not match the one we hold, which will prevent you from making payments using the quick payment tool.
Reference number error
Make sure you've entered your 6-8 digit Cabot reference number correctly. If you're unsure what your reference number is, it can be found on all Cabot communications including emails, secure SMSs, and letters, usually in the top right-hand corner.
Payment error
We only accept payments from a UK debit card. If you're attempting to make a payment using a debit or credit card registered outside of the UK, you'll be presented with an error.
If you are a customer of Cabot and have joined us on your journey to financial recovery, we will work with you to understand your financial situation and agree a way forward, one that is right for you.
Ignoring your debt will not make it go away, instead it can lead to further debt and potentially a County Court Judgement (CCJ). Communication is key to getting on the road to financial recovery. Get in touch with us to discuss your options.
When an account is bought by Cabot Financial, we make every effort to contact you. If we still can't get in touch with you after multiple attempted, we may have to consider alternate methods to recover the outstanding balance, which may involve:
Increased communications – This could be more frequent calls, letters, emails and/or SMS.
A visit at home – In some cases we may instruct an external company we work with to visit you at your home so they can put you back in touch with us.
Legal action – This is an option we will consider if you meet specific criteria and could involve a County Court Judgment (CCJ) being obtained against you.
We never want to resort to taking legal action, but sometimes we have to. Before we take this step, we send out two letters to our customers to let them know that we might have to take legal action if they don't get in touch with us. If contact is still not made, we send a third letter to the customer to let them know that their account has been sent to a solicitor.
If you miss a payment and don’t get in touch with us, we will write to you and ask you to contact us.
If you have a payment plan set up but do not have a regular payment method, we will send you text message or letter reminders when your payment is due. Another reminder is sent if you miss a payment and it becomes overdue.
Remember, getting in touch allows us to provide a variety of flexible solutions depending on your situation.
Yes, you can make a one-off payment if you have additional money that you would like to put towards repaying your debt.
You can make a one-off payment online, or contact us to make a payment over the phone.
Other
When we acquire an account, the original lender gives us an address, but not everyone keeps their address details up-to-date. If you do receive a letter for someone who no longer lives there, please tell us so we can deal with it quickly. There is often a delay in updating records, so you might receive more letters in the short term.
There may also be a 'link' attached to your address with the Credit Reference Agencies. This could be because of fraud, or a link between a previous address you lived at and that of the trace subject. If this is the case, contact the Credit Reference Agencies to let them know.
The Government recommends that you view your credit file regularly to check all of the information on there is accurate and up-to-date. You will be able to remove inaccurate information and prevent any future contact by debt collection agencies.
If an account has been linked to you that isn’t yours, call us on 0344 556 0263 so we can investigate.
There is no one way to delete cookies, as different browsers will have varied processes. To make things easier, we’ve listed the 5 most popular web browsers and how to remove cookies from your specific device:
Chrome (Windows or Mac, Android, iOS)
Firefox (Windows or Mac, Android, iOS)
Internet Explorer (Windows PC)
Microsoft Edge (PC)
If you’re using an internet browser that isn’t listed above, please click here to find a wider list of browsers. For information on how we use cookies please visit our cookie policy.
Much like cookies, clearing your cache is dependent on the browser you choose to use. Here is a step-by-step guide to clearing out your cache, just click on your preferred browser below:
Chrome (Windows or Mac, Android, iOS)
Firefox (Windows or Mac)
Internet Explorer (Windows PC)
If you’re using an internet browser that isn’t listed above, please click here for a wider list of browsers.
We make every effort to get in touch with our customers in a variety of ways, but occasionally – when we’ve exhausted every option – we may be forced to pass an account to our solicitors.
Please don’t ignore the solicitors when they contact you. It is in your interest to talk to them to avoid further legal action. If you’ve been notified of a judgment against you, you should act quickly.
If you pay the amount owed within 30 days, you can apply to the court to remove the CCJ from your credit file. If you miss that deadline, the best course of action is to pay the debt in full and have the CCJ marked as ‘satisfied’ on your credit file. To discuss payment, contact the solicitors that have been writing to you.
If you have been contacted several times by different companies about a debt that’s not yours, you will need to remove the link that connects you to this account.
Let us know and contact the Credit Reference Agencies so they can investigate.
Debt advice is a great option to explore if you find yourself struggling with your debts. Organisations that provide free debt advice are qualified to help you tackle your debts and manage your finances better. Here are a range of topics they provide support with:
- Free impartial debt advice
- Breathing space
- Information of benefit entitlement
- Manage multiple debts for you
- Help find the best solution to becoming debt free
- Work through a financial statement with you
- Set up a token payment
- Debt management plans (DMPs)
- Administration orders
- Advice on priority debts (rent, mortgage, council tax arrears)
- Support if creditors take action
- Help on how to budget better
- Help with ways on how to increase your income
- Help with debt relief order (DRO), individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) and bankruptcy
The following organisations are all impartial and can help you with your financial recovery:
PayPlan
0800 280 2816
www.payplan.com
StepChange Debt Charity
0800 138 1111
www.stepchange.org
National Debt Line
0800 808 4000
www.nationaldebtline.org
MoneyHelper (formerly 'Money Advice Service')
0800 138 7777
www.moneyhelper.org.uk
Citizens Advice
Your local branch can be found at: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
A County Court Judgment (or CCJ) is a type of court order that can be issued against you if you fail to repay your debts. The creditor (the person or business you owe money to) can apply to the courts for a ruling saying you have to pay the money back. CCJs are used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the equivalent is a Decree. Find out more about CCJ’s here.
If you’re already a Cabot customer, just get in touch with us and we’ll be able to help you. If you’re not a customer of ours, then speak to a free debt adviser from an organisation such as PayPlan or StepChange.
Debt advisers can help you work with your creditors to reach an arrangement where you pay what you can afford without going through the courts. This means you can avoid a CCJ, and won’t take such a big hit on your credit rating.
If you’re formally issued with a CCJ, it will negatively impact your credit score, making it harder to get other loans, credit cards or even a mortgage and it’s likely the best interest rates for credit are not available to you. A CCJ will appear on your credit report for six years. Whether you have a CCJ or not, you may also want to consider a few of the things you can do to improve your score over time.
If you’ve recently lost a loved one, financial stress is the last thing you’ll need whilst you’re trying to come to terms with your loss. It’s our priority to help reduce your financial worries by making sure any account(s) you have with us are taken care of during this time.
Creditors will be paid off in a particular order of priority, depending on the type of the debt. If your loved one has a joint debt, or the debt has a guarantor, whether there is an estate or not, it will become the responsibility of the joint account holder or guarantor to pay the debt when they pass away.
If your loved one has left a will, it’s likely they will have named someone to handle all the administration that goes with it. This person is called the Executor, and it's their job to find out what debts there are, pay them, and then carry out the remaining instructions of the will.
For further information you can find a step by step guide on the government website. National Debtline have created a fact sheet to help explain the process of dealing with debts left behind by a loved one. If you're struggling with your recent loss, and need some support and advice, the NHS provide extensive information on grief and bereavement you may find helpful.
We have a team dedicated to help make the next steps with us as easy as possible. Firstly we would ask you to send in a copy of the death certificate before placing the account with our specialist partner company, Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) LTD. They’ll help in finalising the account and provide general guidance and advice surrounding estate law. They offer an online resource called Continued Path - which gives an overview of the process in handling final affairs. Please note: Phillips & Cohen Associates (UK) LTD is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice.
Sometimes our customers can experience problems. If we could have done something better, we’ll do our best to put it right. We’re proud of our commitment to excellent customer service and we work hard to make sure every customer has a positive experience of working with us.
Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong and we’re just as committed to making sure we put things right as quickly as possible.
Find out more about our Complaints process.