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.

Identity

Check their details

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.

Also trades as 10 other names
  • STEPCHANGE
  • STEPCHANGE DEBT CHARITY
  • STEPCHANGE DEBT CHARITY SCOTLAND
  • STEPCHANGE DEBT REMEDY
  • Stepchange NI
  • Stepchange Northern Ireland
  • STEPCHANGE VA
  • STEPCHANGE VOLUNTARY ARRANGEMENTS
  • Stepchange Wales
  • www.stepchange.org

Company details

From the company's Companies House record.

Company number
02757055
Company status
Active
Company type
Private company limited by guarantee
Incorporated
19 October 1992 (33 years old)
Registered office
123 Albion Street, Leeds, LS2 8ER, England
Nature of business
  • Financial intermediation not elsewhere classified (SIC 64999)

Current directors and secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed
Barbara Helen Dean Director Dec 1959 21 Jan 2019
Lesley Jane Titcomb Director Jun 1961 21 Jan 2019
Nicholas Michael Caplan Director Jun 1959 26 Feb 2019
Christopher Mark Wood Director Aug 1970 1 Feb 2021
Yvonne Jean Klimaytys Director Mar 1958 1 Jul 2021
Elizabeth Mary Harding Director Aug 1982 1 Jul 2023
Michael St John Ashley Director Sep 1954 1 Jul 2023
Susan Acton Director Sep 1972 1 Jul 2023
Janet Edna Pope Director Sep 1960 1 Jan 2024
Lisa Jane Mellor Director Sep 1976 23 Jun 2025
Sean Lynskey Director Jul 1988 23 Jun 2025
Ramondeep Kaur Director Apr 1983 30 Jun 2025
Catherine Jennifer Smith Secretary Not published 24 Apr 2024

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.)

Check on the FCA register → Report a scam →

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.

Activities and protection

What they can do, and how you are protected

  • 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.
Show FCA detail (3 permissions)
  • Debt Adjusting
  • Debt-counselling
  • Providing Credit Information Services

Complaints: You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.

Track record

FCA actions and complaints

No FCA disciplinary action, and no complaints recorded with the Ombudsman.

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

Names it no longer trades under

This firm has retired 20 trading names. If you were contacted under one of these, the name did belong to this firm, but check the current details above before going ahead.

Show the retired names
  • Betterpay
  • C.C.C.S
  • C.C.C.S Debt Remedy
  • C.C.C.S Ireland
  • C.C.C.S NI
  • C.C.C.S Northern Ireland
  • C.C.C.S Scotland
  • Consumer Credit Counselling Service
  • Debt Line
  • Irish Debtline
  • Scottish Debtline
  • STEPCHANGE EQUITY RELEASE
  • STEPCHANGE ER
  • STEPCHANGE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS
  • STEPCHANGE MONEY AWARE
  • Stepchange Money Matters
  • STEPCHANGE VOLUTARY ARRANGEMENTS
  • Stepchange Wellbeing
  • Student Debtline
  • The Debt Helpline

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Is Foundation for Credit Counselling FCA authorised?
Yes, Foundation for Credit Counselling (FRN 729047) is authorised by the FCA to carry out regulated activities.
Is my money safe with Foundation for Credit Counselling?
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.
Is Foundation for Credit Counselling a scam or clone?
Foundation for Credit Counselling is a genuine FCA-listed firm. However, scammers sometimes clone authorised firms. Always check that the contact details you were given match those on the FCA register before sending money or sharing information.
What is Foundation for Credit Counselling's Firm Reference Number (FRN)?
Foundation for Credit Counselling's FRN is 729047. You can verify it on the FCA register.