The Credit Services Association (CSA) is the sole national trade association in the UK representing organisations active in the debt collection and debt purchase industry. The CSA, which has a history dating back to 1906, has over 250 member companies which employ more than 11,000 people. Our diverse membership serves a wide array of clients including major financial institutions (such as banks and building societies), utility companies and government departments, and it includes specialist entities such as tracing agencies and law firms.
Does your business have unpaid invoices and would like to enquire about the services of a CSA member? Use our Member Directory to search for CSA members by services offered and location.
We have over 250 member companies based in the UK and internationally. Our members are active in the debt collection and debt purchase industry and companies range from large multinationals to small local businesses.
CSA membership is a cost-effective way to enhance your business’ credibility. The CSA has extensive knowledge of the industry and offer members guidance, staff training and events throughout the year.
One main reason why companies are members of our Association is the accreditation that comes with it - through membership you are recognised as an organisation that upholds a high standard of quality in our industry.
Through various reports and research papers, the Credit Services Association aims to engage policy-makers, support best practice and promote standards and the specialist skills our sector can bring to recoveries and the credit cycle.
Here you can find out about both upcoming CSA and third-party events. Some events may allow for online registration and the purchase of tickets.
As the voice of the collections industry, our vision is to build confidence in debt collection by making the process clear, easy-to-understand and less stressful for all those involved. The following pages cover a range of resources and information designed to help individuals better understand their situation, access support, and explore the options available to them when dealing with debt.
If you are a consumer and wish to contact us regarding one of our members or for any other information about the work of the CSA, please contact us via the listed methods.
In this paper, the CSA calls for the government to improve its methods for collecting debts to help service users more effectively and boost collections revenues.
The paper identifies several opportunities for improvement, including expanding the scope of the Government Debt Management Function’s Fairness Charter, which sets high-level standards for central government departments recovering debt, to include local government.
"Public sector collection practices have made progress in recent years, but they continue to be outshone by the private sector. When it comes to debt collection, the general public should be able to expect similar treatment and similar support, regardless of who they owe money to. At present, that is not always the case, especially when it comes to vulnerability support and forbearance for those in most need.
"We recognise the challenges that face government, both central and local, when there are gaps in their funding, and the pressure that this can place them under. But the standards seen in private sector collections demonstrate that better practices and healthy recovery rates can go hand-in-hand.
"The tone and content of collections communication is often critical to positive engagement with the individual, and some public bodies may be shooting themselves in the foot by starting their conversations in a needlessly adversarial manner. We have long advocated for a compassionate and constructive approach to early arrears communications and believe this would go some way to improved engagement with councils and government departments.”