Foundation for Credit Counselling

Reference number: 729047

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Scammers have impersonated this firm. The FCA has published 3 warnings naming the fake phone numbers, emails and websites they used. See the warnings →

Authorised by the FCA

This firm is on the FCA register and authorised to carry out regulated activities.

Website, phone number and address

Compare these against whatever you were given. Scammers clone real firm names and reference numbers but use their own phone number and website, so a detail that does not match the register is the clearest warning sign there is.

In the full report: 3 background checks

  • When stepchange.org first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
  • What kind of line 0800 138 1111 is
  • Who else gives the postcode LS2 8ER
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Other names (30)

If you were contacted under any of these names, it is this firm.

  • STEPCHANGE Trading name
  • STEPCHANGE DEBT CHARITY Trading name
  • STEPCHANGE DEBT CHARITY SCOTLAND Trading name
  • STEPCHANGE DEBT REMEDY Trading name
  • Stepchange NI Trading name
  • Stepchange Northern Ireland Trading name
  • STEPCHANGE VA Trading name
  • STEPCHANGE VOLUNTARY ARRANGEMENTS Trading name
  • Stepchange Wales Trading name
  • www.stepchange.org Trading name
  • Betterpay Former trading name
  • C.C.C.S Former trading name
  • C.C.C.S Debt Remedy Former trading name
  • C.C.C.S Ireland Former trading name
  • C.C.C.S NI Former trading name
  • C.C.C.S Northern Ireland Former trading name
  • C.C.C.S Scotland Former trading name
  • Consumer Credit Counselling Service Former trading name
  • Debt Line Former trading name
  • Irish Debtline Former trading name
  • Scottish Debtline Former trading name
  • STEPCHANGE EQUITY RELEASE Former trading name
  • STEPCHANGE ER Former trading name
  • STEPCHANGE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS Former trading name
  • STEPCHANGE MONEY AWARE Former trading name
  • Stepchange Money Matters Former trading name
  • STEPCHANGE VOLUTARY ARRANGEMENTS Former trading name
  • Stepchange Wellbeing Former trading name
  • Student Debtline Former trading name
  • The Debt Helpline Former trading name

The firm, by virtue of its constitution or any enactment, must be:(i) required (after payment of outgoings) to apply the whole of its income and any capital it expends for charitable or public purposes, and (ii) prohibited from directly or indirectly distributing amongst its members any part of its assets (otherwise than for charitable or public purposes); And the firm must not have any associate (other than a not-for profit debt advice body) which carries on debt adjusting or debt counselling or providing credit information services.)

Warning

Scammers have impersonated this firm

Fraudsters have used this firm's name or details with their own contact information to appear genuine. Check whatever you were given below, and against the firm's real details above.

Fake phone numbers (5)
  • 0330 122 5235
  • 0333 212 1315
  • 0333 880 1605
  • 0333 880 5180
  • 0800 046 5868
Fake email addresses (2)
  • info@stepchangecontactnumber.org
  • info@thestepchange.com
Fake websites (10)
  • debt-change.org.uk
  • stepchangecontactnumber.org
  • stepdebtchange.org.uk
  • stepdebtschange.org.uk
  • stepforchange.org.uk
  • stepinchange.co.uk
  • steps-to-change.co.uk
  • stepschange.co.uk
  • stepschange.org.uk
  • thestepchange.com
The 3 FCA warnings these came from

Scammers change these details often. Always check the live FCA warning.

FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Lend or arrange credit No FSCS cover
    Consumer credit is not covered by the FSCS, so there is no compensation scheme if the firm fails.
  • Complaints Ombudsman, free
    You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.
Show FCA detail (3 permissions)
  • Debt Adjusting
  • Debt-counselling
  • Providing Credit Information Services

FCA disciplinary action and complaints

No FCA disciplinary action.

The Financial Ombudsman Service only publishes complaint figures for firms with 30 or more new complaints in six months, so there are none here for this firm.

The clone warnings above are scammers using this firm's name, not something the firm has done.

Companies House record

The company behind the firm: its status, age, registered office and directors.

Company number
02757055
Company status
Active
Company type
Private company limited by guarantee
Incorporated
19 October 1992 (34 years old)
Registered office
123 Albion Street, Leeds, LS2 8ER, England
Nature of business
  • Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified (SIC 64999)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Barbara Helen Dean Director Dec 1959 21 Jan 2019 3 other companies
Lesley Jane Titcomb Director Jun 1961 21 Jan 2019 8 other companies
Nicholas Michael Caplan Director Jun 1959 26 Feb 2019 3 other companies
Christopher Mark Wood Director Aug 1970 1 Feb 2021 5 other companies
Yvonne Jean Klimaytys Director Mar 1958 1 Jul 2021 7 other companies
Elizabeth Mary Harding Director Aug 1982 1 Jul 2023 None
Michael St John Ashley Director Sep 1954 1 Jul 2023 13 other companies
Susan Acton Director Sep 1972 1 Jul 2023 1 other company
Janet Edna Pope Director Sep 1960 1 Jan 2024 14 other companies
Lisa Jane Mellor Director Sep 1976 23 Jun 2025 None
Sean Lynskey Director Jul 1988 23 Jun 2025 1 other company
Ramondeep Kaur Director Apr 1983 30 Jun 2025 None
Catherine Jennifer Smith Secretary Not published 24 Apr 2024 –

Other companies run by these 12 directors

A firm is run by people, and their other companies are their track record: what they built, what closed, and anything that failed. It is the check most people never think to make.

other companies
54
closed down
12
went insolvent
2

In the full report: all 54 companies, named

  • What each company does, and whether it is still trading
  • Which of these 12 directors sit on each board, and since when
  • The 2 that went into liquidation or administration
  • The 15 on the FCA register, including 4 no longer authorised
  • The 1 company these 12 directors run together
  • All 43 people who have ever been directors, with their dates
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Key dates in its history

Foundation for Credit Counselling’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (5) All events (132)

2019

29 July 2019

  • FCA warned the public about a scam impersonating this firm

FCA warning list

2016

11 November 2016

  • Regulated by the FCA from this date
  • FCA imposed a requirement (Not for profit firm)
  • Became authorised by the FCA

FCA register

1992

19 October 1992

  • Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 132 events

  • All 132 events in its history (5 shown here)
  • Every director appointment and resignation: 74
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Firms connected to Foundation for Credit Counselling

Other FCA-listed firms that share a director, phone number or address with Foundation for Credit Counselling. A link shows who the firm is tied to, not whether either can be trusted.

connected firms
6
share a director
6
past links
3

In the full report: all 6 connected firms, named

  • How each is linked: shared directors (6)
  • Who links each one: the named directors, with dates
  • 3 past links through former directors
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Firms like Foundation for Credit Counselling

Other firms of the same type (debt advice or management), nearest first.

In Leeds

Chapeltown Citizens Advice BureauLeedsAuthorisedLeeds Trinity UniversityLeedsAuthorisedBetter Leeds CommunitiesLeedsAuthorisedBurmantofts Community ProjectsLeedsAuthorisedLeeds Citizens Advice BureauLeedsAuthorised

Firms are listed by type and location, best known first. Being listed is not a recommendation: check any firm before you deal with it.

Get the full report on Foundation for Credit Counselling

Everything on this page, plus everything locked above, in one dated PDF you can keep, file or send on.

  • 54 other companies its directors have run, named
  • 3 background checks on its contact details
  • All 132 events in its history
  • 6 connected firms, named, and who links them

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is Foundation for Credit Counselling FCA authorised?
Yes, Foundation for Credit Counselling (FRN 729047) is authorised by the FCA to carry out regulated activities. It has held its current authorisation since November 2016 and works as a debt advice or management. The FCA has placed no limits on its permissions.
What is Foundation for Credit Counselling’s phone number and website?
The FCA register lists the phone number 0800 138 1111 and the website stepchange.org for Foundation for Credit Counselling. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.
Is Foundation for Credit Counselling a scam or clone?
Scammers have impersonated Foundation for Credit Counselling: the FCA has published 3 warnings about fake versions of it, using contact details that are not the firm's. Only trust the details the FCA register gives for Foundation for Credit Counselling, shown on this page.
Is my money safe with Foundation for Credit Counselling?
It is permitted to hold and control client money, which it must keep separate from its own. Protection depends on which product you hold and how Foundation for Credit Counselling handles your money, so check the specific product before you commit. You can also refer complaints about Foundation for Credit Counselling to the Financial Ombudsman Service, free of charge.
Who runs Foundation for Credit Counselling?
Companies House lists 12 directors of Foundation for Credit Counselling: Barbara Helen Dean, Lesley Jane Titcomb, Nicholas Michael Caplan, Christopher Mark Wood, Yvonne Jean Klimaytys, Elizabeth Mary Harding and 6 more.
How long has Foundation for Credit Counselling been in business?
The company was formed on 19 October 1992, and has held its current FCA authorisation since November 2016.
Does Foundation for Credit Counselling use any other names?
It trades as STEPCHANGE, STEPCHANGE DEBT CHARITY, STEPCHANGE DEBT CHARITY SCOTLAND, STEPCHANGE DEBT REMEDY and Stepchange NI, and 5 more names. It has previously used 20 other names, including Betterpay, C.C.C.S and C.C.C.S Debt Remedy.

Sources and links

The full report on Foundation for Credit Counselling

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