NCO Europe
Quick answer
NCO Europe: contact number and quick answer
NCO Europe Ltd is a legitimate debt collection company. If NCO contacts you, ask who the client is and check the account reference before discussing payment.
- Contact number
- 0800 522 7200. If you cannot find your account number, NCO also lists 0330 060 1006.
- Email address
- enquiries@ncoeurope.com
- Is NCO legitimate?
- Yes. NCO Europe Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 03122581 and is authorised and regulated by the FCA.
- Court or bailiff risk
- NCO are debt collectors, not bailiffs. They cannot enter your home or take goods, but ignored debts can still move toward court action.
Received a letter or call from NCO Europe? This guide explains who they are, why they’re contacting you, your legal rights, and what to do next.
Who Are NCO Europe?
NCO Europe (now part of Alorica) is a debt collection agency that operates in the UK and across Europe. They collect debts on behalf of other companies.
They may contact you because:
- A company has hired them to collect a debt
- Your account has been passed to them for collection
FCA Registration: Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Contact Details
NCO Europe
New City House 57-63 Ringway Preston Lancashire PR1 1AF
Telephone: 0800 522 7200
Email: enquiries@ncoeurope.com
Your Legal Rights
NCO Europe Must:
- Tell you who the original creditor is
- Provide proof of the debt if requested
- Treat you fairly under FCA regulations
They Cannot:
- Harass you with excessive calls
- Contact you at unreasonable times
- Discuss your debt with others
- Pretend to be bailiffs
How to Respond
- Don’t ignore it - could escalate
- Verify the debt - request proof
- Check if statute barred - 6 years with no payments
- Respond based on your situation
Can NCO Europe Send Bailiffs?
No. They cannot enter your property or seize belongings without a court judgment.
Struggling With Multiple Debts?
Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) - Possible write-off of qualifying debt after completion. Check if you qualify.
Debt Relief Order - A formal option for England and Wales where qualifying debts may be written off after the DRO period if you meet the criteria.
How to respond to NCO Europe
If NCO Europe contacts you, start by checking whether the account is yours and whether the balance matches your own records. Ask for the original creditor name, account reference, date of default or assignment, and a written breakdown of the amount being requested.
If you recognise the debt but cannot afford the proposed payment, do not agree to a plan that leaves you short for rent, mortgage, council tax, utilities, food or travel. A realistic offer is usually safer than a payment promise that fails after one or two months.
Before you make a payment
Keep communication in writing where possible and save copies of letters, emails and payment proposals. If several collectors are contacting you at once, compare wider debt options before prioritising one account over the rest.
You may want to read the debt collector letter before action guide, compare IVA vs DMP, or check whether a Debt Relief Order may be more suitable if your income and assets are low.
If the debt is not yours
Tell the collector in writing that you dispute liability and ask them to pause collection while they investigate. Include only the information needed to identify the account, and keep a copy of anything you send. If the letters are for a previous resident, say so clearly and ask for your address to be removed from the account.
Sources checked
- FCA debt collection information for fair treatment expectations.
- FCA Register for checking regulated consumer credit firms.
- Companies House for company identity checks.
- MoneyHelper debt guidance for free debt advice signposting.
- GOV.UK options for dealing with your debts for debt solution context.
Before you agree to pay
If NCO Europe has contacted you
Check the account
Match the reference, balance, original creditor and address history before making a payment. Ask for evidence in writing if you do not recognise the debt.
Keep priority bills first
Rent, mortgage, council tax, energy, food and essential travel should be protected before non-priority debt collector payments.
Watch for court wording
A letter of claim or county court claim needs a faster response than a routine collection letter. Do not ignore formal court papers.
What debt collectors can and cannot do
They can
- Contact you about a debt they own or collect.
- Ask you to confirm details before discussing the account.
- Accept, reject or review a payment proposal.
- Escalate to a solicitor or court route if the debt is enforceable.
They cannot
- Pretend to be bailiffs or enforcement agents.
- Force entry into your home or take goods.
- Mislead you about legal powers or deadlines.
- Discuss your debt with other people without a proper basis.
Common questions
Should I ignore a debt collector letter?
No. Check whether the debt is genuine and respond in writing if you need evidence, time to get advice, or an affordable payment arrangement.
Can a debt collector send bailiffs?
Not directly. Bailiffs normally become relevant only after the correct legal process, such as a court judgment followed by enforcement action.
What if I cannot afford the payment they want?
Do not agree to an unaffordable plan. Compare a DMP, IVA, DRO, breathing space advice, or another route before payments fall behind again.